Practicum Program Procedures

The following is a list of administrative procedures the Clinic/Skills Administrator fulfills each semester to set up practicum sites/mentor-attorneys for students registered in the practicums:

1. Each student registered for a practicum fills out a "Site Preference" form on which they list their first, second and third choices for their field experience. Preference is given to third year students, followed by second year students in the alphabetical order in which they register for classes that semester. In order to be eligible for certification under the Student Practice Rules, all students registered for a practicum must be in good academic standing. The Clinic/Skills Administrator confirms this with the Registrar and the list of eligible students is then sent to the Clerk of the Supreme Court to be certified under the Student Practice Rules.
2. Once all the students have listed their field choices, the process of contacting site mentor-attorneys, and/or judges begins and initial interviews are set up by the Clinic/Skills Administrator. The student is then given the name and phone number of the mentor to contact. Students are advised that the initial interview is to discuss their goals for the practicum, set up working hours, job tasks, etc.
3. Prior to the mid-semester, the Clinic/Skills Administrator contacts each site supervisor mentor-attorney for feedback on each student via a "Mid-semester Phone Call". This information is recorded and kept in each individual student's file for review by the Faculty Practicum Director. The Administrator then schedules mid-semester interviews with each student and the Faculty Practicum Director. Prior to the interview, students are required to complete a "Mid-semester Evaluation" form, and also a "Goals Statement", "Ethics Paper", "Journal", time card, and any work product completed to date. All requirements are placed in each individual student's file for review by the Faculty Practicum Director.
4. The Clinic/Skills Administrator keeps a log of all requirements for each student registered for a practicum. Students are reminded several times throughout the semester (Completion of Practicum Requirement Memorandum) of requirements needed for completion of the course and what each student has accumulated thus far.
5. Final or exit interviews are scheduled prior to finals. The Clinic/Skills Administrator sends out evaluation forms to each supervising mentor-attorney prior to these interviews and contacts each student to remind them to fulfill all requirements by the end of classes and to schedule exit interviews with the Director.