www.wmitchell.eduPerspectives on the Legal Profession
See also: Typical PLP questions
The legal system in the United States is a complex, sophisticated culture created to serve a diverse citizenry. It is the challenge and duty of each law school to prepare its students to function successfully in the U.S. legal system, and to serve society with dignity and integrity. The Perspectives on the Legal Profession (PLP) Program, a requirement that begins during your first year of law school and extends into the first semester of your second year, is designed to achieve these important goals. Timely completion of the PLP program is a graduation requirement.
The various PLP components seek to address the most important aspects of the United States legal system. The first three components will be satisfied through Orientation and your regularly scheduled classes. As to the remaining five components, you will have a variety of programs from which to select throughout the year.
Ethics and Professionalism
Lawyers are professionals obligated to uphold the highest ethical standards for the protection of clients, the legal system, and the profession. As a part of the Orientation program, you are required to attend a session on Ethics and Professionalism.
A Lawyer's Role in Society
Lawyers play many important roles in society. The demographics of the profession have changed over the years and continue to change at a fast pace. As a part of the Orientation program, you are required to attend a session on A Lawyer's Role in Society.
Civil Procedure
A democratic society functions most effectively if procedural rules are observed. It is important that law students augment their "as seen on TV" understanding of court proceedings and gain a more accurate picture of the various stages a civil lawsuit undergoes. You will be introduced to the stages of legal proceedings through your first year courses, especially Civil Procedure and Writing & Representation: Advice & Persuasion (WRAP).
1. Judicial Proceeding
Requirement: Attend at least two adjudicative proceedings outside the law school.
Legal decision-making is a complex process that relies on the expertise of judges, lawyers, hearing officers, and arbitrators. As part of the first-year WRAP program, you will attend a session of a visiting court in the fall and a trial court session in the spring. In addition you are required to observe at least one hour of an adjudicative proceeding outside the law school. You may fulfill this requirement by observing a trial, a hearing on a dispositive motion (e.g., summary judgment), settlement conference, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) hearing, or an administrative hearing (e.g., workers' compensation hearing).
2. Perspectives
Requirement: Attend at least two programs.
Law is created and implemented in a changing, multifaceted society. The law is derived from an array of cultural, political, economic, social, and religious traditions, and it touches all aspects of life in the United States. Each year, many scholars, practitioners, and community leaders are invited to visit the college to present a variety of perspectives on current and important legal issues. Throughout the year, programs and lectures that satisfy the Perspectives requirement of PLP will be announced. Examples of such programs include the following:
- Annual Alumni Lecture
- Annual Mel Goldberg Symposium on Justice
- Faculty-Student Forum Series
3. Justice in a Diverse Society (JDS)
Requirement: Attend at least two programs.
Lawyers and the communities they serve are becoming increasingly diverse; discrimination and denial of equal treatment undermines the rights of individuals and affects us all. It is our goal to provide programs that explore the different, unique populations that enrich our society. We believe that legal education thrives best in an inclusive culture — one that appreciates and values differences in a way that everyone can achieve his or her full potential. Throughout the year, programs and lectures that satisfy the JDS requirement will be announced.
4. Careers in Law
Requirement: Attend at least two programs.
The work of a lawyer encompasses a broad sector of American life, and the scope of "the practice of law" is ever changing. Law students may choose to practice law in a law firm or by themselves, seek to work for a nonprofit public interest group, work in government or an administrative agency, clerk for a judge, teach, work as corporate counsel, or pursue a wide variety of other options. Throughout the year, the Career Development office will provide several programs that will explore the many possible career paths that students may pursue. Specific programs offered in the past have included:
- Career Development program specifically designed for first-year students
- Career Development program specifically designed for students interested in judicial clerkships or in specialized practice (e.g. public interest, business law, or government)
- Dean's Roundtable Session
5. Stress Management and Healthy Lifestyle
Requirement: Attend at least two programs.
Legal education and the practice of law is often exciting and rewarding, but it also can be stressful. It is our goal to provide programs that will help students deal well with the workload and stress of law school, and develop a pattern that will serve them well throughout their legal career. We want students to focus on their legal education, but we also want each student to spend time with loved ones, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and generally enjoy their time at William Mitchell. Throughout the year, the Counseling Center is available to students and participants. Likely programs include the following:
- Turning the Pressures of Law School into a Positive Experience
- Easy Strategies for Optimal Performance in Law School
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Meditation
- Using Positive Strategies for Managing Anxiety and Preventing Burn-Out
- Maintaining Healthy Family Relationships
- Balancing Family, Work, and School