Vivek Sankaran profile - Eastern Michigan University · Vivek Sankaran profile From Page 1 What’s...
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Page 2, Washtenaw County Legal News Monday, January 19, 2015 W ASHTENAW COUNTY LEGAL NEWS Published every Monday and Thursday by The Detroit Legal News Publishing L.L.C. Bradley L. Thompson II, President Suzanne Favale, Publisher Julie McClellan, General Manager Brian Cox, Editor ([email protected]) Sheila Pursglove, Staff Writer ([email protected]) Mary Steinmetz, Circulation Manager Toll-Free 1-866-857-0873 Suzanne Ketner, Display Advertising ([email protected]) Suzanne McCartney, Classified Ads ([email protected]) 2301 Platt Road, Suite 300, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Telephone: (734) 477-0201 E-mail: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATE: Single Copy – 50¢ One year – $80 Vivek Sankaran profile From Page 1 What’s your proudest moment as a lawyer? Tie. Winning In re Sanders at the Michigan Supreme Court, which eliminated the unconstitutional practice of placing children in foster care even though their parents had not been proven to be unfit. Or helping a teenager who had spent her life in foster care find a permanent home. If you were starting all over again and couldn’t go into law, what career path would you choose? Run a mentoring organi- zation like Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Or be a kindergarten teacher. What is something most people don't know about you? I can’t swim and I’m colorblind. What’s the best advice you ever received? Work hard to be your own boss. Favorite place to spend money: NorthFace, Amazon What is your motto? Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. What is your favorite quote? “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” Bryan Stevenson What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Being a father to three wonderful children. What is the most unusual thing you have done? Become obsessed with CrossFit. Where would you like to be when you’re 90? Sitting in my sun- room, sipping on a cup of tea, reading the newspaper and still finding ways to help others. Photo courtesy of EMU EMU paralegal student Melissa Grima (left) and EMU paralegal professor Robin Dec assist a client. Ten years ago, The Washte- naw County/Eastern Michigan University Legal Resource Cen- ter (LRC) opened its doors. Since that time, more than 34,699 Washtenaw County com- munity members have received assistance with court forms from EMU paralegal students as part of their University course work. The LRC is the only universi- ty-supported paralegal clinic of its kind in the country, where students in the program work under the supervision of faculty and attorneys for course credit. The center is a collaborative effort between Washtenaw County, its judges and attorneys and Eastern Michigan. “This is a tremendous, posi- tive contribution to the commu- nity by our paralegal students, EMU and the LRC sharehold- ers,” said Nancy Caine Harbour, paralegal program coordinator at Eastern. “The Carnegie Founda- tion for the Advancement of Teaching just recognized Eastern Michigan University for its deep level of community engagement, and the LRC was part of this community engagement, which is a high honor,” said Harbour. At the LRC, paralegal stu- dents assist community members who cannot afford an attorney with court forms in four civil legal areas: family law, probate, landlord tenant and small claims. This includes civil matters such as divorce, child custody and personal protection orders. The students also provide information on various legal procedures for navigating the court system. Students have the option to work at the LRC to fulfill their required internship course, typi- cally after they have completed the core legal courses. “The LRC experience allows our students to get hands-on paralegal experience right where the action is - in the courthouse” said Harbour. “It’s a great way to get inside the law without incur- ring the tremendous debt of today’s law school education. And with a paralegal degree, our students can immediately enter the law profession.” According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 6,110 paralegals employed in Michigan during 2011, with a statewide average annual income of $50,800 and those in the top ten percent earning an average of $72,520. The majority of parale- gals in Michigan find employ- ment in private law firms, corpo- rations and state or federal gov- ernment offices. The EMU paralegal studies program offers two bachelor of science degree options in parale- gal studies. The undergraduate degree program is for students without a four-year college degree. A second bachelor’s degree program is offered for students who already have a four- year college degree from an accredited college or university. In