The the Apprenticeship Program offers a unique opportunity for students to begin their practical lawyering experience early in their law school careers. The the Apprenticeship Program is designed to match a 2L (or 3L) with an experienced practicing attorney, preferably in a practice area the student is interested in learning more about, but more importantly in an environment that allows for active participation, critical observation, and the nurturing of a professional relationship through conversations, debate, activities, and work. This program is designed to teach practice-ready professional skills and values by allowing students to engage in individual/collaborative real-life work experiences while being supervised and mentored by seasoned attorneys. In the end, we believe such an experience will lay a rich foundation for the professional and career development of our students.
Apprentice’s Requirements
- Each apprentice must complete 50 hours to receive 1 credit (Pass/Fail) for the semester program. Those 50 hours must be logged by the apprentice using a “billable” hours type of format. Time spent talking with your Field Supervising Attorney (FSA), emailing each other, talking on the telephone, attending various activities, working on projects, and meeting with us on campus to discuss your experience should all be recorded. If you have questions or concerns at any time you should bring it to our attention. You are required to complete a time sheet of the hours you spent working as an apprentice each week. The time sheet can also be found on the Career and Professional Development website.
- Each apprentice is responsible for the required reading. The semester is broken down into 10 weeks. Five of the weeks have required reading. We also want you to use the readings as a basis for conversations with your FSA.
- Apprentices will be expected to turn in one written assignment completed during the semester for the FSA. For this written assignment you will be expected to discuss and receive feedback from your FSA on at least two separate occasions.
- Each apprentice will need to attend class weekly on Tuesday mornings from 10:00am to 11:50am.
Expectations
Apprentices are expected to conduct themselves as professionals at all times. Specifically, we expect all apprentices to treat their FSA like you would a managing partner in a firm where you are working. Apprentices should be respectful and responsive and should dress, communicate, and act professionally. We expect the FSA to provide the apprentices with access into their professional and personal world of being a lawyer. In turn, we expect the apprentices to realize and appreciate this incredible opportunity and treat the situation with maturity and professional courtesy. As ambassadors to the profession and of this institution, we expect each of you to conduct yourself with impeccable integrity, graciousness, and intellect.
What Are People Saying About the Apprenticeship Program?
Quotes from prior student apprentices:
- “One goal I had was to improve my writing. [My FSA] helped me improve my writing, or at least point out what I need to improve.”
- “Love the program and the opportunity to be one on one with an attorney!”
- “This program is part of the reason Mitchell is the only right school for me – the emphasis on practical experience.”
- “The fact that I worked in an area of law for which I have no prior experience allowed me to step outside my comfort zone and to challenge myself.”
Quotes from participating Field Supervising Attorneys:
- “Great program – great way to give students practical experience and allow them to start networking with practicing attorneys.”
- “I think it provided exactly the types of experiences that I had hoped, i.e., the opportunity to work with a student who is interested, engaged and eager to learn about ‘the real world’ of practicing law.”
- “I expected the student would learn some substantive law from this experience and he certainly did. I also wanted the student to see the diversity of my practice and pro bono work, and he indeed saw that, too.”