| Originally published in Student
Lawyer magazine, February 2006 (Vol. 34, No. 6). All rights
reserved.
LIAISON NOTEBOOK
Liaison Notebook includes reports of Law Student Division members
who represent the Division in the ABA's practice-related sections,
divisions, forums, and other entities. For information on how to
become a student liaison, visit www.abanet.org/lsd/elections
and scroll down to "Liaisons."
Section of Labor and Employment Law Works for Law Students
by Sean Deskins
The ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law is working hard to
reach out to law students throughout the country. In the past year,
the section expanded the Nationwide Mentoring Program and the Labor
and Employment Law Trial Advocacy Competition.
For several years, the section has sponsored the Nationwide Mentoring
Program to provide young lawyers with opportunities to network and
obtain advice from seasoned practitioners. Because of the overwhelming
support by lawyers in the section who are willing to serve as mentors,
the program leadership has extended the program to third-year law
students.
To participate, visit www.abanet.org/labor/mentors.html
and complete an online application. The staff will use the information
to match students with lawyers according to subspecialty (e.g.,
employee benefits, equal employment opportunity) and affiliation
(e.g., employer, union, individual employee).
The program gives mentors and mentees the flexibility to determine
the extent of their relationship. Some mentoring pairs meet in person
regularly for lunch to discuss career strategies or substantive
law, while others converse over the telephone and e-mail. The Nationwide
Mentoring Program is a great networking and career development opportunity
that every third-year student interested in labor and employment
law should consider.
Last year, the section held its first-annual Labor and Employment
Law Trial Advocacy Competition in Washington, D.C. Because of the
competition’s success and the outstanding quality of the teams,
the section decided to expand the competition to the West Coast.
In November 2005, the section held a competition in Los Angeles
in addition to its Washington, D.C., competition. Eventually, the
section hopes to sponsor a national competition so even more students
can participate.
These programs are just two examples of how the Section of Labor
and Employment Law is working for law students. This section is
a great place for law students to network and learn more about labor
and employment law. To join the section and to learn about additional
opportunities for law students, please visit www.abanet.org/labor.
Sean Deskins, a student at the University of Louisville School
of Law, is the ABA Law Student Division’s liaison to the Section
of Labor and Employment Law.
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