National Jurist -September 2008 - (Page 8) NEWS By Michelle Weyenberg Recent New Mexico law grad has his days in court The day after his last final, Robert Medina started his role as Zia Pueblo’s first-ever tribal judge trained in the law. The University of New Mexico School of Law graduate had no idea that his role in helping his tribal community would be in this capacity. Medina was a Zia Pueblo tribal police officer in 2000, the only one with a home phone, when he decided to begin his journey toward law school. He earned two associate degrees, then a bachelor’s in criminology at the University of New Mexico. At the School of Law, he concentrated on economic development. As a judge, he’s seen a huge difference in the community, including the decline of alcohol and substance abuse. “I have gained a good foundation in understanding codes and regulations, which will help me as I create a new tribal code,” Medina said. “And I know my new laws will be challenged, so I need to be sure they withstand those challenges.” He said his biggest advice to law students is to not be afraid. “I’m pleased that the dream I had is becoming a reality, and I look forward to moving the pueblo forward,” Medina said. Northwestern’s two-year JD Northwestern’s top-ranked law school a May 2008 graduate. “I’ll be earning is the second to introduce a reduced pro- income a year earlier plus I won’t have a gram, following University of Dayton, year’s worth of living expenses while not which graduated its first class in May working full-time. If your living expenses Forget the third year. Northwestern are $20,000 and the average first-year salUniversity School of Law students now ary is $60,000-$80,000, give or take, you have the option to graduate in two years. The accelerated program mirrors that of the University of Dayton School of Law who introduced the option in 2005, after the American Bar Association lifted a requirement that law degrees follow six semesters of instruction. No r t h w e s t e r n’s five-semester program begins in May 2009 — the summer immediately after students are admitted. The students then enroll in the regular Northwestern University School of Law five-semester fall and spring semesprogram begins in May 2009. ters for the next two years. Northwestern hopes to admit 25-40 students. are right around $100,000.” The same curriculum as the traditional December 2007 graduate Tommie program will be offered but applicants will Culpepper felt taking law school at a be required to have two or three years of quicker pace helped him avoid more comwork experience after college. petition while searching for jobs in May. Dayton’s first five-semester class gradu- His perception was that employers would ated in January. Those students completed view an accelerated graduate as more comtheir degrees in two and a half years. Their petent and motivated. first five-semester class to finish in two The time it takes to reach graduation is years graduated in May. about the only difference between Dayton’s Dean Lisa Kloppenberg said the aver- two-year and the traditional three-year stuage age of students for those two graduat- dents. ing classes was 23 and 24 when they first Kloppenberg said she thinks it’s bold began summer classes. This summer, the for Northwestern as a Top 10 law school to average age is 28. adopt this program. “For older students, the program “This is a great fit with Northwestern’s worked out well,” she said. “It’s the same emphasis on attracting students with work amount of work in a shorter compressed experience and preparing them well for time.” today’s workforce,” Kloppenberg said. “I Dayton students also have had mostly think Northwestern will be pleased by the positive reviews of their accelerated law quality of students attracted by the accelerschool experiences. ated pace.” “I saved a lot,” said David Treadway, 8 THE NATIONAL JURIST September 2008 Rothenberg resigns as dean of Maryland Karen Rothenberg will spend her last year as dean of the University of Maryland School of Law after leading the law school for nearly a decade. She is the first woman to serve as the dean of the school in its 185-year history. Her last day will be June 30, 2009. A f t e r a s a b b a t ic a l , Rothenberg plans to return to the faculty. She was recently appointed chair of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission. Her term will last one year. http://lawschool.unm.edu/ http://lawschool.unm.edu/ http://www.law.northwestern.edu/
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