KU Lawyers: Ready to Work | 2015-2016

KU LAWYERS:

Ready to work

Graduates of KU Law enter the legal profession with the ideal balance of intellectual depth, practical knowledge, and real-world experience.

They learn under the guidance of top faculty with leading

national reputations. They develop the craft of the working lawyer through deposition, expert witness and other skills courses. They then bring those talents to bear in the real world through our extensive clinical programs, giving them opportunities to represent real clients with challenging legal issues.

Simply put: When

KU Lawyers join your organization, they are ready to think, act and work as lawyers from day one.

On the cover: Taylor Ray, L’17, left, worked as a summer associate at Lathrop & Gage LLP in Kansas City, Missouri, where she gained experience in environmental law, tax law, business litigation, banking and creditors’ rights, and corporate work. Ian Patterson, L’16, spent the summer at Koprince Law LLC, a Lawrence, Kansas, firm focused exclusively on federal government contracts law.

CERTIFICATE

Advocacy Certificate

ACADEMICS

16 45

class hours per week

study hours per week

EXPERIENCE

PUBLIC & PRIVATE:

Kylie Kuhns, L’16

U.S. Attorney (Kansas City) Douglas County District Attorney Trial Advocacy Mock Trial Team Project for Innocence & Post-Conviction Remedies

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

“KU Law’s clinics and externships allowed me

Has a black belt in tae kwon do, bikes to school every day and competes in half marathons and 25K trail runs.

to gain practical skills and experience. I came to KU Law thinking I wanted to be a criminal defense attorney like my father. Through my internship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I developed an understanding of their role in preserving our system of justice and protecting the public. Whether on the side of the prosecution or the defense, I look forward to a career serving my community.”

Summer internship: Douglas County District Attorney, Lawrence, KS

SCHOOL & WORK 15%

exercise

17%

class time

47%

study time

21%

work time

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Intellectual depth When you hire a KU Lawyer, you hire a professional with the intellectual depth necessary to solve complex legal, business, organizational and social problems.

KU Lawyers are taught by professors who are experts in their

fields, with more than one-third authoring casebooks and treatises used at law schools nationwide. Faculty also remain active with the bench and bar, continuing to argue cases before state and federal courts, and shaping the creation of new law.

With first-year small sections and half of upper-level classes of 25 or

fewer students, KU Lawyers undergo an intense academic experience.

Small classes allow lectures to students to become conversations with students, where ideas are explored and conclusions are challenged.

KU Lawyers bring highly developed research and writing skills

to their first day of practice. Their training begins with a year-long course in Lawyering Skills, where they learn the fundamentals of legal research and writing. Over the next two years, they refine these skills through upper-level writing courses and service on the Kansas Law Review and the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy.

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SEASONED LAWYERS, COMMITTED TEACHERS PROFESSOR UMA OUTKA works at the intersection of energy law and environmental law, focusing on renewable energy and the transition to a low-carbon electricity sector. Her scholarship has appeared in the Stanford Environmental Law Journal and other leading publications. With a professional background in public policy and advocacy, Outka engages her students in real-world sustainability issues by taking them to hear oral arguments in relevant cases before the Kansas Supreme Court and to attend EPA listening sessions.

A nationally known authority on constitutional law, PROFESSOR STEPHEN MCALLISTER co-authored the definitive casebook on state constitutional law. He was a two-time clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court and has argued before the high court nine times. McAllister also serves as Kansas solicitor general, assisting the attorney general’s office with constitutional litigation. A former dean of the law school, McAllister keeps the regional bar up to date on the latest Supreme Court decisions through regular CLE presentations.

As director of the Legal Aid Clinic, PROFESSOR MELANIE DEROUSSE engages students in realworld, client-centered practice. Her scholarly interests focus on poverty, education and child welfare. She previously advocated for survivors of intimate partner violence as an attorney at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. A frequent CLE presenter, DeRousse also implemented a diversion and rehabilitation program for juvenile offenders in Florida and South Carolina.

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Ashley Akers, L’16, earned the top oral advocate prize in KU’s 2015 In-House Moot Court Competition.

4

Best draft agreement at the Transactional LawMeet regional competition in Chicago (2015)

2

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Finalists in the National Native American Law Students Association Moot Court Competition (2015)

2

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Second-best brief in the Thurgood A. Marshall Memorial Moot Court Competition (2015)

Practical know-how When you hire a KU Lawyer, you hire a professional who has translated academic coursework into practical know-how, giving her the skills to depose witnesses, manage clients, negotiate deals and argue before judges.

KU Lawyers understand the art of

the deal. Through the new Polsinelli Center for Transactional Law and courses like Corporate Transactions and Taxation of Business Enterprises, students come to appreciate the complexities of negotiation and the challenges of drafting agreements.

