American University Washington College of Law Launches Dean's Professionalism Certificate
Recognizing Excellence in Professionalism, Inclusivity, and Career Development for Aspiring Legal Professionals
.jpg)
Introducing the Dean's Professionalism Certificate (DPC), a new initiative from American University Washington College of Law. This certificate recognizes students' active participation in activities that cultivate professionalism — an essential attribute for aspiring and practicing lawyers. The DPC will celebrate student accomplishments in academic development, personal wellness, inclusive leadership, career development, and professional and community engagement. It will demonstrate to employers that AUWCL students have the knowledge, values and skills foundational for a successful legal career and the personal qualities that will distinguish them as outstanding future lawyers.
Programming for academic development will guide students through activities that give them an understanding of how they learn and process information and how to solve legal problems by synthesizing information. This will enable them to build a framework for academic success, bar exam readiness, and, ultimately, professional success as lawyers.
The personal wellness sessions will emphasize the importance of self-care and provide students with the opportunity to consider how their professional goals align with their personal work ethic and their ideal work/life balance. This will allow students to cultivate self-knowledge and destigmatize seeking mental healthcare while emphasizing overall wellness.
Inclusive leadership requires students to take ownership of inclusive practices and determine what diversity means to them. Students will have the opportunity to develop competencies that will empower them to incorporate equity and justice into their legal careers.
Career development is critical. Through the career development activities required, students will receive tools to set themselves up to find fulfilling post-graduation employment and take ownership of their ultimate career journeys.
Professional and community Engagement with notable alumni and other professional and community leaders, students will learn how others have overcome challenges and seized opportunities. They will become familiar with the ingredients for success as they chart their own pathways through the profession and plan for impact in the larger community.
Congratulations to the first-ever recipients of the Dean's Professionalism Certificate:
- Lars Emerson
- Andrew Gamble
- Samantha Maney
- Sydney Robson
- Peter Sabini
- Ruth Zetlzer
~Story by Hasini Jayawardena.