May 28, 2010

Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly, Former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer,
the Michigan Court of Appeals, and Ten Metropolitan Detroit Bar Associations to Help Launch First-Ever ABA Sophomore Summer Institute

Students of Color, Low-Income, and Other Disadvantaged Students from 13 Colleges and Universities to Participate in Month-Long Academic Pre-Law Program

Approximately 75 judges and lawyers will join the American Bar Association Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Oakland University, and Thomas M. Cooley Law School to help diversify America's next generation of lawyers by providing an intensive, pre-law program free of charge to undergraduate students from Adrian College, Alabama A & M, Bowling Green, Delta College, Eastern Michigan, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina A & T, Oakland University, Purdue, Saginaw Valley, Wayne State, and Yale this summer.

The program, which starts June 1, 2010, at Cooley's Auburn Hills campus, will be kicked off by keynote speaker Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly of the Michigan Supreme Court.

"This is a great example of how lawyers and judges can join together with legal educators to address one of the most pressing challenges faced by the legal profession, which is to open our ranks so that the profession reflects the increasing diversity of the clients we serve," said John Nussbaumer, Associate Dean of the Auburn Hills campus. "Together, we hope to inspire and prepare these students for the rigors of securing admission to law school, graduating, and passing the bar examination."

Ten bar association are sponsoring luncheons and career exploration programs to help the students learn about the legal profession, including the Arab American Bar Association, Association of Black Judges, Hispanic Bar Association of Michigan, and the Straker and Wolverine Bar Associations, whose membership includes African American lawyers in Oakland and Wayne Counties. A complete list of the participating associations and schedule of events is attached.

The program will conclude on June 30, 2010 with closing ceremony remarks by former Detroit Mayor and ABA Past-President Dennis Archer, and with a Michigan Court of Appeals oral argument, thanks to the efforts of Judge Cynthia D. Stephens.

CLEO (Council on Legal Education Opportunity) SOPHMORE SUMMER INSTITUTE
Schedule of speakers

-June 1st (12:30 p.m.): Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly delivers the kick-off keynote address at orientation.

-June 7th (12 p.m. -1 p.m.): Hispanic Bar Association of Michigan Luncheon and Panel Presentation.

-June 8th (12 p.m. -1 p.m.): Federal Bar Association Luncheon and Panel Presentation.

-June 9th (12 p.m. -1 p.m.): Oakland County Bar Association Luncheon and Panel Presentation.

-June 10th (12 p.m. -1 p.m.): Macomb County Bar Association Luncheon and Panel Presentation.

-June 14th (12 p.m. -1 p.m.): Arab American Bar Association Luncheon and Panel Presentation.

-June 15th (12 p.m. -1 p.m.): Women Lawyers Association of Michigan Luncheon and Panel Presentation.

-June 17th (12 p.m. -1 p.m.): Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Luncheon and Panel Presentation.

-June 18th (12 p.m. -1 p.m.): Association of Black Judges of Michigan Luncheon and Panel Presentation.

-June 21st (12 p.m. -1 p.m.): Straker Bar Association Luncheon and Panel Presentation.

-June 22nd (12 p.m. -1 p.m.): Wolverine Bar Association Luncheon and Panel Presentation.

-June 30th (11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.): Dennis Archer will deliver the graduation speech to the students who successfully complete the program. The Michigan Court of Appeals also will hear an oral argument in a real case that the students have used for legal writing and appellate advocacy exercises.

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. Additional information about Cooley can be found at cooley.edu.