Happy Monday to our French and Dutch friends! (And that interested person in Malaysia!)

Here are our international stats from last week:

United States	29
France	11
Netherlands	9
Malaysia 1	We are apparently gaining in popularity in France and the Netherlands. Our following in the Netherlands is undoubtedly due at least in part to Professor Ranchor's influence. And in France? I'm still waiting to hear from my son (teaching English in Blois) that he has heard from one of you!

Vote!

With early voting underway, this is a good time to remind you that besides making you a fine, upstanding citizen, voting is yet another way to earn engagement points. Get a picture of yourself with your "I voted" sticker, or one of those dreaded polling-booth selfies, or whatever. It's 10 points. But that's not why you do it, right?

Bon Voyage Party

The Paralegal Society will be hosting a Bon Voyage party for Professor Ranchor on Thursday, October 27, at 1:30 - 2:45 in Griffin Hall 131. All paralegal and legal studies students (and alums) are welcome to join us. Questions? Contact me or any Paralegal Society officer.

Talk to a Lawyer!

Remember, tomorrow is Talk to a Lawyer Day at Ivy Tech. Local attorneys will be providing free 15-minute consultations to members of the public. No appointment needed.

Paralegal students are encouraged to help with check-in whenever you have some free time. Stop by the Lilly Rooms in Ivy Hall!

International stuff!!!

First, I'd like you to note the addition to our favorite blogs list. Estrelita, our visiting professor from the Netherlands, is keeping a blog about her travels here. (She shares the blog with her colleagues who are visiting various other places in the US.) For some reason, I can't get an automatic feed on that one, so you may have to play with it a little if you click on the link. Also, do not try to adjust your screen--it is in Dutch.

Second, I will be taking Estrelita on a tour of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse on Friday. I look forward to being able to introduce her to our many students and alumni who work there. And I also invite anyone who would like to join us to look for us. We will be wandering, but we hope to stop by a criminal sentencing in Superior 1 at 11:00, and protective order hearings at 1:00 (Superior 5?).

Finally, we have had loads of international visitors in the past week--including some from the Netherlands (Estrelita's students?) and France (seriously, if you're in Blois, look for a tall, redheaded American English teacher at the local high school). And to all, bienvenido!

 

United States	38
France	13
Netherlands	8
Turkey	2
Canada	1
Spain	1
Georgia	1

Social Media Workshop

Touring the Courthouse with Professor Ranchor

Next Friday, Oct. 28, I will be giving Professor Ranchor a tour of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse. We will be having lunch downtown--maybe at Red 7, unless someone comes up with a better idea.

Alums (and interested current students) are welcome to join us. And a special shout out to everyone who works at the courthouse: If you know of a particular hearing or trial scheduled for that day, please let me know so we can stop by!

Judgment at Nuremberg

Last night, several of us enjoyed an entertaining and thought-provoking evening at "Judgment at Nuremberg." If you weren't there, you missed a good time!

Here are my favorite lines from the show--and especially relevant during our current national climate:

A decision must be made in the life of every nation...          

at the very moment when the grasp of the enemy is at its throat. 

Then it seems that the only way to survive is to use the means of the enemy... 

to rest survival upon what is expedient,to look the other way.
            
The answer to that is: Survival as what?

A country isn't a rock. It's not an extension of one's self.

It's what it stands for.

It's what it stands for when standing for something is the most difficult.

Before the people of the world, let it now be noted

that here in our decision,this is what we stand for: 

Justice,truth,and the value of a single human being.

Job Opportunity

The law firm of Laszynski & Moore is looking for a part-time office assistant (about 20 hours per week, ideally). Their words: "It doesn't have to be someone from Paralegal Studies, but it would be nice!"

Indeed.

If you're interested, let me know.

Bon Jour!

We appear to be a big hit in France. If you are reading this from France, tell my son I said Bon Jour! (He's in Blois, teaching English.)

Last week's stats:

United States	20
France	10
Germany	5
China	2
Chile	1
Netherlands	1

Illustrious Alums!

I received word yesterday that alumna Elisha Hollandbeck was selected as employee of the month at Gutwein Law Firm in downtown Lafayette, and was the subject of a glowing 90-day review. (Yes, 3 months on the job, and she is employee of the month. Woot!)

