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!
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