Admitted students introduced to the people and programs at the law school
Applicants admitted to USC Law's Class of 2010 visited the school April 20 to attend mock classes, meet students and faculty and get a first hand look at campus.
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Professor Edwin Smith, right, speaks with an admitted student during Preview Day |
The annual "Preview Day" is designed to help admitted students get a feel for USC Law’s people and programs before choosing a law school. Some prospective students came to Preview Day knowing they will attend USC Law in the fall, while others used the experience to help make a decision.
Dean Edward J. McCaffery, Associate Dean Chloe Reid and Director of Admissions and Enrollment Services Julia Castellon-Cogan welcomed roughly 150 admitted students to Preview Day during a breakfast in Town and Gown.
Following the breakfast, the visitors attended two panel sessions designed to provide an insider's view of USC Law. Moderated by Associate Dean Gregory Keating, the session featured Professors Jennifer Urban, Niels Frenzen and Kareem Crayton as well as Associate Dean Lisa Mead.
The second panel was composed of students, including graduating students Miguel Espinoza and Johari Townes, 2Ls Marc Berman and Ruby Mejia. The panel was moderated by Gabi Ryan, director of student affairs.
At a special lunch, Student Bar Association President 3L Yem Mai said USC is the best place to be a law student.
"The faculty and staff here are great: they really take the time to get to know you and know you by name," Mai said. "My three years here have just flown by. I can guarantee, if you come here, you'll make friends for life."
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Professor Ron Garet addresses the luncheon |
Professor Ron Garet, a scholar of theological ethics and constitutional law, presented the keynote address.
"USC and its wonderful law school are my home and I want to welcome you," Garet said. "Law school as home? It sounds pretty preposterous. (But) isn't home ... a place that strengthens us; where we are able to wrap our arms around life?"
A law school, as a home, challenges and encourages those associated with it, Garet said. They are not places people come from, but places where people can grow into who they are meant to become. Also, a law school is a place where people are free to express themselves and find support – or opposition.
Those who attend USC Law in the fall should know that the experience will affect their heart as well as their brain, he added.
"If you think deeply about the cases, you learn to acknowledge your own feelings, your own response to the story," Garet said. "It challenges you more than you expected. It threatens you more than you wanted it to."
Following lunch, admitted students attended mock classes held by Professors Jody Armour and David Cruz and an alumni panel with grads Kimberly Baker '05; Lindsay Casamassima '00, of Kirkland & Ellis; Ted Russell '94, of Fox Group; Alexandra Susman '04, of Munger, Tolles & Olson; and moderated by USC Law Director of Career Services Priya Sridharan.
A student organization fair (pictured left) in the Law Cafe introduced prospective students to a number of groups and programs at USC Law, including the Legal Aid Alternative Breaks Project, the Jewish Law Society and Study Abroad programs. Current students also led tours of the law school building. Preview Day closed with a reception in the Faculty Lounge.
The evening before Preview Day, admitted students were also invited to a reception in the law school Faculty Lounge celebrating USC Law's tradition as being the most diverse Top 20 law school.
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