Myles Cochran: Making a Difference in the Lives of Miami's Youth. September 2002

Myles never considered law school until the summer before his junior year of college when he did an internship for a retired probate judge in Dallas. The small, family firm that worked primarily with wills and estates provided Myles a great exposure to the law. The internship was such a positive experience that he returned to the firm the following summer and more importantly, he started looking into going to law school. He and a friend applied to law schools all over the country. When they came to Miami for a tour of the law school, Myles was impressed and recalls having a gut feeling that Miami was the school for him.

Myles says coming to Miami was the best decision he ever made and many good things have happened to him since arriving. Heading into his third year, he has a very active track record and as a result he has met some great people. He was involved in the Law School Orientation as well as CaneFest, a university-wide orientation event with the undergraduate school, and he's done a great deal of volunteer work with Dean Lennon and the HOPE project (Helping Others through Pro Bono Efforts).

For instance, last year he became involved in a new program through the law firm of Holland & Knight. Myles would meet selected 7th and 8th grade students from Ponce de Leon Middle School and escort them downtown via the metrorail. At the law firm the kids were paired up with attorneys who would help them with their homework, special projects, and preparing for the FCAT, Florida's comprehensive assessment test. One of Myles' students later received the "most improved student in the class" award.

The success of the Holland & Knight program prompted Myles to write and gain approval of a proposal for a tutoring project which targets local Miami area children. This program will pair an elementary or middle school student with a UM law student and an attorney at Holland & Knight. The child and law student will meet weekly to work on the various homework assignments that the child may have. Additionally, once every couple of months the two will meet up with a Holland & Knight attorney to participate in various events, such as touring the law office, working on school projects, or just getting together for lunch to talk. Holland & Knight's Charitable Foundation agreed to sponsor Myles' project by pairing up its attorneys with the tutoring groups as well as by helping to buy books and school supplies for the students.

Myles recently completed a clinical placement with the Children and Youth Law Clinic. In the fall of 2001, he took Litigation Skills, a class that he feels was very helpful in preparing him to appear in court. Although there were several other students working with the children through the Summer Fellowship Program, Myles was the only certified legal intern, which allowed him to speak in court. The summer clinical exposed him to some disheartening cases, but the clinic's director and associate director, Bernie Perlmutter and Carolyn Salisbury, served as inspiring mentors. Most of Myles' clients were foster care children. Occasionally, he would go to the juvenile detention center to counsel clients, many of whom were runaways who had been picked up by the police. Myles would identify the problems of the children and help determine where they should be placed and then serve as the children's advocate in court or before a citizen's review panel.

Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Myles is the youngest of six children. He attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Finance. Judging by his experiences in law school, one wouldn't guess it, but Myles says he wasn't nearly as active in undergraduate school as he is at Miami. Perhaps his most important self-revelation during law school is the satisfaction that he receives from doing pro bono work. HOPE and involvement in the local community have really influenced his experiences in law school and Myles sees himself staying in Miami for at least a few years following graduation in May of 2003. He hasn't solidified what type of law he wants to practice, but no matter what, public service will always be an important part of his agenda.