Adapting the Judicial Field Placement Program to a virtual format

Omar Husain, L’20, and Johnson County District Court Judge Paul Gurney, L’82, are pictured in a courtroom. Photo courtesy of Omar Husain.

Since 1963, students at the University of Kansas School of Law have had the opportunity to get firsthand experience of how the law works by serving as interns with federal and state judges.

Under the supervision of a judge, law clerk or staff attorney, Judicial Field Placement Program interns perform research, draft documents and observe courtroom proceedings to expand their knowledge of how our court systems operate.

Last summer, many internships and law firms shortened, canceled or shifted their summer programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Clinical Professor Pam Keller said local judges took the initiative to adapt the program to a virtual format to provide internship opportunities to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keller has directed the Judicial Field Placement Program at KU Law since 2004.

“Judges really went out of their way to provide opportunities for law students to do online internships,” Keller said.

Twenty-five KU Law students participated in the Judicial Field Placement Program last summer – including 10 internships in Johnson County.

“Interning for a judge is one of the best working experiences a first- or second-year law student could have because it provides them with such a broad knowledge of how the legal system works and how lawyers practice,” Keller said. “Alumni judges who are willing to guide and mentor students are a huge asset to the law school.”

Johnson County District Court Judge Paul Gurney, L’82, said the program was adapted so that interns could work remotely. Interns observed online courtroom proceedings, practiced their legal research and writing skills, and virtually networked with attorneys.

Judge Gurney also seeks to expand the Judicial Field Placement Program at KU Law. Most judicial field placements happen during the summer months, but Judge Gurney hopes to expand the number of field placements available during the fall and spring semesters.

Judge Gurney’s daughter, Caroline Gurney, L’15, did an internship with Douglas County District Court Judge Michael J. Malone as part of the Judicial Field Placement Program.

“She told me about how beneficial of an experience that was,” Judge Gurney said. “That inspired the notion that we need to do all we can here in Johnson County to provide a similar opportunity, so I’m happy that we’ve been able to do so thus far.”

Omar Husain, L’20, said he gained invaluable hands-on experience and knowledge about how court systems operate through his clerkship with Judge Gurney while he was in law school.

“The Judicial Field Placement was my first exposure to the real practice of law, not just the study of law. For me, the program was a concentrated dose of experience that put my theoretical knowledge in to perspective,” Husain said. “The program has had a lasting effect because the lessons I learned and relationships I built during that summer set the course for how I want to direct my career as a professional.”

— By Ashley Golledge

My dog’s journey through Paw School

Mellie (left) and Jojo lay on a wooden structure at the local dog park. Jojo is 3L Sarah Buchanan’s dog. Photo courtesy of Bria Nelson.
A younger-looking Mellie rests her head in the middle of an LSAT prep book. Photo courtesy of Bria Nelson.

Mellie, my 4-year-old golden retriever, has spent most of her life in paw school pursuing the prestigious Juris Dogtorate degree to become a full-time pawalegal. In these past few years, we’ve both learned a lot. Here were some of our biggest takeaways (that I have transcribed directly from Mellie, of course) from the journey that is law school:

Do what works for you

Everyone has their own study habits and techniques to tackle reading assignments or note-taking. Don’t be afraid to try something new until you find something that works for you. During 1L year, I realized that flowcharts and notecards are an effective study strategy for me. Try not to compare yourself to your peers, focus on what works for you. However, please note that Mellie’s attempt at learning via sleeping on top of notecards might not be the strongest strategy to employ. 

Mellie asleep on the couch with a paw dangling in front of a dry-erase board that contains a flowchart with vague scribblings of property law before a final exam. Photo courtesy of Bria Nelson.

Authenticity over everything

Be yourself! Sounds easy, right? This notion will get tested time and time again in law school due to its inherently competitive nature. All I can say is, I wouldn’t have had an amazing summer internship opportunity with the ACLU Capital Punishment Project if I wouldn’t have spent the interview passionately rambling about prison abolition. Focus on developing authenticity by discovering your value system and standing up for those beliefs; this will open far more doors than simply trying to fit in.

Mellie asleep in an orange chair with a folded-up trans flag behind her. Photo courtesy of Bria Nelson.

