PENN STATE DICKINSON LAW ALUMNI LEND SUPPORT TO THIRD ANNUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ON SEPTEMBER 14
August 2024 — Alumni are critical to the success of many Penn State Dickinson Law events, including the upcoming annual Professional Development Conference. Of the 20 attorneys assisting with this year’s program, 18 attended Penn State Dickinson Law.
The event invites students and practitioners to participate in networking opportunities and panel sessions on career-related topics. Alumni play a leading role in the conference, from delivering the keynote address to teaching continuing legal education (CLE) programs to leading breakout sessions on topics such as internship searches and crafting a professional identity.
This year’s event takes place on September 14, which (not coincidentally) coincides with Alumni Weekend. The Career Services Office, which hosts the event, expects about 150 attendees, including students from the Penn State Dickinson Law J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. programs as well as exchange students and alumni.
“One of the most impactful ways for alumni to give back is by sharing their time and expertise,” said Tom Lee, director of career services at Penn State Dickinson Law. “They love to create connections with students by sharing career advice, being there for them as a potential resource, and providing assistance with job leads. This event is the perfect opportunity for them to make those connections.” Starting this year, first-year students (1Ls) must attend the conference. “It started as an optional event, but now it has been incorporated into the curriculum,” said Lee. An American Bar Association standard mandates teaching professional development, but each school approaches the requirement differently. “We did an informal nationwide survey, and less than 5% of law schools offer this type of conference,” said Lee.
The career services team designs the event to mimic the types of conferences students can attend when they practice law. The professional setup includes small details such as registration, conference swag, and a networking lunch. “The conference has long-term and immediate effects for the students who attend, the 1Ls in particular,” said Ros Lister, assistant director of career services. “They realize they can reach out to the alumni who were there to learn more about a discussion they had or use the knowledge shared by a presenter in their career search.”
Receiving great advice at Penn State Dickinson Law and paying it forward
Catherine A. Christian ’88, a partner at Liston Abramson and legal commentator on MSNBC and NBC, will be the keynote speaker at the conference. In a change from the first two years, Christian will not deliver a traditional speech but rather will participate in a “fireside chat”-style interview with Michael Bramnick ’90, general counsel of NRG Energy (retired) and a Penn State Dickinson Law Leadership Council Advisory Board member. Their discussion will focus on professionalism and teamwork.
Christian learned about the Professional Development Conference at a reception for Penn State Dickinson Law alumni held in New York City. She enjoyed participating in a virtual Penn State Dickinson Law networking event a couple of years earlier, and the 2015 Hon. Sylvia H. Rambo Award winner was happy to hear about another opportunity to share insights with students. She noted she benefitted from sage counsel during her time at Penn State Dickinson Law and wants to continue paying that forward.
“I remember going to the office of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Harvey Feldman and telling him, ‘I want to be a trial lawyer.’ And he told me, ‘The only real trial lawyers are prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys.’ I said, ‘I like criminal law. Maybe I want to be a prosecutor,’” said Christian. Feldman suggested she apply to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where she eventually spent more than three decades.
“I do not know what made me go into his office to ask for advice, but if I had not done that, I do not think I would have ever considered applying to the DA’s office. Being a prosecutor was my best job as a lawyer and always will be. I want to tell students not to be afraid to ask for advice,” said Christian.
“I want the students to be as successful as possible”
Bramnick will assist with the conference for the third straight year. Previously, he advised students on creating resumes, interviewing, and alternative ways to use a law degree. He finds it rewarding to help them connect the dots between where they are now and where they want to be in the future. As an Advisory Board member, he looks for ways to support Penn State Dickinson Law in any way he can.
“I believe in Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law Danielle M. Conway and what she is building. I want the students to be as successful as possible. Every student I have met at Penn State Dickinson Law has been impressive in their own right,” said Bramnick. Registration for the Professional Development Conference is open to all students and Penn State Dickinson Law alumni. Current students and those who graduated after 2019 can click here to register. Pre-2019 alumni can register by emailing lawcareers@psu.edu. Click here to view the event programming schedule.