Children's Memorial Hospital
Legal Services Department
2300 Children's Plaza, Box 261
Chicago, IL 60614-3394
773.880.3411
www.childrensmemorial.org
Note: This externship is designed for J.D. Students only.
A legal extern at Children's Memorial Hospital ("CMH") will participate in projects that span a variety of subject areas. In addition to being the only free-standing children's hospital in Illinois, CMH is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. CMH's affiliate, Children's Memorial Research Center, houses 150,000 square feet of bench research space. As a children's hospital and teaching and research institution, CMH relies heavily on philanthropy, and the Children's Memorial Foundation is our fund-raising affiliate.
Because of the complexity of the CMH organization, our attorneys and externs have a highly diverse practice. A week in the life of an extern could include research projects involving the application of a new Illinois law on error reporting; a question on the legality of rapid HIV-testing; assisting the Foundation in complying with Chicago raffle law; and drafting medical director agreements.
Externs also routinely attend standing hospital staff meetings with members of the legal department, as well as meetings with CMH administrators to discuss specific ongoing projects. Externs are involved on a one-on-one basis with hospital staff on projects.
The CMH Legal Department is a new one and came into existence in 2002 with the hiring of Donna Wetzler as its first General Counsel. An Associate General Counsel, Nancy Borders, was hired in 2004, and CMH is currently planning on adding an Assistant General Counsel in 2005. Donna and Nancy both were partners at Gardner, Carton and Douglas prior to joining CMH, and work closely together as a team. The Legal Department is non-hierarchical, and we work and communicate together on a relatively unstructured basis.
Our externs will work with Donna, Nancy, our new Assistant General Counsel, and our Compliance Coordinator. Prior to joining CMH, Nancy was active in associate training at Gardner Carton and works closely with our externs to make the most of their CMH experience.
Transportation: Can take CTA.
