preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008 - (Page 36)

specialties CAREER PROFILE Young associate likes challenge Wayne State grad opts out of big firm job after clerkship BY URSULA FUI-PERRY, ESQ. photo by sherrie buzby I t’s rare for someone just out of law school to get the chance to work on cases that impact an entire state. But for Samuel Saks, it was just part of his job as a judicial clerk for the Arizona Court of Appeals. Saks worked as a clerk for the first two years after graduation from Wayne State University Law in 2005. In addition to researching legal and factual issues, cite-checking judges’ briefs and drafting memoranda, Saks also helped his judges craft the language of decisions, sat in on panel conferences and presented cases to the panel of judges. All involved responsibilities unique to the Arizona court system, Saks said. Among the cases he worked on was a lawsuit that challenged Arizona’s Proposition 100, a voter-enacted proposition that denies bail to illegal aliens. His role was analyzing the substantive dueprocess implications, he said. Hearing cases on everything from construction and procurement disputes to immigration issues, Saks said he enjoyed the broad variety of law he learned. At Wayne State, Saks was in the top 5 percent of his class, magna cum laude and Order of the Coif. Though he clearly had superb academic credentials, Saks chose not to work for a large law firm after leaving the clerkship, opting instead for the vast variety of work he handles at his small, boutique firm. As a commercial litigation associate at Cantelme & Brown, P.L.C. in Phoenix, Saks focuses on construction law, government contracts, representing municipal entities, and education law. “I have a lot of responsibilities,” he said. Not being pigeon-holed keeps his work challenging and interesting. Saks handles both trial-level and appellate work. He drafts motions, court documents and appellate briefs and assists with legal research and trial preparation. Because his firm represents both plain36 preLaw SAMUEL SAKS said law students should take classes that genuinely interest them and look for a firm that will allow them to perform work that’s engaging and stimulating. tiffs and defendants in commercial cases, he has worked with a variety of clients, including contractors and subcontractors, property owners, school districts, hospitals and municipal and state entities. In a recent case, Saks worked with a government entity on a case that addressed funding for Arizona’s English language learner programs under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Though many municipal cases tend to be interesting and challenging, when it comes to commercial litigation, “you definitely have to be ready for non-glamorous facts,” Saks said. “The law is much more interesting,” he said. “There’s a broader range that’s applicable and every case is different.” Working in municipal law, Saks said many of the statutes he has to interpret and apply are

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008

preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008 Contents From the Editor For the Record Large Gender Gap Remains Among Political Hopefuls Man Charged in LSAT Scam Barry Dean Recognized New Report Examines Legal Ed Drexel Receives Accredidation New Mexico No. 1 for Hispanics A Film Journey in Law A Law Student at Last Debt Salvation Great Law Schools for Minorities Grad Opts Out of Big Firm Job Specialties Helpful Advice

preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008

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