this option, a student can earn a second bachelor of science degree with the completion of a minimum of 50 semester hours of program courses. “In our paralegal program, students essentially receive the first two years of law school courses at a university level,” said Harbour. “The program is approved by the American Bar Association, which is the gold standard for paralegal studies programs, and many of our para- legal graduates write to me and tell me how helpful, for example, the legal research and writing courses were to their success, not only in law school but in the legal profession.” The Legal Resource Center is located on the first floor of the Washtenaw County Courthouse at 101 E. Huron Street in down- town Ann Arbor, and is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thurs- days during regular court hours. For more information about paralegal programs, visit www.emich.edu/cot/undergrad_p aralegal.htm. For information about the Legal Resource Center, contact Nancy Harbour at nhar- [email protected] or 487-7790. EMU Legal Resource Center celebrates 10th anniversary Mark the Date • The Bankruptcy Law Section will meet at noon, Thursday, Jan. 22, at 200 N. Main, Lower Level. • Meet & Greet the Judges, Strolling Reception, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22, Weber's Inn, 3050 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor. This is a joint event with Washtenaw County Bar Association, The Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Washtenaw Region, and The Vanzetti Hamilton Bar Association. Meet the newly appointed, newly elected or re-elected judges: Hon. Patrick Conlin, Jr., Hon. Richard Conlin, Hon. Christopher Easthope, Hon. Elisha Fink, Hon. Julia Owdziej, Hon. Anthony Patti, Hon. Charles Pope and Hon. David Swartz. The cost is $28. Email [email protected]. • The Immigration Law Section will meet at noon, Monday, Jan. 26, at 200 N. Main, Lower Level, with Section Co-Chairs Brad Thomson and Heather Garvock. Speaker: Anya Abramzon of Jewish Family Services will discuss “JFS Services/Initiatives in Washtenaw County.” • The Public Service Committee will hold a meeting noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the WCBA Office, Suite 1111,1st Floor of the County Courthouse, 101 E. Huron, Ann Arbor. Everyone is welcome. Participants may bring their own lunch. UPCOMING EVENTS
Transcript of Vivek Sankaran profile - Eastern Michigan University · Vivek Sankaran profile From Page 1 What’s...
Page 2, Washtenaw County Legal News Monday, January 19, 2015
WASHTENAW COUNTYLEGAL NEWS
Published every Monday and Thursday by
The Detroit Legal News Publishing L.L.C.
Bradley L. Thompson II, President
Suzanne Favale, Publisher
Julie McClellan, General Manager
Brian Cox, Editor ([email protected])
Sheila Pursglove, Staff Writer ([email protected])
Mary Steinmetz, Circulation Manager
Toll-Free 1-866-857-0873
Suzanne Ketner, Display Advertising ([email protected])
Suzanne McCartney, Classified Ads ([email protected])
2301 Platt Road, Suite 300, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Telephone: (734) 477-0201E-mail: [email protected]
SUBSCRIPTION RATE:
Single Copy – 50¢
One year – $80
Vivek Sankaran profileFrom Page 1
What’s your proudest moment as a lawyer? Tie. Winning Inre Sanders at the Michigan Supreme Court, which eliminated theunconstitutional practice of placing children in foster care eventhough their parents had not been proven to be unfit. Or helping ateenager who had spent her life in foster care find a permanenthome.
If you were starting all over again and couldn’t go into law,what career path would you choose? Run a mentoring organi-zation like Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Or be a kindergartenteacher.
What is something most people don't know about you? Ican’t swim and I’m colorblind.
What’s the best advice you ever received? Work hard to beyour own boss.
Favorite place to spend money: NorthFace, Amazon
What is your motto? Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
What is your favorite quote? “Each of us is more than the worstthing we’ve ever done.” Bryan Stevenson
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Beinga father to three wonderful children.
What is the most unusual thing you have done? Becomeobsessed with CrossFit.
Where would you like to be when you’re 90? Sitting in my sun-room, sipping on a cup of tea, reading the newspaper and stillfinding ways to help others.
Photo courtesy of EMU
EMU paralegal student Melissa Grima (left) and EMU paralegal professor Robin Dec assist a client.
Ten years ago, The Washte-naw County/Eastern MichiganUniversity Legal Resource Cen-ter (LRC) opened its doors.Since that time, more than34,699 Washtenaw County com-munity members have receivedassistance with cour t formsfrom EMU paralegal students aspart of their University coursework.