Find your people and support them

Mellie lying on the couch while tuning in to a presentation on “Gender Marker and Name Changes in Kansas” via Zoom. Photo courtesy of Bria Nelson.

Law school is temporary, but the friends I’ve met along the way are forever. If there’s one thing I would do law school all over again for, it would be to meet my friends and mentors who have helped to shape my beliefs and values. Law school is exhausting; having friends help to ease that. My friends have been a shoulder to cry on and the sounding board to whom I vent my frustrations, as well as a source for anime recommendations and new hobbies to relieve stress like painting or roller skating. Finding mentors along the way has helped me keep my house plants alive, in addition to validating my feelings and clearing up career confusion. Mellie and I are so grateful for the support system we’ve gained in just three short years.

Take a break

Mellie recommends naps. Lots of naps.  

Mellie sleeping on the bed during Professor Velte’s virtual Employment Discrimination class. Photo courtesy of Bria Nelson.
Mellie with pawrents, 3Ls Delaney Hiegert and Bria Nelson, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of Bria Nelson.

Don’t be afraid to go on new adventures

This January, we moved to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Sixth Semester in D.C. program. It was scary to leave the Midwest for the first time and to venture out into the unknown. Doing so has brought me connections that will last a lifetime and a renewed sense to seek justice for marginalized communities, my communities. This experience has also been a reminder that nothing seems to truly go according to plan in this wild ride called life. You will experience many ups and many downs but will face each new challenge with the combined knowledge of lessons learned along the way. While we have enjoyed this chapter in D.C., we are excited to see what comes next!

Don’t take yourself too seriously

A collage comprised of nine pictures of Mellie smiling with her tongue hanging out. Photo courtesy of Bria Nelson.
Mellie asleep on an Iowa State blanket in front of a windowsill full of plants. Photo courtesy of Bria Nelson.

Life is too short to not do things that make your tail wag. Develop self-care tactics and make them part of your daily routine. In addition to naps, Mellie likes to go on long walks, roll in the dirt or snow, and sometimes will even doggy paddle her way to happiness. Mellie is constantly reminding me of the simple joys when the going gets ruff. Your law school journey does not have to consist of 18-hour days in the Wheat Law Library if you don’t want it to. At the end of the day, it’s all about balance. Make sure to pour the same amount of love and compassion into yourself as you are into this new journey.

Rock Chalk!

— Bria Nelson is a 3L from Woodstock, Illinois and a KU Law Student Ambassador.

Helen Phillips finds community at KU Law in small section

Small Section 1 poses for a photo after a law school function. Photo courtesy of Helen Phillips.

Let me just say, starting law school in the middle of a pandemic is a bit odd. Really, everything over the past year has been different, and sometimes really tough. But I do know that I am surviving, and sometimes even enjoying myself, because of my small section (Woo! Small Section 1!). As a 1L, everyone is placed in a small section that is made up of about twenty people. You will take all your first-year classes with the same group and one of the highlights since the fall has been getting to know the awesome people in my small section! Here a few of the best things (in my opinion) about small sections:

1. There is always someone to discuss the material with.

Chances are, at some point, you will be very confused about a topic in one of your classes. I’ve definitely felt that way. However, the great thing about small sections is that it’s likely someone in your section understands and can help explain the topic. And at some point, you will probably return the favor. 

Small Section 1 poses for a photo in a classroom at Green Hall. Students are wearing vacation-themed attire to celebrate respite week. Photo courtesy of Helen Phillips.

2. Small sections are built-in communities that understand what you are going through.

Sometimes law school is tough, especially the first year. Everything is new, and law school is a very different learning environment than undergrad. So, sometimes you just want to talk to someone who has the same professors, assignments, and is generally just going through the same experience. It can be great to vent sometimes with people who understand what you are going through.

Five law students pose for a photo next to a Jayhawk statue while wearing vacation-themed attire to celebrate respite week. Photo courtesy of Helen Phillips.

3. Less worry about getting that cold call wrong in class.

One of the beauties of seeing the same people every day is that you get pretty comfortable with them. Because of that – messing up that cold call in Contracts or whatever class it may be – is less of a big deal because I know my section mates don’t think any less of me for it.

