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School of Law | Externship Fair Provides Space for Students to Connect with Legal Community

Externship Fair Provides Space for Students to Connect with Legal Community

The Dayton Law Externship Office held its annual Externship Fair on February 3, providing more than 100 students the opportunity to interview for potential externships during the 2011¿2012 academic year.

Because all externship students are required to secure their own externship placements, the Externship Fair is a primary means for employers to meet with students to explore possible externship relationships. Representatives from almost 50 law firms, government agencies, courts and businesses participated in this year¿s fair.

Monique Lampke, law lecturer and externship faculty member, said that the fair is a great way for students to discuss a legal apprenticeship with experienced attorneys and judges in a relaxed atmosphere. "Students can quickly meet with representatives from law firms, corporations, governmental agencies or the courts to discuss what types of work an extern will receive, the types of observation opportunities that will be available, and how they can expect to develop core competency skills under solid supervision and mentorship at each placement," she said.

During the fair, 2L Richard Barnes secured an externship with Dayton attorney Barry Galen. Barnes said he went to fair prepared specifically looking for an externship with a small firm or solo practitioner, because that's the kind of work he would like to do once he earns his J.D.

"I focused my attention on those participants, and actually ended up taking an externship with the first person I spoke to," he said. "I spoke to other firms and individuals, but my initial research was correct and I ended up taking the externship offered at my initial interview."

During his externship, Barnes said, he hopes to "gain valuable legal experience that cannot be learned in a classroom."

"I chose a small firm/solo practitioner to not only gain legal experience," Barnes said, "but also to gain firsthand knowledge of the daily necessities of law practice management, which would not have been available if I took my externship with a large firm."

Several field supervisors who participated in the fair were impressed with students¿ eagerness to acquire legal experience, and were also pleased with the level of preparation and professionalism displayed by many students seeking externships.

Denise Platfoot Lacey, law lecturer and externship faculty member, noted that the fair demonstrates the legal community¿s eager participation in the School¿s Externship Program. "I heard so many positive comments from the legal community at the Externship Fair about Dayton Law¿s curriculum and the experiential learning experiences we are requiring our students participate in," she said. "We rely on them to provide excellent learning experiences for our students in externships, and it is so pleasing that they are overwhelming supportive of that mission and Dayton Law's curriculum."

Next year's Externship Fair will be held February 2, 2012.


Representatives from the following offices attended the 2011 fair:

Aaron G. Durden & Co., L.P.A.
Altick & Corwin Co., L.P.A.
Baker Concrete Construction, Inc.
Barry Galen Law
Behnke Martin & Schulte
Chambers of Judge Mary Wiseman, Montgomery County Common Pleas Court
Chambers of the Hon. Thomas M. Rose, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Chambers of U.S. Magistrate Judge Sharon L. Ovington
City of Dayton Prosecutor's Office
Clinton County Common Pleas Court
Coolidge Wall Co., L.P.A.
Cornerstone Research Group, Inc.
Dayton Metropolitan Housing
Dayton Public Schools
Gibson and O'Keefe
Gottschlich & Portune
Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues, LPA
ITS Financial, LLC
IUE-CWA
Law Office of Joseph C. Lucas, LLC
Luxottica
McNair Petroff, LLC
Montgomery County Child Support Enforcement Agency
Montgomery County Probate Court
Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office
Montgomery County Public Defender's Office
Ohio Attorney General's Office, Public Utilities Section
Ohio Court of Appeals, 2nd Appellate District
Ohio Legal Rights Service
Ohio State Legal Services Association
Pickrel, Schaeffer and Ebeling
Pohler & Associates, LLC
Sebaly Shillito & Dyer
Staton Fisher & Conboy
University of Dayton Office of Legal Affairs
U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General
U.S . Attorney's Office, Southern District of Ohio
Victory Wholesale Group
Warren County Child Support Enforcement Agency
Wells Law Office
Wright & VanNoy

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