August 2008
Aug. 29, 2008
Contact John Masson, 734.647.7352, jpmasson@umich.edu
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Law’s incoming 1Ls assembled before a federal judge the morning of Aug. 29 to pledge their commitment to studying – and later, practicing – with integrity.
The goal: letting students know early in their Law School careers that integrity and professionalism in the practice of law is of paramount importance, said David Baum, the school’s assistant dean for student affairs.
Senior Judge James L. Ryan of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will talk to the students about professionalism, civility, and integrity, and welcome them to the law school and the legal profession. Then he’ll administer the following oath:
Because the strength of the legal profession depends on the character of its members, during my career as a law student and as a professional after law school, I commit to comport myself honorably and with integrity. Specifically, I promise to maintain high standards of
Academic conduct in all academic relationships with the Law School and the University;
Professional conduct while functioning in a lawyer-like capacity during my Law School and professional careers; and
Personal conduct in all matters that touch or affect the Law School, the University, and their community members and guests.
Each student also received a certificate containing the words of the commitment and a leather-bound, pocket-sized copy of the U.S. Constitution, a keepsake generously provided by 1959 Michigan Law graduate John Butler Schwemm.
Aug. 22, 2008
Contact: John Masson, 734.647.7352, jpmasson@umich.edu
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan Law School has good news for students planning to pursue careers in public interest or government: starting next summer, Michigan Law will launch the Public Service Guarantee – a summer stipend of $5,000 for all 2Ls who obtain summer internships with qualified government or public interest organizations.
It’s no secret that it’s hard to secure even minimal funding for summer internships with government agencies and non-profits – even though these organizations offer invaluable, highly specialized legal experience. And sometimes it seems the very organizations that provide the best experience are least able to provide financial support.
At Michigan Law, it’s central to our role as a top-ranked public law school to continue making it possible for students to pursue careers that serve the greater good. Financial hardship shouldn’t come between talented and energetic students and their ability to contribute those talents and energies to public service. Hence the Public Service Guarantee, which aims to continue Michigan Law’s long and distinguished history of supplying superbly trained lawyers to the public and non-profit sectors.
“A public service guarantee would have made a big difference for me when I was in law school,” said Cindy Cohn, legal director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and a 1989 Michigan Law graduate. “Instead of spending my summers at firms because I couldn't afford to work for free, I could have had a foot in the door to a public interest job much sooner. This is wonderful news, because it gives public service students the experience that will help them secure a competitive post-graduate position.”
With that in mind, the Law School also plans to continue – and bolster – the Dean’s Public Service Fellowships, with selected 2Ls receiving a beefed-up $7,000 summer stipend beginning in the summer of 2009.
Both programs will operate with the same basic rules as the Dean’s Public Service Fellowship:
- The government or non-profit position must be the student’s primary legal employment for the summer. Second-year students who split their summer legal employment between public service and private law practice are not eligible.
- The work performed can’t be of a partisan, political nature.
- Students must be employed in their positions for a minimum of 10 weeks.
Whether recipients intend to go into government, private practice or public interest, students like current Dean’s Fellow Zoe Levine agreed that the Guarantee is a positive step for the Michigan Law School community.
“This will allow students to explore opportunities outside the private sector and follow their true interests rather than put them on hold,” said Levine, who worked this summer at the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project in New York City. “Many students will now be able to do what they're passionate about without adding to their financial anxieties.”
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