This fall, the Center for Business Law at Case Western School of Law introduced a mentorship program designed to provide personalized guidance to Sugarman Scholars, which is an initiative that supports students interested in business law. The mentorship program connects each Sugarman Scholar with a dedicated mentor—an experienced lawyer or general counsel working in the business arena. Fifty-three legal professionals, many of them School of Law alumni, have volunteered to meet with their mentees at least twice each semester.
The mentorship program aims to enrich the students' academic journey by offering real-world insights into the careers of seasoned legal professionals. Scholars will have the opportunity to hear firsthand about the paths their mentors took, helping them shape their own professional goals.
“For the Sugarman Scholars, this is more than just a chance to learn about law—it’s an opportunity to build relationships and gain valuable advice on navigating the legal landscape,” said Juliet Kostritsky, Co-Director of the Center for Business Law.
Speaking about the program, Eric Chaffee, the other Co-Director of the Center for Business Law, noted, “One of the greatest strengths of our law school is our strong ties to the practice community, especially in regard to our outstanding alumni, who practice at the highest echelons of the legal profession.” He continued, “as a long-time CWRU faculty member, Professor Kostritsky’s connections are amazing. It was wonderful to build this program with her as a way of supporting our students.”
Ameera Haider (LAW ‘16), now Assistant Vice President in the Global Technology Transactions team at J.P. Morgan and a mentor in the program, reflected on her time at Case Western Reserve University School of Law as she takes on the role of mentor.
“Looking back, I cherished my time at the School of Law. In particular, the strong IP and contracting classes set me up to hit the ground running when I started as a firm associate,” she said. “The faculty provided me with the fundamental tools and confidence to embrace the roles and responsibilities that come with being a junior lawyer. I remember vividly a CWRU Law alum meeting up for coffee and providing a positive pep talk when I had just moved to a new city after graduation. Such cordial relationships and support are what has always made Case Western Reserve unique for me. I look forward to connecting with mentees to help provide similar support as they navigate law school and the early years of legal practice.”
Students are equally enthusiastic about the program. Jess Paumier, one of the Sugarman Scholars, shared their excitement: “I’m not entirely sure what kind of law I would like to practice yet. I want to keep my mind open to all options. But so far, contract law has really grabbed my attention. I’m looking forward to learning the unwritten rules from my mentor. They successfully navigated through the challenges of law school, so I plan on listening closely.”
The Sugarman Scholar Program is an initiative that supports law students who are interested in practicing business law and celebrates the life and work of Norman A. Sugarman. Sugarman was born in Cleveland and attended Western Reserve University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Adelbert College in 1938 and his J.D. from the School of Law in 1940. He was a member of both Phi Beta Kappa and Order of the Coif. After a distinguished career with the Internal Revenue Service, he joined Baker Hostetler as a partner in 1954. Sugarman passed away in 1986, but his impact on the law continues, including with the Sugarman Scholars Program.
The Center for Business law at Case Western Reserve University is an initiative to prepare future leaders to understand business issues facing business entities, engage in research on the role and impact of government in the regulation of business and to foster public debate regarding the role of government in the regulation of businesses. It is part of the robust business law curriculum at the Law School. With this mentorship program, the Center for Business Law reaffirms its commitment to providing students with the resources, guidance and connections they need to succeed in both law school and their future legal careers.