The Oberlin Review
<< Front page News October 13, 2007

Law Scholars Program Assists Aspiring Attorneys

Inspired by Oberlin’s “Law in the Liberal Arts” conference in 2003, Oberlin’s new Law Scholars Program hopes to guide the would-be attorneys of Oberlin toward legal success. Starting next module, the comprehensive program will provide accepted students access to a network of prestigious Oberlin alumni, experience in brief-writing and oral advocacy techniques and an eight to ten week paid summer internship.

One main feature of Law Scholars is the Legal Advocacy course, a second module class taught by William Vodrey, OC ’87. A visiting professor of politics, Vodrey has extensive legal experience under his belt, including time spent as magistrate of the Cleveland city court system. Jacklyn Ford, OC ’83, a healthcare, labor and employment lawyer, will be assisting with the course.

While taking Legal Advocacy, students will learn the basic techniques needed by an attorney. The course will culminate with a school-run mock trial competition. The course will be open, by professor consent, to some students outside of the Law Scholar program.

Summer internships with Oberlin alumni are another major aspect of the program. Students will be given a stipend of $3,500 and will have access to internships around the country, provided by Oberlin grads involved in law. Law Scholars students will also have access to a distinguished speakers series, part of which will be available to the public as well, career advising and assistance in applying to law school.

According to Director of the Law Scholars program and James Monroe Professor of Politics and Law Ronald Kahn, who held an informational meeting for the program on Monday, Oct. 8, the greatest advantage of the program is the available network of Oberlin lawyers. Not only will current students be linked with alumni in shared fields of interest, but Law Scholars will be part of a growing network.

“Oberlin students don’t just become hired guns. They do things for society,” Kahn said.

Even in its newborn state, the Law Scholars Program is attracting a wide range of students. College junior Alia Mulder-Rosi, an environmental studies and psychology double major, hopes to be admitted to the program in order to pursue a career in environmental policy.

College sophomore George Oma said that the Law Scholars program would “put [him] on the right track to pursue law, especially in the specific area that [he is] interested in: civil rights.”

Vanessa Coleman, another College sophomore, said she was interested in social justice law and helping people in low-income communities of color. “The program will benefit [me] because the numbers of minorities going to law school are very low, [so] the program will give me a proper intro to law&hellip;so that I can be a successful applicant,” said Coleman.

Kahn ended the meeting with the message that anyone can go to law school — whether you are a piano player in the Conservatory, a neuroscience major in the College or your standard politics major, the law takes all kinds.

“One of the great things about law is you can use the knowledge in so many ways,” said Kahn. “And the knowledge gained from any study can help in the practice of law.”


 
 
   

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