4. During the pandemic, small sections have been a great way to make friends because a lot of the typical social activities look different this year.

Like I said before, starting law school during a pandemic is odd. When I applied to KU Law, I couldn’t have imagined that a few months later we would be in the middle of a pandemic. I remember being nervous and unsure about what the school year would look like (or how I would make friends) given the necessary changes to keep everyone safe (student groups meet virtually only, for example). I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get to know my section mates. Even though we are all in masks and sit six feet apart in class, we have found ways to get to know each other and enjoy the year!

— By Helen Phillips, a 1L from Overland Park and a KU Law Student Ambassador.

Connecting through food

Photo courtesy of Doug Bartel.

For much of my adult life, cooking for friends and family has been a sacred act for me. I fell in love with food when I moved to France in my early twenties. Every Wednesday and Saturday, there was a beautiful market near my apartment filled with heaping piles of fresh lettuces, olives, herbs and vegetables. In the autumn, chickens would be roasting over a fire with fingerling potatoes beneath catching and roasting in the chicken fat. It was an unforgettable sensory experience. When I returned to the United States, I fell in love with cooking while working on Lawrence farm owned by a middle-aged hippy from New Mexico. She made cooking simple, delicious, and most importantly, a communal experience. I truly believe that everyone can benefit from learning basic kitchen skills and cooking together. Not only will you become a healthier person, but you will also be happier.

Doug Bartel conducts a cooking class/virtual dinner party via Zoom in his kitchen. Photo courtesy of Doug Bartel.

The COVID-19 pandemic made in-person dinner parties impossible, so I knew I needed to find a creative way to continue cooking with my friends and family. The answer? Zoom. Throughout COVID-19, I hosted virtual dinner parties where everyone cooked the same dish in real-time and then enjoyed it together. This was hardly an original idea, but it was something I embraced and continue to do.

Samin Nosrat, the author of the book and Netflix series, “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat”, created the ultimate communal cooking experience last year called The Big Lasagna. On May 3, 2020, Samin hosted a virtual dinner party live on Instagram featuring her recipe for The Big Lasagna, and people from around the world came together to cook this very adaptable and delicious dish. It was a neat experience to know I was cooking the same recipe and eating it together with people from Kansas City to Kuala Lampur.

My idea: Let’s do a KU Law edition of The Big Lasagna.

Since International Pi Day – which is on March 14 – is on the horizon and falls at the end of our respite week, I propose we do a KU Law edition of The Big Lasagna using David Lebovitz’s version of Jacques Pépin’s Apple Crunch Tart. A tart is close enough to a pie, right? I hope people who are able will post photos, questions, tips, etc., on their year’s KU Law Facebook page on or around International Pi Day.

Follow this link for the recipe.

I’m looking forward to seeing your creations and connecting with you through food!

Pro tips:

  1. If you’re vegan or dairy-free, simply use vegan butter for the crust and to dot over the apples. You can also use melted vegan butter instead of egg wash for the top of the tart.
  2. I never use water in my pie crusts. Use vodka instead. I know it sounds crazy, but vodka creates a very crispy, crunchy crust. The reason for this is that the ethanol in vodka inhibits the production of gluten, which turns what would otherwise be a crunchy crust into a chewy one. There is nothing worse than a soggy or chewy pie crust.
  3. This recipe will work with a variety of fruits. Pears would be a logical substitute, but berries could work too. If you use fresh berries, I would toss in a few tablespoons of flour into the fruit mixture before you add it to the bottom crust to help control the juices. I would also skip dotting butter over the fruit before you add the top crust.
  4. If you cannot fathom making a pie crust – it’s not hard, believe me – you can get away with store-bought crust. Keep in mind, you will need two crusts for this recipe.

— By Doug Bartel, a 1L from Olathe and a KU Law Student Ambassador.

Valeria Carbajal: Why I went to law school

Law students Valeria Carbajal, Blaine Smith and Zack Combs attend a basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse. Photo courtesy of Valeria Carbajal.