The LRC is the only universi-ty-supported paralegal clinic ofits kind in the country, wherestudents in the program workunder the supervision of facultyand attorneys for course credit.The center is a collaborativeeffor t between WashtenawCounty, its judges and attorneysand Eastern Michigan.
“This is a tremendous, posi-tive contribution to the commu-nity by our paralegal students,EMU and the LRC sharehold-ers,” said Nancy Caine Harbour,paralegal program coordinator at
Eastern. “The Carnegie Founda-tion for the Advancement ofTeaching just recognized EasternMichigan University for its deeplevel of community engagement,and the LRC was part of thiscommunity engagement, whichis a high honor,” said Harbour.
At the LRC, paralegal stu-dents assist community memberswho cannot afford an attorneywith court forms in four civillegal areas: family law, probate,landlord tenant and small claims.This includes civil matters suchas divorce, child custody andpersonal protection orders. Thestudents also provide informationon various legal procedures fornavigating the court system.
Students have the option towork at the LRC to fulfill theirrequired internship course, typi-cally after they have completedthe core legal courses.
“The LRC experience allowsour students to get hands-on
paralegal experience right wherethe action is - in the courthouse”said Harbour. “It’s a great way toget inside the law without incur-ring the tremendous debt oftoday’s law school education.And with a paralegal degree, ourstudents can immediately enterthe law profession.”
According to the FederalBureau of Labor Statistics, therewere 6,110 paralegals employedin Michigan during 2011, with astatewide average annual incomeof $50,800 and those in the topten percent earning an average of$72,520. The majority of parale-gals in Michigan find employ-ment in private law firms, corpo-rations and state or federal gov-ernment offices.
The EMU paralegal studiesprogram offers two bachelor ofscience degree options in parale-gal studies. The undergraduatedegree program is for studentswithout a four-year collegedegree. A second bachelor’sdegree program is offered forstudents who already have a four-year college degree from anaccredited college or university.In this option, a student can earna second bachelor of sciencedegree with the completion of aminimum of 50 semester hoursof program courses.
“In our paralegal program,students essentially receive thef irst two years of law schoolcourses at a university level,”said Harbour. “The program isapproved by the American BarAssociation, which is the goldstandard for paralegal studiesprograms, and many of our para-legal graduates write to me andtell me how helpful, for example,the legal research and writingcourses were to their success, notonly in law school but in thelegal profession.”
The Legal Resource Center islocated on the first floor of theWashtenaw County Courthouseat 101 E. Huron Street in down-town Ann Arbor, and is openMondays, Tuesdays and Thurs-days during regular court hours.
For more information aboutparalegal programs, visitwww.emich.edu/cot/undergrad_paralegal.htm. For informationabout the Legal Resource Center,contact Nancy Harbour at [email protected] or 487-7790.
EMU Legal Resource Centercelebrates 10th anniversary
Mark the Date• The Bankruptcy Law Section will meet at noon, Thursday, Jan. 22, at200 N. Main, Lower Level.
• Meet & Greet the Judges, Strolling Reception, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,Thursday, Jan. 22, Weber's Inn, 3050 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor. This isa joint event with Washtenaw County Bar Association, The WomenLawyers Association of Michigan, Washtenaw Region, and TheVanzetti Hamilton Bar Association. Meet the newly appointed, newlyelected or re-elected judges: Hon. Patrick Conlin, Jr., Hon. RichardConlin, Hon. Christopher Easthope, Hon. Elisha Fink, Hon. JuliaOwdziej, Hon. Anthony Patti, Hon. Charles Pope and Hon. DavidSwartz. The cost is $28. Email [email protected].
• The Immigration Law Section will meet at noon, Monday, Jan. 26, at200 N. Main, Lower Level, with Section Co-Chairs Brad Thomson andHeather Garvock. Speaker: Anya Abramzon of Jewish Family Serviceswill discuss “JFS Services/Initiatives in Washtenaw County.”
• The Public Service Committee will hold a meeting noon to 1 p.m.,Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the WCBA Office, Suite 1111,1st Floor of theCounty Courthouse, 101 E. Huron, Ann Arbor. Everyone is welcome.Participants may bring their own lunch.
UPCOMING EVENTS
