WOLVERINE BAR ASSOCIATION SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM GUIDELINES
MISSION STATEMENT
The Wolverine Bar Association Summer Clerkship Program strives to increase the number of minority
attorneys employed as partners, associates, in-house counsel, and in other well-respected positions within the
legal community. To achieve this goal, the Program places first-year minority law students in clerkship
positions that will provide opportunities to establish a network of contacts, develop practice skills, and acquire
other intangible benefits gained from the experience of working in a challenging professional environment, all
of which are critical to the launch of a successful legal career. The Program also provides participating
employers an additional mechanism to accomplish their individual diversity goals and express their
commitment to and underscore the importance of diversity in the legal community.
ELIGIBILITY
First-year minority law students are eligible for the Program if all of the following apply:
(i) the student is in good standing at his or her law school;
(ii) the student has ties to southeastern Michigan and a desire to practice in metropolitan Detroit after completing law school;
(iii) the student will have completed a legal writing course before the clerkship begins;
(iv) by the time the clerkship starts, the student will have completed no more than 15 courses toward graduation; and
(v) the student expects to graduate after completing two more years of school.
A student who has completed more than 15 courses toward graduation, who expects to graduate more than 2 years from the time the clerkship begins, or who will not have completed legal writing before the clerkship begins is not eligible for the Program.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The following materials must be received in a single .pdf or .tiff format by the Wolverine Bar Association Summer Clerkship Program Committee c/o Erika Butler-Akinyemi at eakinyemi@sbcglobal.net, no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 1, 2008:
· A cover letter not exceeding one-page in length, single-spaced, and explaining (i) the
student’s career goals and how he or she believes participating in the Program will
further those objectives; (ii) the student’s commitment to practicing law in Michigan
and connection to the Detroit area, and (iii) the student’s commitment to service
through the WBA.
· A current resume.
· An unofficial copy of the student’s law school transcript. If grades are not available at
the time of application, students must provide a letter from the law school registrar
which indicates that the student’s grades are not available. Students who are selected to interview with the Program’s Committee must provide an official copy of his or her
transcript at the interview.
· A writing sample not exceeding five pages in length, double-spaced, in the form of a
legal memorandum or brief showing the applicant’s ability to identify and analyze
legal issues. The writing sample may be an excerpt from a larger project, if clearly
identified as such.
· Two letters of recommendation from current or former employers, professors, or
someone familiar with the applicant’s work. The person making the recommendation
may forward his or her letter directly to the Wolverine Bar Association Summer
Clerkship Program Committee, c/o Erika Butler-Akinyemi at
eakinyemi@sbcglobal.net. All recommendation letters must be received no later
than 11:59 p.m. on February 1, 2008, and must be in .pdf or .tiff format.
SELECTION PROCESS
Due to the volume of applications received, the Committee will complete an initial evaluation of
each candidate based upon the application package and the criteria listed below. Based upon this
evaluation, the Committee will select approximately twenty four (24) applicants to participate in the
interview process.
Candidates selected to interview with the Committee will be notified by February 11, 2008.
Interviews will be held on March 1, 2008 at the Southfield offices of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, P.C.
Applicants will be scheduled for three 15-minute interviews. Each student should plan on being available for
30 minutes before and after the scheduled interviews.
Although the Committee does consider a student’s class ranking and grade point average, other factors,
including the applicant’s work history, undergraduate record, extracurricular activities, and oral and written
communication skills, are also reviewed. After completion of all interviews, the Committee will select
students for placement with the participating employers.
PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS
Participating employers accept the candidate selected for placement by the Committee. It is expected
that participants will be given the same type of work assignments and be paid the same salary as other clerks
or summer associates at the firm or company. Students are informed that they will be treated and evaluated in
accordance with the standards and guidelines established by the participating employer and are not to be
accorded any special treatment. Although not required, employers are encouraged to consider the applicants
for employment as a summer associate the following year if warranted by the student’s performance and the
employer’s hiring needs. The Summer Clerkship Committee recognizes and appreciates the expense incurred
by participating employers and asks that employers provide input regarding the candidate’s performance and
employer’s interaction with the Program.
In 2007, the participating employers included: Bodman LLP; Butzel Long PC; Comerica
Incorporated; Dickinson Wright PLLC; Dykema Gossett PLLC; Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP;
Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, PC; Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone, PLC; Pepper Hamilton LLP; and Plunkett
& Cooney, PC.
Inquiries may be directed via email to Erika Butler-Akinyemi at eakinyemi@sbcglobal.net.