Seven Students Take Part in IU McKinney's Rural Justice Initiative
05/11/2023
IU McKinney’s Supporting Rural Justice Initiative is marking its fifth year and seven students plan to take part in the program, working in counties across Indiana during summer 2023. The program began by placing students with judges in rural counties but has since expanded to include placement of rising third-year students as certified legal interns with prosecutor and public defender offices in rural counties. Students commit to working at least 200 hours for which they receive three experiential learning credits and a $4,000 stipend.
Students are selected by a committee comprised of Assistant Dean Sonja Rice, Professor Lahny Silva, and Professor Joel Schumm, J.D. ’98, director of the law school’s Judicial Externship Program, who oversees the program. Professor Schumm said the committee was “especially impressed with this year’s applicants, most of whom will be working in or near their home counties.” He also explained, “Two of the students worked with judges last year and are participating for a second year, now as certified legal interns. This program provides help over the summer to underserved legal markets and serves as an important pipeline to address the dire need for more lawyers in many rural counties around the state.”
This year’s Rural Justice Initiative students and their assignments are as follows:
- Alexa Campbell, Warren County Prosecutor
- Shelby Rice, Montgomery County Public Defender
- Daniel Bohnet, Rush County Public Defender
- Emily Dartt, Washington County judges
- Nathan Lundy, DeKalb County judges
- Jerrick Adams, Huntington County judges
- Mario Reyes, White County judges
