The Professional Development and Opportunities Committee of the State Bar of Michigan's Open Justice Committee is hosting its third program to encourage minority law students to consider judicial careers. The program entitled "Being A Lawyer Is Not Enough," aims to familiarize law students with a realistic, first-hand overview of the opportunities, requirements and process for serving on the bench.

Thirty-two sitting judges will share their insights about what it takes to be a judge at the program scheduled for Thursday, November 9, 2000 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Wayne State University Law School's Spencer M. Patriarch Auditorium.

" This is a great opportunity for minority law students to see the many avenues open to them for contributing to the legal profession, " said Lorraine Weber, State Bar of Michigan Consultant on Open Justice Issues. "It's important for our courts to create opportunities for minority advancement and involvement. A diverse bench also helps to improve the public's confidence in the fairness of our justice system."

In previous programs hosted at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, Detroit College of Law, judges have also shared "highlights" and "lowlights" of serving on the bench. The discussion is very interactive with law students asking numerous questions.

The program was designed to respond to the findings of the State Bar of Michigan Task Force on Racial/Ethnic and Gender Issues in the Courts and the Legal Profession, which found that the judiciary does not reflect the diversity of the state population.

For more information on the program, or to find out more about the State Bar's Open Justice Commission, contact Judy Hershkowitz at the State Bar of Michigan, (800) 968-1442, ext. 6335 or jhershkowitz@mail.michbar.org.