Page 2, Washtenaw County Legal News
Monday, January 19, 2015
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 organization 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 sunroom, sipping on a cup of tea, reading the newspaper and still
finding ways to help others.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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 newtonc@ewashtenaw.org.
• 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.
WASHTENAW COUNTY
LEGAL NEWS
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Photo courtesy of EMU
EMU paralegal student Melissa Grima (left) and EMU paralegal professor Robin Dec assist a client.
EMU Legal Resource Center
celebrates 10th anniversary
Ten years ago, The Washtenaw County/Eastern Michigan
University Legal Resource Center (LRC) opened its doors.
Since that time, more than
34,699 Washtenaw County community members have received
assistance with cour t for ms
from EMU paralegal students as
part of their University course
work.
The LRC is the only university-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
effor t between Washtenaw
County, its judges and attorneys
and Eastern Michigan.
“This is a tremendous, positive contribution to the community by our paralegal students,
EMU and the LRC shareholders,” said Nancy Caine Harbour,
paralegal program coordinator at
Eastern. “The Carnegie Foundation 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 students 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, typically 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 incurring 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 paralegals in Michigan find employment in private law firms, corporations and state or federal government offices.
The EMU paralegal studies
program offers two bachelor of
science degree options in paralegal 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 fouryear 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
f irst 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 paralegal 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 downtown Ann Arbor, and is open
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 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 nharbour@emich.edu or 487-7790.