July 02, 2009 — Coral Gables — The opportunity for a law student to engage in practice-based learning, by actively participating in the field is a rewarding one. The University of Miami School of Law has become known for its Clinical Placement Program, which pairs law students with legal offices around the country for semester-long, six-credit externships.

Rising third-year UM Law student Jennifer Malaer took advantage of the program during the Spring 2009 semester and worked with Texas Senator Rodney Ellis in her home state capitol. Malaer’s placement coincided with the state’s legislative sessions, which last 140 days and occur every other year, giving her the opportunity to work on a variety of constitutional legislation, including opposing state Voter ID laws and post-ratifying Amendment XXVI of the U.S. Constitution.

"It has been the most educational and beneficial experience I've had in law school," Malaer said. "I would encourage anyone and everyone to take advantage of the Clinical Placement Program or any other program that provides hands-on experience because it not only puts everything you've learned into context, but provides for insights that are impossible to capture in the classroom."

Towards the end of Malaer’s placement, the Texas Senate passed Senate Resolution No. 788, recognizing her work on constitutional and consumer advocacy legislation in Senator Ellis’ office. Adding to the honor, Malaer gained course credit through the Clinical Placement Program for her work with Senator Ellis.

The Texas native earned a cum laude Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio before coming to the UM Law School, where she has been on the Dean’s List for two semesters. She was also a Library Research Scholar and currently volunteers with the Center for Ethics & Public Service. Following law school, she has plans of practicing corporate and international law in her home state.

The Supreme Court of Florida's Rules Regulating the Florida Bar permits certified third-year students to engage in the supervised practice of law (as part of a law school law practice program). For more information about the Law School’s Clinical Placement Program, visit http://www.law.miami.edu/litskills/index.php.

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The University of Miami School of Law’s mission is to foster the intellectual discipline, creativity, and critical skills that will prepare its graduates for the highest standards of professional competence in the practice of law in a global environment subject to continual ― and not always predictable ― transformation; to cultivate a broad range of legal and interdisciplinary scholarship that, working at the cutting edge of its field, enhances the development of law and legal doctrine, and deepens society’s understanding of law and its role in society; and to fulfill the legal profession’s historic duty to promote the interests of justice. http://www.law.miami.edu