s | b | a CHICAGO-KENT STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION

THIS WEEK:

KJF Meeting February 4!

HLLSA Meeting February 4!

Judicial Externship Meeting February 5!

Student Events:

Library

The Library is extending its hours!!

In response to students’ requests, Dean Krug initiated a conversation with the library to extend library hours. As a result, starting Tuesday, January 21, the library will close an hour later at 10:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday and will open an hour earlier at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.

The new library hours will run on a trial basis for the 2020 spring semester.

Spring Semester Hours:

• Sunday: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm

• Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm

• Friday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

• Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

CK-Law Mindful Yoga

Wednesdays from 11:30am-12:30 pm on the 7th floor. Bring your own mat!

If you are a 1L or 2L Yoga Instructor and interested in joining the incredible instructors-Meg and Akshita, please contact Bridget Murphy at bmurphy7

KJF

KJF General Meeting next Tuesday, February 4 at 1 pm in Room 580.

Pizza will be provided!!

HLLSA

Come to the HLLSA General Body Meeting on Tuesday, February 4 in Room C40 at Noon.

Food will be provided!!

Judicial Externship Program

Learn about the Summer/Fall 2020 JEP on Wednesday, February 5 at 3 pm in Room 580!

Apply for a Judicial Externship!

Judicial Externship-Chancery Division: Jack Shadid

Where did you extern and what sort of work did you get to do?

Cook County Chancery Division – attending motion calls, ask questions of judge following motion calls, wrote multiple bench memos

Why did you apply to this externship and how did it live up to expectations?

I wanted to spend some time in a courtroom. It exceeded expectations. The judge was awesome, the judge’s clerks were awesome, and I really liked the other law students I worked with.

Did the externship help you learn anything new about yourself?

I don’t know how much I learned about myself, but it definitely helped me improve my time management skills when it comes to completing legal writing assignments and made me very confident that I will be able to argue a motion or otherwise appear before a judge and plead my client’s case.

Did the externship change your perspective on the legal system?

The biggest lesson I took away from the experience is that bad attorneys exist; really bad attorneys exist. Some of the briefs we wrote were really bad, some of the attorneys appeared to be very unprepared when they were presenting their cases, and some people were just unprofessional when conducting their business in the courtroom.

The experience also helped to demystify the judicial process. Having sat through hours of motion calls and done the work necessary to write complete rulings on motions, I am much more comfortable with the process. When viewed as a whole it is very intimidating and seems very confusing. But in reality, the process is broken up into manageable pieces that come one at a time, for the most part. So, as a case makes its way through the process, there are a limited number of problems that need solved, questions that need answered, and actions that must be taken. It all seems so intuitive now, but absent the courtroom exposure, I don’t think I would be able to say the same thing.

Did the externship give you any further insight into what you would like to do after law school?

It made me more confident that I can be a competent litigator. I was pretty sure I wanted to do litigation work coming in, and I guess the experience affirmed that ambition.

What advice, if any, would you give to students contemplating a similar externship?

Spend as much time in the courtroom and judge’s chambers as possible. Get to know the judge and clerks as well as possible. I think a lot of the learning that goes on is almost effortless – just being there and paying attention is invaluable. You almost don’t realize your learning things until you find yourself in a conversation with lawyers and you find yourself understanding everything they are saying, even though none of it was ever covered in class.

Also, understand that the clerks and the judge are professional resources. I asked my judge to be a reference for a job that I applied for and he was more than happy to do it. Also, the clerks who I worked with are definitely people I would reach out to for advice or for networking connections. One of them in particular has similar interests to mine, and if I ever feel like she is able to introduce me to anyone or if I think she has perspective on something I will definitely reach out to her for help.

Jack Shadid, 2L

BLSA

On Monday, February 10 BLSA will host 4 esteemed panelists for an evening of networking, food, and fun from 6-8 pm.

Guests include:

1. Circuit Court Judge and Appellate Court candidate- The Honorable Judge Sharon O. Johnson

2. Harvard Law graduate and owner of TGIN- Chris-Tia Donaldson

3. Doctor of Emergency Medicine- Abdullah Pratt, MD

4. Accountant and PwC Deals Professional- Ita Adebayo

Any questions please contact Jewell Ewing at jewing1

ISBA

The Illinois State Bar Association as hosting a Speed Networking Event on February 28 from 5:30-7:30pm at the Chicago Regional Office on 20 S. Clark St., Suite 900.

There will be wine!!

Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.

Any questions please contact Ryan Suniga at ryansuniga