January 7, 2010

Students at Cooley Law School’s Ann Arbor campus participate in Professionalism in Action orientation

More than 20 Washtenaw County area attorneys and judges mentored incoming students at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School's Ann Arbor campus on Jan. 7 when the State Bar of Michigan (SBM) and Cooley Law School continued their partnership to provide the Professionalism in Action orientation program. As part of their orientation to law school, all incoming students at each of Cooley's four campuses in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Auburn Hills and Ann Arbor, engage in small group discussions with veteran attorneys and judges on real-world ethical dilemmas and professional conduct.

Cooley and the SBM began partnering in 2009 on a pilot orientation program with an emphasis on ethics and professionalism. The SBM's Professionalism in Action orientation program is now available to any Michigan law school. "Cooley takes pride in its commitment to integrating ethics and professionalism into the fabric of its curriculum," said Joan Vestrand, associate dean of Cooley's Ann Arbor campus. "We believe that professionalism and ethics are every bit as important as a lawyer's legal knowledge and skills."

Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation. Founded in 1972, the private, non-profit law school operates J.D. programs across Michigan in Lansing, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor.Today, Cooley Law School has nearly 14,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and also offers joint degree and master of laws programs. Cooley offers enrollment three times a year; in January, May and September.

Charles R. Toy, president of the State Bar of Michigan and the dean of Cooley's career and professional development, speaks to incoming students at the Professionalism in Action orientation program.

Cooley students and Washtenaw County attorneys and judges discuss real-world ethical dilemmas and professional conduct in small groups during the Professionalism in Action orientation program. Pictured (center): Donald E. Shelton, Chief Judge of the Washtenaw County Circuit Court.

The Honorable J. Cedric Simpson of the 14A District Court in Ypsilanti presents the keynote address to incoming students at the Professionalism in Action orientation program.