National Jurist - January 2009 - (Page 40)

Seattle University School of Law S elf-reflection rarely receives the time it deserves during law school. But that is exactly what the educators at Seattle University School of Law want their students to do. To that end, the law school is introducing a “professional formation portfolio,” said Vice Dean Annette Clark. The idea is to give students a framework to inform their choices of courses, volunteer activities, externships and other opportunities — and to assist faculty advisors in providing meaningful guidance. The portfolio will outline the range of skills and proficiencies that represent the diverse experiences students will face as lawyers, such as writing, interviewing, negotiation and empirical reasoning. During their second and third years, as students pursue specific interests — such as immigration law or family law — they can also evaluate which courses or other activities will enable them to round out their portfolios. “It’s a tremendous tool for students,” Clark said. “It makes our goals for our students transparent, and it highlights the notion of students being intentional about their own education.” Having an outline of their law school achievements also will be a benefit when they are ready to apply for jobs, Clark said. Students will have a laundry list of sorts to show what they learned and how that improved their skills set, and, more importantly, affects their character as a practicing attorney. The portfolios also will show the law school areas for improvement, allowing the faculty to alter or update their curriculum, Clark said. “We’re all about aspiration,” Clark said. chefs during what he has dubbed “Wellness Wednesdays.” Along with a quick lunch, the cooks show students how to prepare fast meals and set up menus that will give them the energy they need. Gonzalez feels his job as head of student services is to make law school a more personable experience. He also makes sure the law school offers students leadership development, knowledge about diversity issues and information about disabilities — all things they are going to need when they “ from the moment they arrive, said Dean Lawrence Raful. Its Public Advocacy Center is the first in the nation. Touro had some space within its new facility, so the law school decided to mix public interest legal service as well as pro bono legal assistance together. Now in its second year, the Public Advocacy Center is 16 offices that house agencies in areas such as housing, immigration, domestic violence and civil rights. Each tenant receives a rent-free Students in the Law Firm Program that become summer associates tell us they cannot believe how far ahead they are. Dean Mark Gordon, University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law ” Syracuse University College of Law begin to practice their profession. His efforts begin even before students come on campus. His staff works with incoming 1Ls to help them define their learning style and adapt it to the rigors of law school. Gonzalez also personally meets with every student and introduces them to the office, its mentors and services. “Our staff actively engages the students from the beginning to make sure they’re comfortable and find the support they need on and off campus,” said Gonzalez, who even brings in masseuses to help students relax during high-stress times. “The traditional law establishment may question our holistic approach, but that’s an attitude rooted in the old style. That’s not what we’re about,” Gonzalez said. I f he had his way, Tomas Gonzalez would give each student at Syracuse University College of Law their own personal chef. That is how important the Senior Assistant Dean for Student Life believes good health, exercise and nutrition is to the law-school experience. So while he cannot hire Emeril Lagasse, Gonzalez offers students time with area Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center office in exchange for one thing: a promise to use Touro students in advocacy services, research work and client relations. “Students are able to work at various hours for the agencies because it’s all in one building, and students who are working there are telling other students of the significant progress they are making,” Raful said. Additionally, Touro has the benefit of being the only U.S. law school with two courthouses on campus. To take advantage of this situation, Touro launched its unique Court Observation Program and made it the cornerstone of its new curriculum. “Our students … watch trials, meet judges and lawyers, go through various types of courts and watch trials from arraignment to the penalty phase,” Raful said. “Students see good lawyers and maybe less than competent lawyers, and there is education in that experience, too.” S ome law students go through three years of schooling barely stepping foot into a real courtroom. Not so at Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. Thanks to two entirely original programs, Touro students are immersed in the courtroom and public advocacy 40 | THE NATIONAL JURIST | January 2009 University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law J ust call him Flash — UDM’s new dean Mark Gordon swung into action from the moment he arrived on campus. He has

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of National Jurist - January 2009

National Jurist - January 2009 Contents Hot Button: Affirmative Action Entertainment: A Road Trip Through Law School News: American Justice, Kaplan Survey, Part-time Ranking The Firm Report: Diversity Law School Online No label No label Fordham Student Honored for Public Interest Work Former Law Student's Life Lives on After Her Death Most Influential People in Legal Education Most Innovative Law Schools Your Guide to Studying Abroad Career Hotline Texas Tech Law Grads Explore Dispute Resolution Evaluating First-Year Exams Disturbing the Peace

National Jurist - January 2009

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