Service Matters Vol. 4 (Spring 2016)

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A Newsletter from the Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics at South Texas College of Law/Houston

Service Matters Spring 2016

In This Issue

Clinic Highlights

Celebrating National Pro Bono Week New Immigration Clinic Community Connections Staff Listing Clinic Offerings

Client Perspectives: “We thank you so very much for the wonderful service you provided for us! We left your office simply amazed and thankful for the abundant envelopes full of legal papers. We’re so at peace now at having our wishes legally recorded. We followed your suggestions and went straight to the courthouse. We can’t thank you enough.” – Clients in the Winter Intersession Estate Planning Clinic

Clinic Spotlight:

Academic Externships Give Students Real-World Experience, Job Opportunities

The Academic Externship Program offers a faculty-guided learning experience for students who work as interns in a variety of state, national, and international placements, serving disadvantaged clients, nonprofit agencies, courts, and government agencies.

course load. As a result, interns must develop crucial skills in time management and career building – both of which are essential to becoming practice-ready graduates.

Many South Texas interns go on to be hired at their placements after graduation. Jorey Herrscher ‘12 was an intern at The Externship Program gives the Harris County Attorney’s students the opportunity to Office, a position he secured work in the field, then share after meeting a representative their experiences with one at the Law School’s public another during a weekly interest recruiting event. seminar. Under this model, Now he serves as an assistant students are introduced to county attorney in the same practical topics and issues office, and he attributes the beyond their internship Externship Program with practice areas. Elizabeth helping him make a smooth Dennis, director of academic Jorey Herrscher transition from student to internships, says internships professional. also give students a layer of exposure they don’t receive in “I think [the Externship the classroom or the clinic. Program] is the best way that South Texas prepares “Working in the field helps its students to be lawyers,” students identify the demands Herrscher said. “Internships of the profession and the are where you actually do needs of the community,” the work of an attorney. You Dennis said. “They can try interact with real clients and on different roles to see what respond to actual situations on fits and what doesn’t fit their Leslie Schweinle Ginzel the spot.” interests and desired future practice.” Leslie Schweinle Ginzel ‘08 spent her third Students are responsible for finding their own year at South Texas as an intern at Beacon placements with the guidance of the clinics’ Law, the only legal aid program in Texas faculty and career services staff. Most students that specifically focuses on the needs of pursue two to three credit hours, or 120-180 the homeless. She spent much of that time working hours, per semester — a significant processing intakes at local shelters and time commitment in addition to the average Continued on page 8…


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Service Matters Vol. 4 (Spring 2016) by South Texas College of Law Houston - Issuu