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April 2008
Welcome to The Drexel Docket – Drexel Law's e-newsletter. The Docket brings you updates about the college; stories about what the faculty and students are doing; and news we think will be of interest to current and prospective students, pre-law advisors, co-op sponsors, alumni of the University, and friends of the law school. If you have comments or suggestions, please send them to us using the link at the end of this issue. We invite you to visit us at http://www.drexel.edu/law.
- Exciting Summer Jobs Await Students
- Student Spotlight: Andrew Hodlofski and David Oldham
- Faculty Focus: Dana Irwin
- Event Highlights: Legal Careers and Private Lives
- Pro Bono Spotlight: Law Students Help Vulnerable Taxpayers
- Co-op Spotlight: HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia
- Accepted Students Day - 2008
Exciting Summer Jobs Await Students
While many Drexel Law students will be taking opportunities in law firms and corporations this summer, nearly a dozen students have been offered jobs at district attorney’s offices throughout the region. For some, the interview process was a bit daunting but ended with satisfying results.
“My second interview at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office was intimidating because it was with five D.A.s on the hiring committee,” says 2L Shayna Cornell, who had her first co-op this year with an intermediate appellate court judge. “They asked tough questions and questioned all my answers to make sure I was confident in them.”
After a week of training as a certified legal intern, Cornell will be appearing in court with her own caseload and conducting preliminary hearings.
Also working for the City of Philadelphia but at its public defender’s office, the Defender Association of Philadelphia, is Alison Debes – the only first-year law student out of about 40 students to earn a summer slot. She was aware that the office hires primarily certified 2Ls who rotate through its various departments but knew that the Juvenile Special Defense Unit (JSDU), which represents minors charged as adults in adult court, might take a 1L.
“They were only asking for 2L resumes, but I sent in my application anyway because this is the job I came to law school thinking I wanted to do,” says Debes, who will spend her summer
interviewing clients and shadowing attorneys in court. “My resume was sent to the JSDU for
consideration for the lone first-year position, and my interviewer was very interested in my mock
trial experience, volunteer coaching, and an undergrad class I took that happened in a prison.”
Jeffrey Katz, a 1L who grew up in Montgomery County, says his interviewer from that county’s D.A.’s office expressed a preference for students who were familiar with the area. At this point he is not sure if he will be placed in the appeals division, where 1Ls usually end up, or in the pre-trial department, which his interviewer felt might be more appropriate for him. “I’m looking forward to the ‘on your feet’ environment and the opportunity to be in court regularly, which is my goal upon graduation,” he says.
Joanna Conmy will have a leg up on her classmates when she starts her summer job at the Bucks County D.A.’s Office, considering her current co-op placement is with the Philadelphia D.A.’s Office. She has already earned her status as a certified legal intern and has been arguing summary appeals, traffic appeals, and expungement hearings through her work with assistant D.A.s in the Motions Unit of the Municipal Court Unit.
“What I think will be unique and exciting about Bucks County’s program is the amount of responsibility the interns are given,” says Conmy, who will be in charge of conducting preliminary hearings for criminal cases at all district courthouses. “I know that my co-op experience will have given me all of the necessary tools I will need to undertake such a significant role.”
Student Spotlight: Andrew Hodlofski and David Oldham
It would be understandable if Andrew Hodlofski’s and David Oldham’s experience competing in the Judge John Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition in New Orleans March 6-9 wasn’t “smooth sailing,” considering they had had little knowledge of admiralty law before deciding to enter the competition. But when all was said and done, they earned in Round III the highest oral argument score awarded to any of the 25 competing teams – including the championship round – and Hodlofski was ranked the 10th best oral advocate.
“It was an intense, hardcore competitive, but fun experience – kind of like geek football,” says
Hodlofski, a former chef, teacher, and military officer candidate whose initial intentions to apply for a JAG position with the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard were permanently sidelined by an injury.
Oldham, a 2L planning to work in higher education after graduation, admits he had had no interest in admiralty law but says the two chose this particular competition because of Hodlofski’s interest and the fact that it was one of the only competitions willing to accept students from an unaccredited law school.
“We wanted to gain firsthand knowledge about moot court competitions so we can be more competitive next year,” says Oldham, who works part-time as a research assistant for Drexel Law Dean Roger Dennis on the subject of higher education accreditation standards. “Since we’re a new school and don’t have the benefit of a 3L class of students to impart their experiences to us, we felt this was really important.”
Hodlofski and Oldham were both surprised at how much groundwork was needed for the competition.
“We had to teach ourselves admiralty law at the Jenkins Law Library in December before we got the competition problem, and then we got the brief finished in January and prepared our oral
arguments in February,” says Hodlofski, who recently completed a co-op with the professional
liability defense firm of Thomas Paschos and Associates, P.C., and will be working in the Philadelphia City Solicitor’s office this summer as recipient of the first Oxholm Summer Fellowship. “It took a lot more time than we thought it would, but it was worth it.”
