From MSU Law
MSU Law May graduate Patrick Navin has racked up some impressive successes since graduating magna cum laude from the law school. He just passed the bar and recently bettered a nationwide pool of applicants for the highly sought-after position of Judicial Law Clerk.
Navin was chosen as Clerk for Judge Charles R. Merrill in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Kentucky. After coming across the vacancy on the OSCAR website, Navin says he researched the judge and then “spent a lot of time carefully wording my cover letter to highlight how my skills align with the position. I also focused on what makes me unique compared to other applicants.”
The two-year clerkship is a perfect next step for Navin. He says a favorite of this MSU Law education was the opportunity to improve his legal research and writing skills.
“An opportunity to write for a judge is an incredibly unique experience and one that I feel blessed to have.”
The location was another perk, being half-way between his family in Cincinnati and his wife’s in Evansville, Ind.
He chose to clerk for a bankruptcy judge because he hopes to “practice bankruptcy law in the future and this position allows me to gain a unique perspective on this area of law.” Planning ahead, after the clerkship, he has his sights set on joining “the bankruptcy/restructuring department at a good firm and help clients navigate this complex area of law.”
He credits MSU Law Adjunct Professor Jonathan Lauderbach and a former law professor “for developing my interest in bankruptcy law and inspiring me to practice in this area.”
“Patrick’s intellectual curiosity and genuine enthusiasm for the study of law are important characteristics in a law clerk,” said Professor Lauderbach, former Circuit Court Judge in Midland and Partner at Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP. “Clerks are often asked to research arcane legal issues. It’s part of the court’s work. Having a clerk who is eager to dig deep into the ‘why and how’ of the law and give it the study it needs, is extremely essential to the court.”
Reflecting on his law school days, Navin said, “I am incredibly grateful for the experiences I had at MSU Law and the professional growth I experienced during my time as a student. I learned a lot from all of my professors, but I am particularly grateful for my RWA experience with Professor [Elaine] Spiliopoulos. This class was my first real exposure to legal writing, and it helped inspire me to become a better legal writer.”
Navin also reminisced about his time as Senior Managing Editor of the Law Review and all the friends he made.
“I think one of the best things about MSU Law is that the other students are very supportive and can also be a great resource. It seems to me that everyone at the school has a wealth of knowledge to share and I am happy that I had a chance to absorb some of that knowledge and experience during my time as a student.”
