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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 2 3 come to welcome us – and we've done as many tours as we can — are all very interested in how they and we can work together. MB: And the proximity to law firms and other work opportunities? LS: e opportunity for experiential learning, which is what lawyers need more than ever, and the opportu- nity for lawyers to be involved in cross-disciplinary work in a variety of different ways. So, they're in busi- ness, they're working with startups, they're in government, they're work- ing in municipalities, and then doing some of the traditional work in law firms and with judges. e variety of experiential opportunities that the law students and business students have in this building is just really ter- rific. And the collaboration that the Graduate and Professional Center has really catalyzed here has really made a huge difference. MB: What's the significance of having all of Maine Law's law clin- ics here, in one place? LS: It's a substantial improve- ment on accessibility — people can take the bus from anywhere in the Greater Portland area and get right to the building. Now all of the clinics are together, and the faculty can help each other and back up the students. ere are two really pretty rooms where clients can come to have a conference with their student lawyers. e clients feel respected, they understand we value them, and that we are here to help them solve problems. It makes all the difference in the world how people feel about access to justice, and students get an opportunity to have direct relationships with real clients, which is one of the reasons they come to law school. MB: What opportunities are there today for women interested in be- coming judges? LS: Right now at Maine Law, about 60% of the students are women, and they are going out into really amaz- ing jobs on a regular basis. ere's lots of opportunity for women to find the right pathway to whatever it is they want to do. What I tell a lot of the students, male and female, is that in your first years of practice, try everything, get out there, figure out what it is that lights you up from within, and then find a way to do that. MB: You're frequently out and about chatting with students. What do you get out of that? LS: e reason I'm here is the stu- dents. ey bring a fresh look at law and justice, they're excited, they're hopeful — and they're funny. e opportunity to spend time with people who are thoughtful and really care about the world — it doesn't get any better than that! MB: Are you proactively trying to recruit more students from out of state? LS: Absolutely! We want more students, and we actually have room now to have more students, so we're doing everything we can to let people know that the programs at Maine Law — in privacy, environ- mental sustainability, and the only Arctic law program in the country — are here, along with programs that will help you practice in rural areas, and an expanded opportunity to get out there and do experiential learning. We are out there telling the world that Maine Law is the place to be. R e n e e C o r d e s , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t r c o r d e s @ m a i n e b i z . b i z a n d @ r s c o r d e s This is Cooper. We were there for all the family camping trips. We're here now as he discovers his love for cooking. Someday he'll open his own restaurant. And when that day arrives, we'll be there. 1-800-447-4559 | bathsavings.bank MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER The reason I'm here is the students. They bring a fresh look at law and justice, they're excited, they're hopeful — and they're funny.

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