JACK KILROY, L’73 & TOM KOKORUDA, L’72 Shareholders, Polsinelli PC, Kansas City, MO

They also learn how tax liabilities impact

“Polsinelli is deeply invested in the

the bottom line.

future of KU Law. We’ve sponsored

moot court teams for 30 years and

In the courtroom, the best advocates

know how to win a case long before trial.

Through the Shook, Hardy & Bacon Center for Excellence in Advocacy, students take depositions, examine experts and select jurors under the trained eyes of top litigators.

They develop skills every lawyer needs,

will help train the next generation of business lawyers through the new Polsinelli Center for Transactional Law at KU. Polsinelli is proud to have 65 KU Law grads, and we look

saving you significant training, time and

forward to interviewing on campus

expense. In courses like Practice in Kansas

each year to hire more.”

and the Deposition Skills and Expert Witness workshops, students cultivate practical pleading and discovery skills essential to success in any practice.

KU Lawyers possess the ability to communicate with clarity and

economy. Through a successful moot court program, they hone research, writing and oral advocacy skills of value in the courtroom and the board room.

5

ACROSS KANSAS & AROUND THE WORLD:

Nicole Marcotte, L’17 INTERESTS

Criminal Litigation

CERTIFICATE

Advocacy Certificate

SCHOOL & WORK

30 13 20 12

KANSAS CONNECTIONS

study hours per week

Manhattan | Lawrence | Kansas City

class hours per week

SERVICE & EXPERIENCE KU Court of Parking Appeals

clinic hours per week

Project for Innocence & Post-Conviction Remedies

Traffic Court hours/week

KU Student Senate Elections Commission (Chairwoman) Student Federal Bar Association

“KU Law offers a great combination of intellectual rigor and practical learning opportunities, and I’ve taken advantage of both. I’m one of the few students you’ll see in both tax and litigation classes. With my range of experience, I look forward to offering value to a general practice firm in a smaller Kansas community where my wife and I can raise our family.”

Summer internship: Hampton & Royce LC, Salina, KS

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“Through KU’s Judicial Clinic, I had the opportunity to spend my summer in the chambers of a federal judge.

Hearing the judge’s and law clerks’ thoughts on what attorneys did well or could have done differently was incredibly revealing. I will carry these and other lessons I’ve learned as a KU Law student with me when I enter private practice.”

Summer internship: Judge Kathryn Vratil, U.S. District Court, Kansas City, KS

COMMUNITIES LARGE & SMALL:

John Mattox, L’16 FAMILY

ACADEMICS

25 15

study hours per week class hours per week

CERTIFICATE Tax Law Certificate

EXPERIENCE Douglas County District Court (Judicial Clerk) KU Court of Parking Appeals (Chief En Banc)

COMMITTED TO KANSAS

Salina Lindsborg

Federalist Society (President) Lawrence

Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy (Articles Editor) KU Mock Trial Team

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Real-world experience When you hire a KU Lawyer, you hire a professional with realworld experience, acquired through an outstanding clinical program, internships with firms and agencies, and judicial clerkships at the trial and appellate levels of federal and state courts.

KU Lawyers participate in one of the most

vibrant clinical programs in the country. They

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distinct clinics and externships offered

221

clinical/externship positions filled by students (2014-15)

72

students received NITA-style skills training in KU workshops on expert witnesses and depositions (2015)

254

students participated in interschool skills competitions and law journals (2014-15)

work alongside state and national legislators to explore and craft laws and public policy. Under limited admission to the bar, they represent real clients in real matters, managing extensive dockets and arguing before trial and appellate courts throughout Kansas. They conduct indepth research for the Kansas Supreme Court, aiding efforts to improve the administration of justice throughout the state. They develop tribal code in Indian Country and work alongside medical students in the urban core, helping patients with a variety of legal issues that may impact their health and access to health care.

Through clerkships at corporations and

firms, students learn how to practice in the private sector. They come to understand the importance of helping their clients achieve their goals efficiently and economically.

A KU Lawyer’s intellectual depth and

practical know-how are tested and refined in these real-world experiences. Equipped with this intense training, KU Lawyers offer immediate value to you and your clients.

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INTERESTS Business Litigation Contracts Alternative Dispute Resolution

ACADEMICS

15 35

class hours per week

study hours per week

EXPERIENCE Intern for Kansas Rep. Rob Bruchman

BOARDROOM & COURTROOM:

Brian Vanorsby, L’17

Project for Innocence & Post-Conviction Remedies Judicial Clerk for Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Melissa Taylor Standridge

“The Project for Innocence was an incredible experience because I was given my own caseload and treated as if I were an attorney. Not many students get that type of experience during their 1L summer. I spoke with attorneys and judges frequently, filed orders with the court, and wrote a direct appeal to the Kansas Court of Appeals.

