Laying Down the Law

Grads Return to Campus for Pre-Law Symposium

Western students had the chance to learn about what it takes to prepare for law school-and to hear a lawyer's assessment of four landmark Supreme Court decisions- during the Sixth Annual Pre-Law Symposium in February, thanks to a group of young alumni who returned to speak at their alma mater.

The all-alumni panel at the symposium, hosted by Western Illinois University's Illinois Centennial Honors College, featured Ryan Wilson '00, Michelle (Ashley) Sanders '02, Jason Pohren '03 and Akami Marik MS '05.

"The annual symposium is a great opportunity to learn about law school while being introduced to important legal issues- and this year, all the presenters- law students and professionals alike-were WIU alumni," said William Knox, Illinois Centennial Honors College director.

Wilson, (B.S. Agriculture/Pre-Law), formerly of Sciota, Ill., is a 2004 graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Law who is working with the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender in Springfield. Previously, as an associate in the law firm of Graham and Graham, Ltd. in Springfield, where his areas of practice were medical malpractice defense, civil litigation, wills, estate planning, business law and employment law.

Both Sanders and Pohren are current SIU School of Law students.

Michelle (Ashley) Sanders '02, (B.A. English), a third-year law student originally from Decatur, graduated from Western in 2002 as the Illinois Centennial Honors College Scholar and the English Honors Scholar. She also was chosen as the Honors Convocation student speaker.

Pohren, (B.S. Law Enforcement and Justice Administration), originally from Hamilton, Ill., is a second-year law student. Marik, (M.S. College Student Personnel), is an SIU School of Law Field Representative, working with recruiting and admissions.

Alumnus Todd Turner '88 presented the keynote address "Opportunity Seized or Lost: What Happened to Mapp, Gideon, Escabedo and Miranda After Their Landmark Supreme Court Decisions?"

Turner, who was a member of Western's Pre-Law Honors Program, graduated in 1988 with a B.A. in history. After Western he served as a judicial intern at the United States Supreme Court in the office of the administrative assistant to Chief Justice William Rehnquist, where he worked for Rehnquist and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Turner earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1992).

He is a partner in the firm of Sorling, Northrup, Hanna, Cullen & Cochran, Ltd. in Springfield, where he concentrates in banking, real estate, state sales and excise tax and general commercial law. Turner is a registered lobbyist and has been involved in the analysis and drafting of Illinois legislation regarding banking and real estate law. Turner has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Illinois at Springfield, teaching real estate law; has published articles in the Illinois Banker and Illinois Realtor trade journals.

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