News Archive

The Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, in partnership with the Indiana Supreme Court, announces the first students who will take part in the "Supporting Rural Justice Initiative." The students are 2L Weston Augustyniak, 1L Sheremy Cabrera, 1L Natalie Collins, 1L Krystal Hunter, and 2L Patrick Wright.

The goal of this judicial clerkship program is to expose students to different facets of rural and smaller-city practice while letting them assist trial court judges with research, drafting motions and opinions, and learning about courtroom practice and procedure.

"I am so excited about this program," said IU McKinney Dean Andrew R. Klein. "Our students will get outstanding experience, while helping judges serve the legal system all across our state."

Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Melissa May, '84, has been instrumental in bringing the program to IU McKinney.

"I think it is important for IU McKinney students to have the opportunity to work with trial judges in our smaller, rural communities. Judges in those counties do everything from the most minor civil small claims cases, to murder – they do not have the ability to 'specialize' as some judges do in larger urban counties," Judge May said. "As a result, getting to work with a smaller county trial judge will give McKinney students a wide range of knowledge about the actual 'practice' of law."

Augustyniak has been assigned to Rush County, where he will work for Judge David Northam, '76. Cabrera will work in Fountain County for Judge Stephanie Campbell, '96. Collins will travel to Owen County and assist Judge Lori Quillen, '89. Hunter has been assigned to Wayne County, where she will work for Judge Darrin Dolehanty. Wright will work in Lawrence County for Judge Andrea McCord, '90.

"Many law students that attend McKinney came from smaller rural communities," Judge May said. "Indianapolis as an urban environment allows McKinney students many opportunities with law firms and governmental entities, as well as with state and federal trial judges. Those students can then take that experience to the rural counties where a 'general' practice of law is primarily what the local lawyers practice. It also allows them to see that practicing in a smaller community has definite advantages, which might point them to practicing law in those smaller communities once they graduate."

The law students will receive either two or three academic credits for which there will be a 100 percent tuition and fee remission, plus a $4,000 stipend for completing a minimum of 240 hours of work during the summer between May 13 and August 9, 2019. Students will have many opportunities to learn about courtroom procedures and motion practice, observe hearings and trials, and encounter the rewards and challenges of serving a rural community. Judges from rural counties, nominated by the Indiana Supreme Court, have volunteered to mentor students, welcome them into chambers, and supervise the students' work and experience.

"I believe each student will gain a much better appreciation of all the hard work our trial judges put in every day in their courts," Judge May said. "I also believe they will see that very good lawyers practice in smaller communities too, and the larger urban areas – while also having very good lawyers – aren’t the only place to enjoy the practice of law."

In the photo from left are Krystal Hunter, Patrick Wright, Sheremy Cabrera, Weston Augustyniak, and Natalie Collins.