Joanna A. Medrano
Joanna Medrano is the Director of Externships as well as an Assistant Professor-in-Residence.
What's the most important thing you are working on right now?
Right now, I am focused on learning about the Las Vegas legal community and the students here at Boyd. As director of externships, I am interested in building a program that responds to the needs and interests of our students. All of our placements offer students the ability to learn about legal practice in real world settings and I want to help students find their match(es) to make the most of their experience. Externships allow students to explore and build their own professional identity outside of the classroom.
What is the most significant issue facing your field and how should it be addressed?
One of our externship goals is to create practice-ready attorneys who are prepared to address issues in the legal community beyond the courtroom. We use the seminar as a way to allow our students to begin to reflect on the larger legal community. Our hope is to create reflective students who are ready to practice in an inclusive environment where they value their colleagues and clients.
How do you approach teaching your favorite topics? Your least favorite?
Professional responsibility and the legal community are both topics that I have reflected on deeply throughout my career. I enjoy the different perspectives that our diverse law students bring to the table, and look forward to learning from them as well.
When students ask you what they should read or do outside the classroom?
It is critical to keep up with legal news (especially in your area of interest) and to create networks. The law is evolving, especially in newer fields, and you want to start habits early that allow you to keep up with changes and stay involved.
What is it about being a law school professor that inspires or motivates you?
I enjoy being able to teach law students about what I have learned from my years of practice. Law students, even those with previous professional experiences, are just learning the weight of being an attorney and how to navigate the cultures of a legal office. I honestly want to give the students the law school experience which provides them with the tools to build their own success.