<div style="float: right; width: 505px; margin: 10px;">				<object width="500" height="375"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&amp;lang=en-us&amp;page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fwidenerlaw%2Fsets%2F72157649086980986%2Fshow%2F&amp;page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fwidenerlaw%2Fsets%2F72157649086980986%2F&amp;set_id=72157649086980986&amp;jump_to=">
<param name="movie" value="https://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=1811922554">
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=1811922554" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&amp;lang=en-us&amp;page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fwidenerlaw%2Fsets%2F72157649086980986%2Fshow%2F&amp;page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fwidenerlaw%2Fsets%2F72157649086980986%2F&amp;set_id=72157649086980986&amp;jump_to=" width="500" height="375"></embed></object>		</div>Students and faculty at the Widener University School of Law Harrisburg campus took a break from their usual flurry of classes on Oct. 28. Instead, they spent the day immersed in a wide range of sessions designed to shed some light on the professional life of lawyers.<br><br>Professional Development Day 2014 had 14 separate sessions ranging from the immediate – planning for success on the bar exam – to subjects students won’t face for some time – media relations. The media relations session featured <a href="http://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/?q=judge-john-e-jones-iii">Judge John E. Jones, III</a> from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He has handled some high profile cases in recent years, including one in which he <a href="http://coop.pamd.uscourts.gov/13-1861.pdf">found</a> that the teaching of creationism violated the Constitutional prohibition on mixing church and state. In 2014, he found that Pennsylvania’s so-called “mini defense of marriage” law was unconstitutional, as well, as it denied gay families equal protection and due process under the law.<br><br>There were other well-known speakers, including 1992 alumna U.S. Magistrate Judge <a href="http://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/?q=judge-susan-e-schwab">Susan Schwab</a> of the Middle District of Pennsylvania and Hershey Entertainment &amp; Resorts Co. Vice President <a href="http://www.eckertseamans.com/directory.aspx?View=Detail&amp;DirectoryID=661">Frank Miles</a>. Schwab sat on a panel of Widener alumnae called “Women in the Profession” with <a href="http://www.eckertseamans.com/directory.aspx?View=Detail&amp;DirectoryID=661">LaToya Winfield Bellamy</a>  ’05, a member at Eckert, Seamans  and Bonnie Hershberger ’08 from Highmark. This panel quickly turned into a lively group conversation on career goals and how to achieve them. Miles made the “Business Case for Diversity and Inclusion,” and suggested the inclusion rather than diversity should be the overarching goal of every organization.<br><br>“We design Professional Development Day to give students a nice balance between inspiration about what a law career can be and a shot of reality about the serious practical and ethical issues they will face soon,” said Associate Professor <a href="/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/HusseyMichaelJ.aspx">Michael J. Hussey</a>, who served as the chair of the planning committee. “Given the job market and the rapid rate of change in the legal field, new lawyers not only need the legal skills to hit the ground running, but also need a complete set of professional skills to maximize every opportunity.”<br><br>The day started with two sessions about writing. The first was a nuts and bolts look at how to write a good essay exam, designed to help first-year students early in their law school careers. The second focused on business writing and how bad writing can undermine your reputation.<br><br>In a hands-on session held during Happy Hour in the Gallery, students learned how to “work not lurk” a cocktail reception.<br><br>The last session of the day was conducted by alumnus <a href="http://www.reageradlerpc.com/attorneys/williams.aspx">Tom Williams</a> ’93, who gave students pointers on advising small businesses based on his 21 years at the Reager &amp; Adler, P.C. in Camp Hill.<br><br>Four of the sessions were approved for continuing legal education credits and many practitioners were in attendance.<br><br><a href="/About/standarddisclaimer.aspx">Standard Disclaimer for External Links</a><br>