P.A.D. Spotlight
The P.A.D. Spotlight features an exceptional member, alumnus, achievement, event, or articles of interest to our members, weekly. The P.A.D. community is so accomplished that peer recognition is well deserved.
Phi Alpha Delta members are encouraged to submit feature recommendations. Fellow P.A.D. members are eager to hear about the great things everyone is doing and what they have accomplished. Not only does it show the Executive Office what you can do, but it provides International recognition for a Chapter, person or event.
We hope this spotlight will give the P.A.D. community the opportunity to further bond by creating discussions and attending fellow Chapter events, among many other things.
To submit recommendations, please email cory@pad.org.
We look forward to hearing about all of your amazing achievements!
July 23, 2013
Spotlight on Leah Farmer
Leah Farmer (Story Chapter), a recent alumna of DePaul University College of Law, is spotlighted this week for her great contributions to P.A.D. during her three years of law school.
Sister Leah first decided to become involved in the Fraternity when she met officers of the Story Chapter during law school orientation. They discussed mock trial opportunities with her and she discovered how involved she could be even in her first year. After going to the panel, “What Can P.A.D. Do for You,” she decided to become a part of P.A.D. and has been hooked on the fraternity ever since. P.A.D.’s contributions to the community and dedication to its members were two aspects of the Fraternity she immediately admired.
After her first year in P.A.D., Sister Leah decided she wanted to become further involved in Story Chapter. She ran for an executive board position and became the Recruitment Chair in her second year. Towards the end of her second year, she ran for Justice of the Story Chapter and won. She served as Justice for the 2012-2013 year.
As Justice, Farmer worked on building relationships within the Chapter. She loved that P.A.D. offers true fraternalism, so she worked on growing it within Story Chapter. Her leadership style allowed for all officers to contribute, as she believes that leaders need to be willing to step out of the spotlight just as much as they are willing to step in. To keep the Chapter active, they ran a variety of programs. Sister Leah’s favorite programming project was called “Lost in Translation.” In this project, brothers and sisters had the opportunity to work with attorneys from the Office of the State Appellate Defender, the Public Defender, and the Guardian and Litem Offices. Together, the project cultivated a “legal dictionary” for children and families working within the Illinois Juvenile Detention Center. The project was great because it offered a practical skill building component, a mentorship aspect, and a service component for P.A.D. members.
Farmer offered a couple of tips to the Justices of other Chapters so they can work to grow their own Chapters. Farmer noted that if you are not surrounded by supportive P.A.D. communities, then look to the internet to connect with other P.A.D. members. Reach out to brothers and sisters for ideas, support, and coordination. Even if you have an active Chapter around you, reaching out is a great, general idea to share fraternal goals.
Since graduating this spring, Sister Leah took a family vacation and became certified in open water scuba diving. She is currently engaged in Bar Exam preparation to achieve a future in employment law. To stay sane and optimistic, she occasionally watches a live theatre show or an improve comedy show.
In the future, Sister Leah wants to pay forth the advantages she has gained through becoming a member of P.A.D. Her time as a law school student would not have been the same without the great leaders and mentors she met as a member of P.A.D. She plans to get involved with the local Alumni Chapters and nationally. Look out for Sister Leah as a judge in the spring during the Mock Trial Competition. We look forward to seeing her continued influence in the Fraternity for years to come. To learn more about her involvement in P.A.D., read her most recent article in The Reporter dedicated to the ‘Story Chapter Justice Chapter’.
July 10, 2013 - Spotlight on Career Mentors
By Lauren Mistretta (E.O. Intern, UMD-College Park Pre-Law)
A mentorship is defined as a one-on-one coaching relationship between two individuals. This relationship is either formal or informal depending on the commitment levels of each individual. Although finding a mentor can be difficult, the relationship can be invaluable with a job search or moving up the career ladder. A mentorship is also an effective way to pass on skills, knowledge, and insight to the next generation of workers.
There are a couple of steps one can take when looking for a mentor. To start, take the time to research a field and find out about the people in it. The research of a mentor can be done in a variety of ways. For example, some colleges and offices have formal mentorship programs available. You can also look outside your own office to find a mentor. A mentor does not have to be a co-worker, but can be someone from college or other social associations.