The writing and investigation experience alone will

SCHOOL & WORK 18%

work

44%

19%

class time

study time

19%

research assistant

be invaluable to my career. The emphasis KU places on practical skills has been particularly helpful as I’ve worked with attorneys, legislators and judges.”

Summer internship: Rep. Rob Bruchman, Kansas Legislature, Topeka, KS

ACTIVITIES Phi Alpha Delta (Vice President) Federal Bar Association (KU Student Chapter)

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The KU Law difference: one-to-one matching For employers, the difference begins with our focus on one-to-one matching of potential candidates to you. Because hiring is expensive, time-consuming and risky, our goal is to help you identify the ideal KU Lawyer, not just hand you a stack GARTH HERRMANN, L’06 Director, Gilmore & Bell PC, Wichita, KS

of resumes. We come to your office to learn about your business and future plans, developing an understanding of your organization’s culture.

“The level of competence and

confidence demonstrated by

on-campus interviews, posting jobs and hosting social

KU Law students at Legal Career Options Day and the Small and Midsize Firms Fair makes it easy to see

With this knowledge, we go beyond arranging

events. We help you focus your search, identifying specific students who are not only a good match on paper, but who will also prosper as a part of your team.

For students, the difference starts with intense

individual attention. With student meetings averaging

why, when it comes time for

one hour, we are able to meaningfully address immediate

Gilmore & Bell to choose

needs, explore interests and assess progress. We teach

lawyers that we anticipate

students how to network, assigning homework requiring

will become leaders in our

them to develop and execute a detailed networking plan.

field, KU Law is at the top

of our list.”

As with employers, this focused attention allows us

to understand students individually, helping them develop into the best possible candidates for you. You can be sure

that the KU Lawyer you hire possesses the critical client management and business development skills that only come from real-world experience.

One-to-one matching: the KU Law difference.

ARTURO THOMPSON, L’06 Assistant Dean for Career Services

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WORKING WITH KU LAW IS EASY We view you as a customer. It is our job to make it easy for you to work with us. We will come to you, anywhere in the country, to better understand and serve you. We help organizations like yours do everything from post jobs and plan events to develop long-term hiring strategies and succession plans.

Across the country — from small towns to big cities, large firms

to solo shops, and private companies to government agencies — we look forward to serving you. Career Services Office programs include:

TRAVELING OCI PROGRAM

RURAL & SOLO PROGRAM

6TH SEMESTER IN D.C.

Taking students to

Exposing students to

Empowering students

interview in some

the great opportunities

to spend their final

of the most dynamic

to practice in smaller

semester in D.C.,

legal markets in the

communities and

taking classes from

United States through

across the country, and

KU Law faculty while

a program in which

developing skills of

working as public

all travel costs are

value in any small firm,

interest externs

covered by the

from metropolis to

at agencies and

law school.

Main Street.

nonprofits.

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KU Law at a glance

23 36 38 52

“Go-To Law Schools” ranking for number of grads promoted to partner at NLJ 250 firms in 2014

Ranking among public law schools in 2016 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools”

Top 19% of law schools for overall employment, with 92% of 2014 grads in jobs within 10 months

Top 26% of law schools for 2014 grads in full-time, long-term JD-required and JD-advantage positions

WHERE OUR GRADUATES GO KU Law graduates from just the past five years practice in more than 30 states, the District of Columbia and 8 countries. They live and work on both coasts and throughout the Midwest.

UNITED STATES & WORLDWIDE

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Belgium Canada

China Hong Kong

Japan Qatar

Singapore South Korea

SARAH STRUNK, L’85 Chair of the Board, Fennemore Craig PC, Phoenix, AZ

“Students from KU are typically more well-rounded than other candidates. In my experience, they are capable of handling difficult or stressful legal matters while being pleasant, polite and professional with colleagues and clients. Those qualities, almost always, result in long-term success in this profession.”

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Contact us to hire a KU Lawyer.

Office of Career Services | 784-864-4377 Arturo Thompson Assistant Dean, Career Services 784-864-9257 | arturot@ku.edu Leah Terranova Director of Career Services 784-864-4357 | leaht@ku.edu

Green Hall 1535 W. 15th Street Lawrence, KS 66045-7608

law.ku.edu HON. STEPHANIE MITCHELL, L’06 Judge, 291st Judicial District, Dallas, TX

“As a graduate, I know that my adopted hometown will benefit from ever greater numbers of exceptional Jayhawk lawyers. The school’s Traveling OCI Program allows me to interview current KU Law students face-to-face in Dallas—as if the school were just down the street—and invite them to join our legal community during their summers and after graduation.”

Photography by KU Marketing Communications and Earl Richardson The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.