{"id":5413,"date":"2023-11-06T19:46:29","date_gmt":"2023-11-06T19:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=5413"},"modified":"2025-03-28T16:16:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T20:16:13","slug":"wilmu-law-students-and-mentors-connect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2023\/11\/06\/wilmu-law-students-and-mentors-connect\/","title":{"rendered":"WilmU Law Students and Mentors Connect"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column5413_922215-b6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column5413_922215-b6 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column5413_922215-b6 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column5413_922215-b6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column5413_922215-b6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column5413_922215-b6 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column5413_922215-b6 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column5413_922215-b6{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column5413_922215-b6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column5413_922215-b6 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column5413_922215-b6 dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>\u201cA mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself\u201d \u2014 that quote from <strong>Oprah Winfrey<\/strong> rings true at the Wilmington University School of Law, where students benefit from a strong mentorship program.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI am excited to see what I learn from the mentorship program. I have already had the opportunity to meet with some of the attorneys at my mentor\u2019s office,\u201d says <strong>Genesis Joma<\/strong>, a J.D. candidate. \u201cIt was great to be able to speak to them and my mentor to help me along my journey in deciding what and where I want to practice.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When mentors and students first came face-to-face, \u201cI\u2019m reminded about just how electric that room felt,\u201d recalls <strong>Heather Karns<\/strong>, the associate dean for career services. It was the result of \u201ccareful matching and lots of conversation about who would make a good fit.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She and her colleagues received \u201coverwhelmingly positive\u201d feedback.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe reception we\u2019ve gotten from the Delaware legal community has surpassed my expectation,\u201d says <strong>Kimberly Gattuso, J.D.<\/strong>, the associate dean for experiential learning. \u201cThe mentors are just incredible. Ten of them are sitting judges. One is a former judge. The remainder are partners in law firms in Wilmington and have practiced in Wilmington for decades.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Delaware Supreme Court Justice <strong>N. Christopher Griffiths<\/strong> calls it \u201ca wonderful experience.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide wu-blockquote-row is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote wu-blockquote-simple is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The reception we\u2019ve gotten from the Delaware legal community has surpassed my expectation.<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 <em>Kimberly Gattuso, J.D.<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI joined the mentorship program because I know firsthand the value that a mentor can add to a new law student\u2019s life and legal career. I have several important mentors who helped me achieve success. They offered a safe space to ask questions, as well as served as sounding boards who understood how difficult the beginning of one\u2019s legal journey can be,\u201d writes Griffiths, who \u201cjumped on the opportunity to pay it forward.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So did Chief Judge <strong>Michael Newell<\/strong> of Delaware\u2019s Family Court.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have come to understand that a law school education extends beyond the walls of the classroom,\u201d Newell explains. \u201cThe Wilmington University law school\u2019s mentor program will enhance the student\u2019s overall educational experience and will expose them to the practical aspects of the practice of law.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He and the other mentors meet with students at least six times a year and take them to a bar association or professional event.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide wu-blockquote-row is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote wu-blockquote-simple is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The Wilmington University law school\u2019s mentor program will enhance the student\u2019s overall educational experience and will expose them to the practical aspects of the practice of law.<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Michael Newell<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJoining a new field can be intimidating and overwhelming. We can shift those feelings when we feel successes and connection,\u201d says <strong>Dr. Marisa Rauscher<\/strong>, a J.D. candidate and professor of educational psychology at Neumann University. \u201cThe WilmU School of Law mentor program allows for exposure and relationship, both of which allow a law student to connect more fully to the rigor of preparation and the realities of practice.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fellow candidate <strong>Hector Torres-Diaz<\/strong> agrees: \u201cThis program does the leg work to help its first-year students become acclimated to their future environment. I very much look forward to what this program will bring!\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id5413_47ec3d-e5{margin-top:2em;}.kb-row-layout-id5413_47ec3d-e5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id5413_47ec3d-e5 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id5413_47ec3d-e5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id5413_47ec3d-e5{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id5413_47ec3d-e5 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 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> .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column5413_7891bb-09 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column5413_7891bb-09 figure.image-is-svg {-webkit-margin-after: 1em;  margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column5413_7891bb-09 kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image5413_d67521-ca:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image5413_d67521-ca.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image5413_d67521-ca .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image5413_d67521-ca image-is-svg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"230\" height=\"120\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/wilmu-cta-logo-wu.svg\" alt=\"Wilm U post 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class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Learn more about the <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/health\/nurse-anesthesiology.aspx\"><strong><em>Delaware Nurse Anesthesiology Program at ChristianaCare and Wilmington University<\/em><\/strong><\/a> <em>and reach out to stay informed of program updates.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cA mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself\u201d \u2014 that quote from Oprah Winfrey rings true at the Wilmington 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