See what a little (okay, a lot) of hard work will do?

Be sure to congratulate Elisha if/when you see her!

Judgment at Nuremberg

If you are joining us for Judgment at Nuremberg, that's next week Tuesday--5 days from now! Check your email account for an email with the details.

If you had not planned on joining us, but would like to, please email me to let me know, and I'll be happy to pass on any extra tickets to you.

Whether you are going to the show or not, you are welcome to join Estrelita and me for a pre-show dinner at Moe's in West Lafayette. (Neither the college nor I will be paying for your dinner. Sorry!) We're meeting at Moe's at 6:00.

See you there!

Paralegal Society Meeting

The Paralegal Society will be meeting today (Tuesday, October 11) at 6:00 p.m. in Ivy 1183. Tim Peterson of the Pro Bono Commission will be on hand to talk to those interested in assisting with Talk to a Lawyer Day.

Greetings to our international friends!

We're communicating with people from a variety of countries! Here are last week's statistics:

United States	30
France	9
Germany	4
Ukraine	2
Spain	1
United Kingdom	1
Pakistan	1

Tippecanoe County Candidates' Meet & Greet

Here's your chance to meet the people running for office in Tippecanoe County, become a well-informed voter, share your concerns with our county officeholders, and get engagement points!

MEET AND GREET

 THE TIPPECANOE COUNTY CANDIDATES

Candidates for County Commissioner, County Council, County Treasurer, Coroner, and Surveyor will be present.

 

Tuesday, OCTOBER 18, 2016

5:30-7:00 pm

HARRISON COLLEGE

323 COLUMBIA

LAFAYETTE, IN 47905

(ACROSS FROM THE COURTHOUSE)

Bring your questions and concerns. 

PRACTICUM!!!!!

 

Yes, it's time to start thinking about the practicum. You should have received an email from me today with details, applications, etc. But for your reference, here are the details:

Every spring semester, the Paralegal Studies program offers a Practicum for its students. The practicum is a 3-credit-hour elective. A student in the practicum will spend an average of 10 hours per week working at a law office, government agency, court office, or private business. Some placements are paying (usually the ones the students arrange themselves); most are not. However, the experience and the opportunity to make contacts in the legal community are extremely valuable. Here at Ivy Tech, we’re very proud of our practicum program. I have heard many good things about our students from the employers who have participated, and I look forward to hearing many more.

Although the practicum counts as a class, there are some additional steps for registering for it because of the coordination needed between Ivy Tech, the student, and the employer. Therefore, students who wish to register for the practicum for spring semester 2017 are advised to observe the following deadlines, as they will be strictly enforced. 

·         NOVEMBER 4, 2016—The application for practicum is due back to me, either in paper form or via email.Your resume should be attached.

·         NOVEMBER 18, 2016—By this date, you must have met with me, in person, to discuss your practicum placement and register for the class. Do NOT call me on November 18 to ask when we can meet. Make the appointment NOW for sometime between now and November 18. Note that registration for the practicum is at the discretion of the program chair. You cannot register for the practicum online. (I checked.) You must meet with me in person to register. To make an appointment, please call my assistant at 765-269-5730.

·         Practicum assignments will be made in December 2016. You should meet with your practicum placement sometime in December, as the placement’s schedule allows.

 

Questions I already know you have:

Ø  Can I do my practicum at the office where I already am employed?

o   Yes, if your job entails law-related work, you are able to work there at least 10 hours per week, and your employer agrees to submit the practicum paperwork. You should note on your application that you already have a placement, and give me a name and contact number so that we can complete the paperwork. The same deadlines apply.

Ø  What if I don’t live in Lafayette?

o   Most of our placements are in Lafayette, but I am happy to try to locate a placement elsewhere. You might need to be flexible in terms of where you are willing to go.

Ø  What if I have no idea where I want to go and no contacts?

o   Not a problem. I have lots of ideas and lots of contacts.

Ø  What if I’m just really bad at following directions and meeting deadlines?

o   Then you’re probably not ready for a practicum just yet.

 

If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to ask. I look forward to working with many of you!