Both students praised the coaching they received from Drexel Law Associate Professor and Moot Court Advisor Kevin Oates. “He devoted a tremendous amount of time to mooting and encouraging us and often switched roles with us to demonstrate how to craft expert arguments,” says Oldham. “I had the sense that not all of the other teams had such involvement from their coaches. We also were mooted by dozens of Drexel faculty, staff, and classmates over the course of about 20 practices.”
The competition is not the only venture in which the two students have partnered. As fellows with the Marshall-Brennan Project, they teach constitutional literacy at High School of the Future in West Philadelphia. Through that opportunity they coached two students for a moot court competition in which one student advanced to the semi-final round. Coaching the high schoolers helped the Drexel Law students feel more ready for their own turn.
“I love oral argument, so I enjoyed that aspect of the competition,” says Oldham. “Even though I
entered the competition without any knowledge of admiralty law, I left with a new legal profession in which I have an interest. We are already planning a return trip to this competition next year when it is in Charleston, South Carolina.”
Faculty Focus: Dana Irwin
Many attorneys regard law school as no more than a means to an end. But for Assistant Professor Dana Irwin, law school was and remains the source of exhilarating challenges that offer ample rewards all their own.
“I didn’t necessarily want to be a lawyer, but I thought I would like law school – I loved school,” explained Irwin, who earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University before moving on to Yale Law School, from which she graduated in 2002.
Irwin handled trust and estates work for nearly three years as an associate with the New York firm, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, before completing a clerkship with the Hon. Anthony J. Scirica, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
“I learned as much clerking as I did in law school,” Irwin said.
She returned once more to the classroom in 2006, joining Drexel Law’s inaugural faculty.
Although her status as a professor gives her a decidedly different perch in the lecture hall, Irwin finds familiar comforts as a professor.
“We’re all students – we’re all learning non-stop,” she said. “We’re all collaborating.”
Irwin delights in her work with students at Drexel Law, whom she calls “a really great bunch.”
“I respect them not just as students, but as people,” Irwin said. “They really go with the flow.”
Few people appreciate that quality more than Irwin, who won the Best Scholar-Athlete prize at Harvard-Radcliffe, where she was captain of the varsity women’s crew team and earned a national championship in the US Rowing Lightweight Women’s Four competition in 1996.
Despite her enthusiasm for teaching, the New Hampshire native is poised to embark on a yearlong hiatus from the classroom that will satisfy her appetite for continued learning.
In July, Irwin will leave for Washington, D.C. to begin a clerkship for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.
“I think it’s going to be a fascinating year,” Irwin said. “I think I’ll learn a ton. I think it’ll make me a better teacher, a better scholar, a better lawyer.”
In the meantime, a variety of projects have piqued Irwin’s curiosity and kept the admitted academic junkie blissfully busy.
At the moment, Irwin’s scholarship focuses on emerging issues in patent law and legal ethics. One project includes an interdisciplinary look at the limits of patent law, drawing on legal history and ethics. Another entails a law-reform proposal regarding the Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
Event Highlights: Legal Careers and Private Lives
Practicing attorneys from different venues discussed the stresses that come with a life in the legal profession, at an event sponsored by Drexel Law and the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Panelists at the March 5 event advised students that they will inevitably work hard wherever they choose to practice, and that women – especially those with children – face the greatest challenges to prove their mettle.
“It is difficult, but manageable,” said Sandra Crawford, an associate with Rawle & Henderson, LLP.
Attorney Nancy Peterson said she has a sense of control over her schedule as vice president and deputy general counsel of AlliedBarton.
“I don’t want you to think that there is a lot of cushy stuff going on in-house, because there isn’t,” Peterson said. “The work day is just different.”
Alan Nochumson, lead partner in a two-person practice, said attorneys should do their homework to find out what they’re getting into with prospective employers.
“Research to find the right spot,” Nochumson said.
The panelists said new attorneys who make themselves indispensible wherever they get their start will have more options later in their careers.
Second-year student Barbara Mallory Sampat said the discussion answered questions that are on students’ minds but probably wouldn’t have been asked.
“I think that the advice of not under-reporting time spent on work addresses a common temptation of students and young aspiring lawyers,” she said. “I hope that we will continue to have such learning opportunities. I am very interested in learning more about developing a strategy to pursue my career path, developing connections, attracting business and understanding what billable hours are.”
Pro Bono Spotlight: Law Students Help Vulnerable Taxpayers
Taxes might be on everyone’s minds this month in particular, but several Drexel Law students have been focused on them for months now through their work with two low-income tax clinics participating in the College of Law’s extensive pro bono service program. Students are trained how to assist people with tax return preparation in order to volunteer with one of two organizations: the Campaign for Working Families and Philadelphia VIP’s Migrant Farm Workers Clinic.
“The hard-working, highly vulnerable farm worker population in Kennett Square has frequently been the target of unscrupulous tax preparers, who charge them large sums of money for even the simplest tax return preparation and then proceed to prepare the returns incorrectly,” points out Associate Director for Public Interest Programs Karen Pearlman. “Unfortunately, these defrauded, low-income taxpayers must remedy the situation, which may include returning all refund monies and interest to the IRS. Law student volunteers educate the low-income taxpayers about their rights and obligations under the U.S. tax system and assist them on-site throughout tax season.”
