2023 Saper Law Immersion Program Recap

This year’s Saper Immersion Program boasted our biggest class size to date – 32 students!

Over the course of one week, Saper Immersion students explored the practice of law and the downtown area by taking field trips to prominent law firms and talking with distinguished attorneys. Highlights include State and Federal Court observations, a tour of Loyola Law School, and even a returning fan-favorite lecture from an attorney-turned-chocolate entrepreneur!

Scroll down to see the daily itinerary for this year’s Saper Law Summer Immersion Program!

Click here to read feedback about the program from the participants.

Day 1

The program kicked off with the attendees breaking the ice by introducing themselves and their interests. After everyone became acquainted, the students visited Chuhak & Tecson and spoke with Principal Attorney Lindsey Markus about Trust and Estate Law. The group then traveled to Merchandise Mart for lunch. Following lunch, students heard from Criminal Defense Attorney Adam Sheppard, Employment Law and in-house Attorney Emily Farr, and White Collar Defense Attorney Jay Schleppenbach to cap off the first day.

Day 2

Day 2 started with the group hearing from Immigration Attorney Christina Coleman and Dean Jennifer L. Rosato Perea of DePaul University’s College of Law who discussed the law school admissions process. Next, the students headed to Family Law firm Schiller, DuCanto, and Fleck. The group talked with Managing Partner Meighan Harmon and the firms’ law clerks to learn and ask questions about the field of Family Law. Schiller treated everyone to lunch from Jason’s Deli after a tour of their office. Following the lunch and learn, the students headed to Loyola Law School where students got a taste of law school life and talked to current law students. To end off another successful day, attendees talked with Jeff Friedman to learn about the field of Entertainment Law.

Day 3

Day 3 of the Immersion Program began with a visit to the State courthouse to view the day-to-day operations of the state legal system. From state court, the students walked over to the Appellate Court to meet with the Honorable Debra B. Walker. (Fun fact – Judge Walker’s daughter is an alum of the Saper Immersion Program). After lunch, students met with Attorney Jan Feldman from the Lawyers for the Creative Arts, a non-profit organization helping clients in all areas of the arts – visual, music, dance, theatrical, digital, etc. Next the students listened to Erika Harold, Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and former Miss America! We capped off the day with students learning about the LSAT and doing practice problems.

Day 4

On Day 4, students spent the morning visiting the Everett M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, aka Federal Court, and comparing it to the State Courthouse. At Federal court, the students observed Re-Entry Court with Judge Sara L. Ellis, and met with Judge Lashonda A. Hunt and Staff Attorney Andrew (Andy) Lambertson. After lunch, the students listened to Ashok Pinto, the Director of Intel’s Intellectual Property Policy Group based in Washington, D.C. Mr. Pinto has served in all three branches of the U.S. government. The day ended with a fun negotiation exercise led by Daliah Saper.

Day 5

On the fifth and final day, the group spoke with Beth Boghossian, Family Law Attorney and Founder of BMB Law Group to learn about the importance of mindfulness and how to manage time and stress as a lawyer. Afterward, Daliah Saper, Saper Law’s Principal Attorney, spoke to the students about her career journey, her legal practice, and the trials and tribulations of managing a small law firm. Daliah also gave an overview of her most interesting Social Media law cases. The group then visited the opposite of a small law firm, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, a firm with 2,650 lawyers, for a delicious sponsored lunch. GT attorney, Howard Jeruchimowitz discussed the day-to-day life of a civil litigator. After lunch, students listened to Valerie Beck about her career path from lawyer to chocolate entrepreneur while sampling small-batch chocolates from around the world! Last but not least, the students concluded the program by starting to draft their personal statements.