Some people choose to find a mentor in areas they are interested in learning more about rather than one directly related to their field. A helpful tool is the advanced search option on LinkedIn where you can view the profiles of future mentors. Based on your research, pinpoint individuals who you believe are beneficial matches. This includes not only individuals with a professional career you admire, but also individuals whose personality types fit with yours. This is important because in a mentorship, you want not only a great network but also someone who is honest and accessible.
Approaching someone to become a mentor can be intimidating, so ease your way into the relationship. Start off by asking for a piece of advice and then see where the relationship goes from there. Eventually, asking a couple of questions can evolve into lunches and more formal meetings. If you do formally ask someone to be your mentor, come across as someone who is looking to advance in their career, eager to learn, and engaged.
When talking with a mentor make sure to listen. To ensure that the relationship is not one sided, show your appreciation and help balance the relationship. Ideally, your mentor should provide advice as you move on with your career. They can also help develop future career plans. Do not overwhelm your mentor, but instead try to regularly schedule meetings and make the relationship a part of your work life.
You do not have to limit yourself to one mentor. Due to the demand exceeding the supply, there are also more non-traditional ways to gain some of the same benefits as having a mentor. Many blogs and podcasts have successful people giving great advice. Popular sites like Levo League offer Office Hours which is 30 minute video chats with various professionals across many different fields. Well written books also offer many great tidbits of advice on how to advance your career.
As a member of P.A.D., you can also use this network to connect with members and reach out to them for a possible mentorship relationship. Whether just graduating or many years into your career, a mentor can be a great benefit.
To access the online directory, login here. Email us if you need help logging in or using the directory.
Picture Credit: http://bit.ly/131Sqoc
June 27, 2013 - Spotlight on Summer Tips for College Students
By Lauren Mistretta (P.A.D. Intern, UMD-College Park Pre-Law)
For the typical student, summer is a time for relaxation from a hectic year. However, this break can also be an opportunity to develop new skills and habits that set you up for success in the future.
During the summer, remember to keep active mentally and physically. If exercise was not a priority during the school year, then summer is the perfect time to establish new routines and healthy eating habits. Our Wellness Board on Pinterest (Hyperlink: http://pinterest.com/phialphadelta/wellness-for-lawyers/ ) has plenty of tips and ideas for a healthy lifestyle.
To stay sharp, use this time to begin studying for the LSAT; take a course that helps you develop a special skill set, or read the books you put off during the school year. Visit your school’s career website and use it to help boost your resume. Practicing writing drafts of cover letters and bettering your interviewing skills can set you apart from other candidates when looking for internships and jobs in the future.
Create a LinkedIn account. Many students are not taking advantage of the many benefits LinkedIn provides. The earlier you create a profile, the sooner you can start developing connections and creating a profile that helps you stand out. Building connections assists you in linking with contacts that could be useful in your future job search. If you became close to a professor or advisor during the school year, connecting with them on LinkedIn is a great way for them to not only see what you are doing, but for you to learn about them as well. The site provides the opportunity to conduct company research and examine professionals in your desired field. Endorsing a connection’s skills or joining a group discussion are ways to become involved on the site beyond maintaining a profile. Once your new profile is a created, you can join our group page, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International (Hyperlink: http://www.linkedin.com/groupInvitation?groupID=36388&sharedKey=5C89EA29AFAD). While you are working on your profile, also be mindful of your online presence in general. Clean up your social media accounts and ensure that your information on the internet is appropriate.
If you have an internship or job make sure you are capitalizing on the experience. Take the time to talk to the people you are working with, especially if they are in the field you one day want to work in. Ask your co-workers about their path to their current position and listen to any advice they offer. Your supervisor could be a great person to invite on campus for fall semester to speak to your chapter about their work experiences during a professional development meeting.
Whether your future involves law school or if you’re pursuing a career, these tips can help prepare you for the semesters ahead. Not only will you be helping yourself, but making yourself a better brother or sister of Phi Alpha Delta. Spend a meeting sharing your summer experiences with other members or use your experiences for meeting or service ideas in the future.
