General Counsel 401

Kyle P. Mitchell

7/14/2013

Activities

Acted as a legal assistant, answering different questions that General Counsel asked me to research.

                This week was very relaxed within General Counsel.  I have always felt like professionals have had high expectations of me within the work setting, but General Counsel has that expectation, but expects it in a comforting way.  I realized that there is no attorney that knows every law by memorization.  Before that, I would not have thought there was much research that went into law.  I was wrong!!

Throughout the week, I got two questions. 

1.       Concerning a student who cited bankruptcy, did not list the university dept on her schedule of debts, and I had to research to see if the university had an obligation not to attempt collect, and do find out if federal perkins loans were dischargable?

2.       If a university names a classroom after a alumni, donor, etc, is the University obligated to keep the name of that classroom forever? 

My first thought was, is General Counsel crazy?  I am a graduate student who has no law experience, and they expect me to find the answer.  But with A-LOT of research, I found what I thought was the correct answers, and cited the implications within the questions.  When I articulated my answers, General Counsel just looked at me, and said “Thank you, that is what I needed”.  Then I was happy for supplying the correct information, and worried at the same time, that I might give them false information, and look stupid.  It made me feel like a real professional when there was no request for me to defend what I said, and that made me feel really good.  I never would have thought it, but I really enjoy this atmosphere.  I still don’t think I would ever go to law school and attempt a law degree, but if I ever would, I would want to represent a university.  I am really enjoying my practicum. There is no student contact within this practicum, but there is a lot of professional contact, and it is an atmosphere where I can ask questions.  Though I thought I would struggle not working with students, I see the bigger picture on how General Counsel assists the university, and I really enjoy it.