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8/4/2005
Nearly twenty law students gathered in early July at Loyola University to prepare for their summer clerkships as part of the American Bar Association’s Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP) and to hear from practicing attorneys about the importance of diversity in the legal profession.
“This internship will give you a front row seat to see the court system from both sides of the bench,” said Jenner & Block Partner Richard J. Gray in his opening remarks. Mr. Gray served as Co-Chair of the JIOP Committee in its first year of sponsorship by the ABA’s Section of Litigation, and has remained active in the program throughout his term as Co-Chair of the Section’s Diversity Plan Implementation Committee.
The JIOP, now in its fifth year, is an acclaimed initiative that places minority and financially disadvantaged students in summer internships with federal and state judges.
Mr. Gray noted that the number of applicants to the program reached over 300 last year, and intern placements have risen from 14 in 2000 to more than 110 in 2005. The program has expanded geographically as well, placing interns throughout Illinois, Texas and Miami.
Partner Joseph G. Bisceglia, a former law clerk in the Illinois Appellate Court and Second-Vice President of the Illinois State Bar Association, also attested to the benefits of the program. Mr. Bisceglia told the students that, by making it this far, they’ve shown that they have what it takes to become a successful lawyer.
Mr. Bisceglia also encouraged the students to become involved in the organized bar because the more diverse the ISBA and other bar organizations are, the better the opportunity for professional growth and networking for everyone. “There is a big world of lawyers out there – whatever you do, get out of the office and get involved in bar associations. If you don’t, you will only experience a small slice of the legal community,” he counseled.
Also on hand to stress the importance of diversity in the legal profession was Partner Reginald J. Hill, a member of the Firm’s Diversity Committee. While diversity has been a business imperative in the corporate world for some time, he observed, too many law firms are only beginning to make diversity a priority.
Following the orientation, Jenner & Block hosted a reception for the students at the Firm’s Chicago office. Partner John H. Mathias, Jr., who also has been involved with the JIOP program since its inception, served as host at the event and echoed many of the sentiments of his colleagues in his welcoming remarks.
“Every minute you put into this job is going to repay you five times over,” he said.
Pictured (top): Gail Howard, Program Director of JIOP, and Mr. Gray at the orientation.
Pictured (middle): Mr. Bisceglia addresses the judicial interns.
Pictured (bottom): Mr. Hill talks about diversity in the legal profession.
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