I’m in the last semester of my 3L year, and it just doesn’t feel real. I refuse to believe that it’s been almost three years since I sat at Green Hall watching one friend draw a cow on the board, another sit across from me wearing a lobster costume, and Professor Laura Hines drawing her famous rendition of the United States. When people used to ask me “why” I came to law school, I felt bad that my answer wasn’t the usual “I want to help people” response. Of course, that’s one aspect of anything I do, but it wasn’t necessarily why I came to law school. I came to law school simply because I wanted to continue my education.

Law students Valeria Carbajal and Ryan Gordon pose for a photo at a classmate’s wedding. Photo courtesy of Valeria Carbajal.

That being said, I had to figure out what my “why” was to be able to get through law school because “continuing my education” was not going to cut it. I slowly began to create amazing friendships while having my loved ones cheering for me from afar. As I look back on all of the support I have had these past few years, above all is God. He has blessed me beyond words with some of the most loving friendships I have ever had. He got me through the darkest times, those moments where I had no strength to do anything other than lay in bed and cry because sure, law school is hard, but life in general can be confusing and difficult and painful. 

Law students Valeria Carbajal and Marisol Garcia pose for a photo in a field of sunflowers. Photo courtesy of Valeria Carbajal.

So, my “why” is because of God’s amazing grace. Because He placed me here for my good and His glory. Because He didn’t place me in Lawrence, Kansas, just to go to law school. He orchestrated all of the wonderful people I encountered and all the relationships I built. He placed believers in my life to serve them and for them to show me how absolutely beautiful life can be when Christ is the center of their life. He entrusted me with the responsibility and ability to serve and show others who He is, through me­ – even if it was just a glimpse. God has used these past three years to strengthen my relationship with Him because He knew He was the only one that could get me through these three years, and frankly through the next three as well. If I ever forget “why,” I should continue to do the mundane, the difficult and the stressful everyday work… He’s “why.” Because through it all He continues to be kind and give me continual grace, and will present me with constant opportunities in life, and now in my career, to serve, love and share the Gospel with others.

A group of law students pose for a photo at the Kansas City Power & Light District. Photo courtesy of Valeria Carbajal.

All this to say “thank you,” to all of the friends I’ve met during my time here, and to the KU Law staff and administration. I’m so grateful you were part of God’s plan for me.

— By Valeria Carbajal, a 3L from El Paso, Texas and a KU Law Student Ambassador.

Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way

Photo by Ashley Golledge

As a 3L in my final semester, it seems only appropriate that I use my time on this platform to get unabashedly sentimental about my law school experience. My dear friend, Ellen Bertels, has already taken the time to thank the many wonderful professors at KU Law who got us to this point, so I would like to thank a different but equally important group of people in the law school: the friends we made along the way.

It’s best to start with the before times. Before Zoom School of Law and an end to most social activities, law students had an active social calendar. Of course, we never let it interfere with our studies, but favorites such as TGITs (Thank God It’s Thursday), patio drinks at McClain’s, game nights, or trivia offered a good way to blow off steam after a long day trying to figure out the twenty-odd exceptions to the hearsay rule. It was during these times that I really got to know my classmates. Sure, in Green Hall, we all knew each other from our embarrassing cold call answers or from frantically reading in the informal commons five minutes before class, but outside of the law school we began to know and like each other as people. We grew to respect our differences and cherish the things we had in common. With a community of friends around me, the trials and tribulations of law school no longer seemed like life and death. Sure, I might have been stumped by several questions during my first oral argument, but my friends and I were still going to celebrate the experience with a beer.

You may be expecting me to say that everything changed with the pandemic. We’ve all read hundreds of stories now with that exact tagline. But the truth is, the things that mattered didn’t really change at all. Though we were forced to spend more time apart, I never lost touch with my friends. Whether it was through Zoom happy hours early in the pandemic, sly texts making fun of something during Zoom classes, or long walks on a nice day, I was still able to spend time with my dear friends. As it turns out, the people that got me through law school also got me through one of the worst years in recent memory.

It is because of this that I know I’ll never truly leave these people. Sure, we may be headed in different directions all over the country after graduation, but if we were able to stay connected during this pandemic, I know we can survive a bit of distance.

To all my dear friends in Green Hall, thank you. You made these last three years some of the best of my life. 

— By Jake Schmidt, a 3L from Atchison and a KU Law Student Ambassador.