The migrant worker clinics are held every Saturday in February and the first two Saturdays in April. Students do not have to attend all clinics but are welcome to attend as many as they want, as there is a great need for volunteers. The two students currently volunteering with these clinics are Vanessa Flores and Kelly Myers, a tax manager who is interested in corporate and tax law.
At the Campaign for Working Families, the focus is more on improving the economic well-being of low- and moderate-income communities by helping increase their access to tax benefits and asset-building opportunities. “Our students are spread out throughout more than 20 sites around the city, helping working families make the most of their earning power,” says Pearlman.
One student participant thought the training would be helpful for both the volunteer work and preparation of her own taxes. “The online course was very thorough and prepared me to deal with client work even though I don’t have much experience in accounting,” says Julie Devine, who’s interested in intellectual property law. “Participating in the tax clinic has been a great way to get some experience in an important area of law that I will likely run into in the future.”
Lonn Selbst says his positive experience with Campaign for Working Families has encouraged his interest in volunteering and in pursuing tax law as a specialty. “Many of our clients can quickly figure out which answers to our questions will increase their tax refund, but they are overwhelmingly honest in their answers, which helps provide validity to the program,” says Selbst, who as a college intern once helped coordinate logistics for a free tax advice program operated by the Law Firm of Homelessness and Poverty in Washington, D.C. “This experience has served to further my interest in tax law, and my hope is that I will continue to participate in this program for years to come.”
Co-op Spotlight: HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia
A woman seeking asylum in the United States is haunted by the fact that her husband was brutally murdered during the Liberian civil war in front of her and her children, who escaped but were never again found. In the face of post-traumatic stress and the overwhelming fear of returning to Liberia, the woman is dependent upon strangers – including a Drexel Law student – to help her start a new life here.
That’s just one of many cases handled by HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia, one of Drexel Law’s co-op partners. Its mission is to rescue, relocate, and resettle people of all religions and nationalities who are fleeing persecution and discrimination. HIAS leaders note that the organization has a longstanding commitment of working with law school students.
“Involving students in our work helps educate them and cultivate the next generation of immigrant rights advocates,” says Philippe Weisz, managing attorney for HIAS, which was first established as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. “The Drexel Law co-op is an excellent opportunity for us to give students in-depth exposure to immigration law and the chance to work directly with clients.”
During the Winter/Spring 2008 co-op cycle, Drexel Law students Jane Cheng and Michelle Payne have been working at HIAS, performing legal research, working directly with clients, and helping strategize on cases.
Payne, who has been primarily working on the Liberian asylum case, says that the HIAS co-op fits in perfectly with her interests in public service and social justice. “Before I started law school and was doing some economic development work abroad, I really got wrapped up in the lives of people who were struggling to live in the world’s most unlivable places,” says Payne, who saw the inside of a sweatshop overseas and protested alongside chemically disfigured Nicaraguan banana workers. “Many of the people who seek legal aid from HIAS are coming from places that just aren’t able to accommodate their most basic needs for protection, education, or personal sustainability. The people who give up everything in their homeland to achieve the most minimal standard of living in this country deserve an advocate who is going to fight by their side so that they can stay here and earn their keep.”
Throughout her time at HIAS, she has been conducting extensive client interviews, speaking with experts, compiling research on conditions in Liberia, and attempting to procure documents from the war-torn country. Her supervising attorney, Lisa Hurlbutt, praises her for her patience, creativity, and compassion.
“Preparing an asylum case is always a time-consuming and challenging project, but Michelle dove right in and has dedicated an enormous amount of time to helping our client,” says Hurlbutt. “She has served as the primary case manager and has gained the client’s trust. I have been so grateful to have her assistance.”
HIAS Executive Director Judith Bernstein-Baker, Esq., MSW, hails both Payne’s and Cheng’s skills and dedication. “We are very impressed with our Drexel legal interns, who have a wealth of life experiences, commitment to the law, and real understanding of social justice that they have brought to bear as they work on cases involving asylum, domestic violence, and family unification,” she says.
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Accepted Students Day -2008
Accepted Students Day is the opportunity to find out everything you want to know about Drexel Law. The day begins with coffee at the College of Law, where accepted students have the chance to meet with the Faculty and Administration at Drexel. The rest of the day provides insight into what really happens at Drexel and what sets us apart. Accepted students learn a little about legal education, find out who classmates are, and spend a day in the life of Drexel. View selected photographs from the March 8 and March 29 morning breakfasts, mid-day tours and presentations!
If you have comments, questions, or suggestions about The Drexel Docket, please contact us.
Drexel University’s College of Law has been provisionally accredited
by the Council of
the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American
Bar
Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610.
Students at a provisionally accredited law school and individuals who graduate
while
the school is provisionally approved are entitled to the same recognition
given to
students and graduates of fully approved law schools. Graduates of Drexel’s
law
school will be eligible to sit for the bar exam in any jurisdiction.
More information about accreditation can be found on the ABA’s website or by calling
the association at (312) 988-5000.