October 9, 1998
Dedicated staffers direct CLE and Skills programs in the School of Law
by Julia McSherry, director of publications
With a combined tenure as staff members at the law school of over 20 years, Lana Corll and Patricia (“Pat” or “Patsy”) Phipps, C’98, have become known for their expertise at directing two key programs for law students, alumni, and members of the greater New Orleans legal community.
“Continuing Legal Education is an important service that Loyola provides alumni and the legal community. It’s also a service that alumni and other professionals give back to us by giving freely of their time and expertise,” says Corll, who as CLE director is quick to credit the practicing attorneys who volunteer to teach in the program.
“We pull from the same professional base for teachers,” adds Phipps, director of the skills program, who also relies on volunteers to share their professional expertise with second- and third-year law students. Loyola is one of the few law schools in the country and the only one in the state that not only offers practical lawyering skills for students but requires it as part of the curriculum. The courses, taught by practicing attorneys, prepare students for applying knowledge from academic courses to the real world of drafting pleadings, filing motions, and managing a law practice.
“Loyola law students have the opportunity to learn and practice negotiation and settlement techniques, how to draft pleadings, how to handle a real estate transaction, how to use evidence at trial–all within a workshop format,” Phipps explains. “Our students learn by doing. An analogy I use is that once you’ve driven yourself downtown, you don’t forget how to get there.”
Eight skills credits are required for graduation but the courses are so popular that over half of the recent graduating class took more. One student graduated with 27 skills credits.
Once students graduate and begin practicing law, those in the Greater New Orleans area and sometimes beyond return to the law school often for CLE courses to keep them current about changes in the law. Ten major programs, two to five days in length, have been scheduled for August 1998 through April 1999, addressing such topics as divorce mediation training, estate planning, evidence law, using the Internet in the practice of law, and trial advocacy.
For 12 years, the CLE office has hosted the Annual Longshore Conference in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor. Scheduled in 1999 for March 11 12, the conference attracts over 200 participants from around the country and brings substantial revenue to help support the CLE program. Plans for CLE expansion this fall include a “Back to School” skills-based practical training for lawyers.
Though the nature of the jobs and their dedication keeps Corll and Phipps at the law school for long hours, both also stay busy after hours with other pursuits. Corll is an avid quilter and serves as director for the Gulf States Quilting Association. She also spends time with husband John and yellow lab Jake.
Phipps lights up when she talks about her two grown children and three grandchildren, ages 10, 7, and 18 months. While juggling family and professional life, she has managed to pursue her education through Loyola’s City College evening degree program. After nine years of night classes, she graduated this past May with honors and a degree in communications. She is putting into use her public relations and advertising training to promote the skills program.
“I love working with the students; I never have a day that’s the same,” says Phipps, who from the law school to the grocery store to Jazz Fest, is affectionately nicknamed “the Skills Lady.”
Corll too views her position as less of a job than a way of life. As she sums up her feelings, “I love the interaction between the campus and the legal community.”
The enthusiasm and dedication of these two staff members exemplify the School of Law’s commitment to provide a better learning experience for students and service to alumni and the greater legal community.