Pre-Law Program
at Miami University
Shadowing Program
The Shadowing Program allows Miami students to shadow lawyers for up to one week during the winter, spring and summer breaks. Through this experience, students gain first-hand knowledge about the work that real lawyers do every day. For example, students have:
- Sat on the bench with a judge and helped render decisions in real cases
- Assisted with legal research
- Helped teach a high school law class
- Toured a children's hospital and reviewed alleged child abuse cases
- Visited a juvenile detention center and a school for troubled youth
- Taken photographs of a bullet-ridden car that were later used in trial
- Sat through a serial murder trial
Requirements
After the experience, students are required to submit:
- a shadowing journal, detailing their experiences
- a photograph of the student with their attorney
Student and Attorney Perspectives
Jenna Ward & Attorney Steven Levy (2010)
Overall, I have had a wonderful shadowing experience and would highly recommend it to any Miami student who has already applied or is even thinking about law school. The media tends to portray that being a lawyer is going to be like a real-life episode of Law and Order. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth. Through this experience I have been able to see first-hand how a law firm really operates which has solidified my desire to pursue a career in law. Further, Mr. Levy and many of his associates were more than gracious to answer any questions that I had about law school and becoming a lawyer.
- Jenna Ward
It was a real pleasure. I enjoyed seeing how interested Jenna was in so many things that I have come to take for granted. Jenna is very bright and personable, and she really asked great questions. It was fun having her around, and fun talking about where she should go to law school and what her future practice might look like. Jenna made a great impression on everyone she dealt with at the firm, and everyone is genuinely interested in finding out where she will go to law school and wishes her great success. I hope that if she wants to bat around any issues she will feel free to give us a call. It was also interesting to me that the law classes that Miami is now offering seem to be much more varied and in depth than the ones I took at Miami. Jenna had a good grasp of many concepts that I didn't learn about until law school, which is great.
- Steven Levy
Jessamyn Glover & Attorney Christopher Williams (2009)
I truly enjoyed seeing what attorneys do. I learned a little about legal research, went to a few court cases and got to listen in on conference calls. I also met various lawyers from other law firms and got to help teach a class at John Marshall High School in Cleveland. I liked that Mr. Williams had many exciting things planned for me. I got to visit two other law firms and I went to three trials. I talked to various lawyers (many Miami alums) who gave me advice for undergrad and law school.
- Jessamyn Glover
Megan Clark & Attorney Todd Rodgers (2009)
I had a great shadowing experience over Spring Break and would highly recommend it to other students who are thinking about law school. When I learned of the opportunity through the Pre-Law Program office, I was immediately interested and thought it would be tremendously valuable to network with a Miami grad who went on to attend law school. Mr. Rodgers was an excellent attorney to shadow. He was kind enough to give me honest advice and explain to me what he does on a daily basis. It was great to be able to ask someone questions who was once in my shoes. Seeing his success and hearing about the benefits of his legal education made me feel more motivated to work towards my career goals.
- Megan Clark
Lynda Given (Partner, Chapman & Cutler, Chicago; 2009)
This was a great experience and an opportunity for me to give back even in a small way to Miami. Providing this experience to worthy students is very valuable to them as they begin to chart their careers. I wish the program had been available when I was a student.
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