June 18, 2013 - Spotlight on Michelle Jochner (Story Chapter)
By Genevieve Niemann (Story Chapter Clerk & Alumni Chair)
Michele Jochner does not need a Spotlight because her personality shines so brightly! Upon meeting her, you will first take note of her contagious smile, and next you’ll get to know her warm welcoming character right off the bat! Michele is a proud DePaul University College of Law alumna and has made outstanding substantial contributions to the legal community since.
She recently become a partner at Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck, the largest matrimonial law firm in the nation, and has served for fifteen years as a judicial clerk for not only one, but two Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court, Hon. Mary Ann G. McMorrow and Hon. Charles E. Freeman, and has authored over 100 articles on a large array of legal issues appearing in publications nationwide. In the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin she has published a column “Law From a Different Perspective,” and also appeared in the article “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch” which highlights 40 up and coming successful attorneys in the Chicago area.
On March 7, 2013 Sister Michele was honored with the prestigious ‘Outstanding Service To The Profession’ award at DePaul! She is an active role model for Depaul P.A.D.s and an absolute pleasure to be around.
As a well-known leader in the Chicago legal community, Michele has made huge contributions to the Chicago through her service work and being a part of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), where she serves as a member of both the Executive Committee of the CBA’s Alliance for Women and of the Editorial Board of the CBA Record, the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), where she is a past member of the Board of Governors and is currently serving on the Editorial Board of the Illinois Bar Journal, as well as the co-editor of both the Bench & Bar Newsletter and Trial Briefs.
She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) and two panels at her alma mater, DePaul University College of Law: the Dean’s Council and the Advisory Board for the Center for Public Interest Law. She holds several leadership positions within the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and serves on the Leader Council for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
Sister Michele had a very close relationship with the late Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow, the first female in her law school class of 1953, who set an example for the legal community and became Michele’s mentor from an early start.
Michele was very lucky to have such a prominent influence in her life to help guide and shape her as a female attorney. Michele believes she wouldn’t be where she is today without Justice McMorrow’s guidance. “I truly believe in ‘paying it forward,’ and because Justice McMorrow was such a wonderful mentor to me, I would like to carry on her legacy by mentoring wonderful law students,” said Michele.
We are honored to call Michele a P.A.D. alumna because she is a role model and inspiration for not only the student body at DePaul University but to the entire Chicago legal community.
June 12, 2013 - Spotlight on Arden M. Siegendorf
By Lauren Mistretta, P.A.D. Summer 2013 Intern (UMD-College Park, Pre-Law)
On April 13, 2013 Brother Arden M. Siegendorf (Rasco Chapter) passed away and Phi Alpha Delta lost a great and influential brother. Brother Arden held many important positions throughout his lifetime, especially as a national leader in alternative dispute resolution.
Brother Arden was born in Miami Beach, FL in 1938. He attended the University of Miami as both an undergraduate and law student and graduated from the University Of Miami School Of Law in 1963. Upon graduation, Siegendorf served as the Assistant Attorney General in FL until 1971. Following his position as the Assistant Attorney General, Siegendorf was elected County Court Judge and Circuit Court Judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida. He served as a judge for ten years. Throughout this time, he occasionally served as a visiting judge on the Florida Supreme Court and Florida Fourth District Court of Appeals. In 1981, Brother Arden retired from the courts and began practicing mediation where he gained national recognition as a leader in alternative dispute resolution. His commitment helped provide an alternative to the court system for individuals involved in legal disputes.
Siegendorf earned many professional honors and accolades throughout his career. A few accolades P.A.D.’s Alumni Association’s President, membership of Omicron Kappa Delta National Honor Society, and he was recipient of the Excellence in Mediation award.
Siegendorf was also a distinguished men’s slow- pitch softball player. He played and coached slow-pitch softball for most of his lifetime and received his 10,000th softball hit in 1997. He was also inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame and in 2011 won the Softball Players’ Association 70s’ Major Crown.
Siegendorf is survived by his wife Rebecca and children. Brother Arden was a great member to Phi Alpha Delta and will be dearly missed by the Fraternity. We appreciate his years of support to the Phi Alpha Delta community.
