At the urging of Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard, the Indiana legislature approved funding for the Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity (ICLEO) program in 1997 with the purpose of assisting minority, low-income or educationally disadvantaged college graduates pursuing law degrees in Indiana’s four law schools. Since its inception, the ICLEO program, administered by the Division of State Court Administration, has provided hundreds of Indiana law students with a rigorous Summer Institute training session to prepare them for the challenges of law school and with stipends during their law school careers. ICLEO also helps law students find summer employment through the Gateway to Diversity Program and ICLEO Summer Intern Program. The Indiana Court of Appeals and the Indiana Tax Court have also been longtime supporters of the ICLEO Summer Intern Program.
I recently had an opportunity to speak with eight ICLEO law students who were hired in 2011 as summer interns at the Indiana Court of Appeals, the Indiana Tax Court and the Office of the Public Defender. They were eager to share their experiences.
Brandon Skates, a second year law student at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, worked in the chambers of Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Terry A. Crone and really enjoyed his time there. He said: “I love to learn more than anything. Every case presented a new challenge and a new aspect of the law requiring my research. I had to understand the law and the issues before presenting a draft opinion that met the high standards of Judge Crone and his law clerks.”
Viorel Ciobanu, a third year law student at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, had an extraordinary summer experience at the Indiana Court of Appeals and the Indiana Tax Court. He appreciated the diversity of the Courts’ summer clerks and reported to me: “Hoosiers with Ghanaian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Eastern European roots had the opportunity to harmoniously work for the benefit of the people of Indiana under the leadership of our illustrious Indiana jurists.” He admired the commitment of the judges and law clerks to public service and the example that they set for their community.
The Court of Appeals took interns on field trips to expose them to different areas of the law. Andrew Duncan, a second year law student at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, gained new insight into his future. Duncan said: “Because of these field trips and working at the Indiana Court of Appeals, I realize that I would like to work as a lawyer in the public or non-profit sector where I feel I can help people the most. My internship has been a wonderful learning experience.”
Jheremy Perkins, a third year law student at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, agreed with Duncan. He said: “The memorable and inspirational moments were plentiful this summer. I researched various issues of substantive law and drafted several opinions, including some for publication. My greatest experience was the opportunity to pick the brains of many Indiana judges. We discussed the decision-making process and current trends in the law. These judges offered career and professional advice and gave us the opportunity to make invaluable connections. In addition to the judges on the Indiana Court of Appeals, we met with Marion County trial court Judges Jose D. Salinas and Mark D. Stoner; Indiana Tax Court Judge Martha Blood Wentworth; Indiana Southern District Federal Court Judges Sarah Evans Barker, Tanya Walton Pratt, and Jane E. Magnus-Stinson.” Perkins is certain that the ICLEO Summer Intern Program will provide contacts, friends, and experiences that will last a lifetime.
Trinh Vo, a third year law student at Valparaiso University School of Law, focused on the substantive skills she gained during her internship. She reflected: “My summer internship with the Indiana Court of Appeals has made significant improvements in my writing skills. I want to emulate the law clerks’ clarity and consistency in writing.”
Amy Beard echoed the thoughts of the other fellows. Beard, a second year law student at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, was enriched by her summer clerkship working for Judge Martha Blood Wentworth in the Indiana Tax Court. In her words: “This opportunity was one of my best experiences. I cannot begin to articulate how much I learned. I spent the summer assisting Judge Wentworth in drafting opinions, conducting legal research, and writing memos. It was an honor and a privilege to work for the Indiana Tax Court and I am so proud that one day I will be joining this legal community. The skills that I gained throughout this summer clerkship will remain with me during my law school journey over the next two years, and throughout my legal career.”
Amber Benson, a third year law student at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, and Stepheni Ennis, a second year law student at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, had somewhat different experiences. Both students worked in the State Public Defender’s Office where they helped attorneys prepare appeals in capital and non-capital cases. Benson said: “The capital unit attorneys educated me on the sometimes arbitrary administration of capital punishment. I will remember forever my travels throughout Indiana participating in mitigation investigations and client visits at Indiana state prisons. I am lucky to have spent the summer with the crème of the legal profession.”
Ennis agreed, saying: “It was an amazing and incomparable experience that allowed me to gain great insight into criminal law. The internship gave me practical experience and a passion for working with indigent clients.”
All of the students reported they were grateful for the opportunity to do meaningful work and truly enjoyed their ICLEO summer intern experience, and they look forward to becoming a part of the Indiana legal community.