Breakfast with the Bar: Administrative Law Recap

By John Oberdorf, IU McKinney 2L

On April 16, 2021, law students were given the opportunity to discuss working in the administrative law sector with current practitioners that included state and local government counsel, an administrative law judge, and private practitioners. Of particular interest, students asked what classes or experiences were most helpful for future administrative law practitioners (including state and local government, state constitutional law, evidence and externships with the Department of Workforce Development and the state Attorney General's Office), the hardest part of their job (reacting to legislation that causes problems in administrative bodies), and the importance of mentorship (made easier through one's local bar association). Additionally, students benefitted from practitioners sharing their successes and failures, and how law school graduates can survive, and learn from, their mistakes. It was an invaluable opportunity for students to network and learn from professionals in a relatively low-pressure environment, helpfully facilitated by the Indianapolis Bar Association.