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College of Law Launches E-Mail Program for First-Year Students |
| By
Kimyette Finley |
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Jan 30, 2004 |
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| Jonathan Hanna, a first-year law student, is a member of the Alumni E-Mail Mentor Program, which pairs law students with UT law graduates. |
Roderick Kennedy, a New Mexico Court of Appeals judge, is over 1,500 miles away from his law school alma mater. But a new e-mail mentoring program through UT’s College of Law will allow him to stay involved with the school and provide words of support for new students.
UT’s Law School Admissions, Alumni and Career Services offices recently launched the Alumni E-Mail Mentor Program that pairs first-year law students with law alumni. Heather Karns, director of law career services, said students who were admitted to law school were informed about the program and had the opportunity to participate; UT law graduates were contacted by Karns through alumni publications and by word of mouth. “I don’t think we had anyone who said no,” Karns said about the alumni, who are expected to initiate the contact through a welcome e-mail. However, a few ended up not being able to participate, so some law school graduates will mentor several students. So far, 101 mentors are involved.
Karns said the electronic approach to mentoring is a good fit for the students and alumni due to busy schedules. Providing support for first-year students, as well as an opportunity for students and mentors to establish professional relationships that will carry into the future, are just a few of the program’s goals. “These are people [the alumni] who have actually gone through the ropes. We have alumni who have been practicing for a long time, and some [who graduated] as recently as 2002. There’s a lot to be gained and a wealth of experience to tap into.”
College of Law Dean Phillip Closius said, “We wanted to broaden our alumni contact base. We have a lot of alumni in the Toledo area who are active, but we wanted to expand, and e-mail gives us that opportunity. They may never meet, but the alumni can provide advice about law school, jobs or even another city.”
The first-year students and their alumni mentors were chosen randomly, but some did express preferences based on certain specialty practices or geographic locations. Karns said the intent is to keep the program running with each new law school class.
Kennedy, a 1980 graduate of the College of Law, wrote via e-mail, “I was interested in being an e-mail mentor because for 11 years I was a trial judge in a city court where young lawyers came … their first jobs out of law school. I enjoyed the opportunity to impart some experienced lessons, as well as the chance to reconnect with what it was that looked exciting and full of promise about law school from that end.”
Toward the end of the academic year, Karns will send out an evaluation to both students and mentors asking for feedback on the program.
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