Tuesday, February 23, 2016

The Office of Professionalism & Career Strategy at John Marshall

I have just discovered that John Marshall Law School has an Office of Professionalism and Career Strategy.  It is run by Associate Dean, Professionalism & Career Strategy, Justice Margaret O’Mara Frossard (Ret.).  According to the website,

"The goal of The John Marshall Law School’s Office of Professionalism and Career Strategy, directed by retired Illinois Appellate Court Justice Margaret O’Mara Frossard, is to help students develop their sense of professionalism and engagement with their education. The office will work to improve the delivery of services to students while providing the foundation for professionalism and preparing students to become responsible, dignified members of the legal community. Deans, faculty, and staff will be involved in fostering those efforts by modeling professional conduct for students. Members of the legal community, including judges, practitioners, and alumni, will also be involved in helping students achieve these goals."

I applaud John Marshall for establishing this office, and I hope that other law schools follow its lead.

The Office's website includes a blog on professional identity topics.  The most recent post is Professional Identity: Critical For Success.  Excerpts:

"Defining one’s professional identity, however, requires reflection and thought, as there are many ways to successfully utilize one’s law degree after graduation."

"A study several years ago by the Carnegie Foundation tied lawyer dissatisfaction, disciplinary issues and unprofessional conduct such as incivility to habits learned during law school."

"Just as the law provides that we utilize the rule of stare decisis, so too should you take the time to observe and model the specific ways that experienced attorneys comport themselves. Don’t forget that most if not all successful attorneys today once had a mentor, too!"

"There is no excuse to emerge from law school with no legal work experience. Experts agree that practical experience can go a long way to help you develop a healthy and productive professional identity, including that gained in one of the many excellent clinics located at JMLS."

(Scott Fruehwald)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_skills/2016/02/the-office-of-professionalism-career-strategy.html

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