Law School's Judicial Placements Set Record, Span Courthouses in Maryland and Beyond
June 8, 2009
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
Every year, regardless of the state of the economy or the size of the class, the University of Baltimore School of Law places dozens and dozens of budding attorneys with judges and courthouses for summer internships—experiences that arguably are unbeatable in terms of exposing students to both the rigors and the level of commitment that are demanded of the successful legal practitioner.
This summer, the school's Judicial Internship Program, directed by Associate Professor Byron Warnken, placed 131 UB law students in judicial settings, including 13 federal trial placements, 20 state appellate placements, 97 state trial placements, and one federal appellate placement. This bests the program's previous record of 111 summer placements, set in 2008. According to Warnken, the robust numbers indicate a high level of confidence between the school, its students and the state and federal judiciary. The program's success may be better than those of any other law school in the nation.
"It's just a huge number of placements, any way you look at it," Warnken said. "It's true that we are a large school located in a major metropolitan area, so we should do well by those factors. But it's more than that: I believe our success comes from a 30-year relationship of nurturing the members of the bench, and training them to nurture our students. It's a win-win that is hard to beat."
School of Law Dean Phillip J. Closius said that while there is no official count by which law schools can compare their summer placement rates, from his perspective UB is in the front ranks of this essential educational endeavor.
"These placements are one of the best ways that a student can take to heart the lessons of the classroom lecture or the study of a given case," Closius said. "Working with a judge, spending time in the courthouse and meeting the needs of the client—these are the stepping stones that inspire and encourage you as you become a lawyer. Obviously at UB we've gone to great lengths to ensure that our placements are successful. The work we do in this program is probably unmatched by any other law school in the country."
Warnken said that each year he spends January through May making connections between judges, court officials and students. By the end of the semester, the result is enthusiastic students journeying from UB to work in courthouses in nearly every county in Maryland, as well as in federal courthouses in Baltimore and elsewhere.
"It helps that in my 32 years of teaching law at UB, I have taught many of the people who are now sitting judges and court administrators in our state," Warnken said. "I know them, they know me, and they trust UB to find bright, talented students who want to consider the practice of law from their perspective."
All UB law students who have completed at least one year of law school and are in good academic standing are eligible for the Judicial Internship Program. Judicial interns may earn three or four pass/fail credits during the fall, spring, or summer semesters.
In addition to the judicial placements, the School of Law also places students in summer internships in a wide variety of non-judicial settings—nonprofits, agencies, law firms and so on. This year, 45 students, including 24 in their first year of law school, were placed. Every first-year student who requested an internship received one.
The school also offers the EXPLOR (EXPeriences in Legal ORGanizations) Program, a non-credit summer internship that ensures that all law students who have completed their first year and who seek an experience in a legal practice setting can do so.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts and the Merrick School of Business.