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Attorney
By
Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession
Who?
Melissa Breger
Director of the Family Violence Clinic Assistant Clinical Professor
of Law
mbreg@mail.als.edu
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Child Advocacy (child welfare, juvenile delinquency, criminal,
family)
When?
Years in Practice Area:
Since 1994
Years in the Legal Profession:
Since 1994
Where?
Employer:
Albany Law
School
www.als.edu
Size/Sector:
Education
City/State:
Ann Arbor, MI
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Law School:
University of Michigan - 1994
Undergraduate School/Degree:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, BS 1991
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Personal gratification
is a plus; avoiding emotional burnout is a challenge.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
Strong litigation skills;
legal research; oral advocacy; compassion.
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
Keep pushing forward
even when discouraged.
How?
Career Path to Current Position:
I had worked in CALC
as a third year law student, and had become convinced of the need
to educate and prepare students for work in the child advocacy
field. Teaching future lawyers holds the most promise for effectively
changing this area of the law.
Influences and Mentors:
Jackie Deaney, NYU Prof. & Legal Aid Society
Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
"Representing Children in Child
Protection Proceedings," by Jean Koh Peter.
Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
I attended Michigan in order to join the Child Advocacy Clinic
and while in the clinic, I always envisioned returning here to
teach it.
Bar Affiliations and Activities:
American Association of Law Schools (AALS), Clinical Law Section,
Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) National Association
Counsel for Children (NACC) American Bar Association-Litigation
and Family Law Sections; Juvenile Justice Leadership Summit attendee
New York State Bar Association Michigan State Bar Association,
Children's Law Section, New York County Lawyers Association, Committee
on Family Court and Child Welfare; Monday Night Law Project (pro
bono services); Committee on Law-Related Education The Association
of the Bar of the City of New York, Community Outreach Law Program.
Related Publications:
Click here for an excerpt from
34 Family Law Quarterly 531 (Fall 2000) about Ms. Breger's professional
experiences.
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