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February 4 - 10, 2007 |
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John Marshall Graduates Urged to Recognize They Are "Sentinels of Justice" |
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U.S. District Court Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow, in delivering the January 2007 commencement address, urged graduates of The John Marshall Law School to believe in themselves as "sentinels of justice" and their work as a means to upholding the ideals of law.
"Law and justice, you see, are not necessarily the same," she told the audience. "The practice of law is more than a set of skills and techniques to be used to tweak out solutions to legal problems. It is the pursuit of justice—the distinction between right and wrong.
"The pursuit of justice is a perpetual task. As a lawyer, you will be expected to and are duty-bound to guard this cornerstone of our social contract," Lefkow added. "As a lawyer, your voice will be magnified over what it is today. Your character will be consistently put to the test. You will have opportunities to cheat when no one will know and opportunities to insist that the rule of law be upheld.
"You will give advice when the consequence of your advice is uncertain. You will be the calm voice of reason when around you emotions are running hot," she explained.
Lefkow says she speaks from more than 35 years of experience as a lawyer.
"I have learned that it is fairly predictable in litigation that the government wins, the banks win and the insurance companies win," she noted. "Of course there are exceptions, but, on the whole, it goes that way."
Unfair sentences, mandatory arbitrations, various fears that are ratcheted up through the media all can result in laws and judicial rules that "sometimes make me wish some dedicated lawyers had been there as the voice of reason," she told the graduates.
Lefkow cited French aristocrat Alexis deToqueville's 1835 writing, "Democracy in America" in which he laments that America's experiment with democracy would fail because America was left without a class of aristocrats.
Yet, he saw lawyers as "the most potent barrier against the excesses of democracy" calling lawyers, essentially, the stand-in for an American aristocracy. Lawyers had the knowledge. They were arbitrating between citizens and working for an outcome to litigation that gave them "a certain scorn for the judgment of the crowd."
"It has been my experience in the affairs of life that this view of lawyers in America is decidedly true," Lefkow said. "Lawyers have a seat at almost every table, and they are looked to as a voice of reason against the judgment of the crowd."
After passing the bar and beginning their legal career, most graduates will eventually come to recognize their power as attorneys. Lefkow remembers her early days the same way.
"I will never forget the thrill of being this 20-something woman with a shy demeanor, yet able to use the tools of law and the skills of persuasion to move the system for a person who would have been powerless without me.
"No matter what area of law you pursue—or even if you eventually follow another path—the discipline of your mind in the use of reason and logic that you gained in law school will empower you throughout your lives."
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Scenes from Commencement |
Jeffrey V. Manderscheid (left), winner of the Elmer C. Kissane Public Service Award, is congratulated by Paul Kissane (right), son of the late Elmer Kissane. 
Happy J.D. graduates of the class of January 2007 are (from left) Kari Beyer, Joseph Lin and Michael McEldowney. 
A crowd gathered around the television set in the students' robing room to keep up with the Chicago Bears playoff game. 
Nicola Nelson delivers remarks as the class valedictorian. 
Piyatida "Tida" Pavasutti (left), a lawyer from Bangkok, Thailand, received her LL.M. in Global Legal Studies. Congratulating her are Professor Mark E. Wojcik, director of the Global Legal Studies Program, and her mother, Suncharee Pavasutti, who made the estimated 9,000-mile journey from Thailand to see her daughter graduate with honors. 
U.S. District Court Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow delivers the commencement address. 
Associate Dean William Mock (left) adjusts the hood symbolizing the honorary degree bestowed upon U.S. District Court Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow at the Jan. 21 commencement. Alfred E. Gallo (right), president of the Board of Trustees, reads the citation. 
Daniel Zamudio (left) and Sendil K. Devadas shared their happiness after receiving their J.D. degrees. 
It was a double satisfaction for graduate Frank Del Barto who received both his J.D. and an LL.M. degree in Employee Benefits. Congratulating him are (from left) his children, Lauren and Nicholas, and his wife, Eri.
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John Marshall Enters Cooperative Agreement with Mexican Law School |
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The John Marshall Law School of Chicago entered into a cooperation agreement on Jan. 5, 2007 with the Facultad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey, an independent law school in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The two schools will explore academic and professional exchanges in legal education and professional activities to promote the rule of law.
This is the first exchange agreement for John Marshall with a law school in Mexico. Professor Mark Wojcik, director of the Global Legal Studies Program at The John Marshall Law School, has been meeting with officials from Facultad Libre de Derecho the past two years to facilitate this agreement. The agreement was signed during an alumni reception in Washington, D.C. at the annual meeting of the Association of American Law Schools.
The agreement was signed by John Marshall Acting Dean John Corkery and José Roble Flores Fernández, dean of the Facultad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey.
Cooperation under the agreement may take many forms, including exchanges of faculty and students, cooperative research activities, scholarly and professional publications, alumni visits and other programs that focus on legal exchanges between the United States and Mexico. Specific subject matter areas of cooperation may include the core domestic and international strengths of The John Marshall Law School and its Centers for Excellence, including advocacy, employee benefits, global legal studies, information technology and privacy law, intellectual property law, international business and trade law, real estate law and taxation.
The John Marshall Law School has entered into a cooperative agreement with Facultad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey in Mexico. Present at the signing ceremony in Washington, D.C., were (from left) Rory Smith, John Marshall associate dean for outreach and planning; José Roble Flores Fernández, dean of the Facultad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey; John Marshall Acting Dean John Corkery; William Mock, associate dean for academic affairs; Fernando Villarreal Gonda, academic vice dean of the Facultad Libre de Derecho de Monterrey; and Professor Mark Wojcik, director of the Global Legal Studies Program.
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Staff Activity |
Raizel Liebler
Reference Librarian
She recently gave two talks for the Illinois Attorney General's Office, presenting on Illinois legislative history in Chicago and presenting on finding information about persons and businesses in Springfield.
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Faculty Activity and Publications |
Professor Ralph Ruebner
Publications 
The Law Bulletin Publishing Company just published the 2007 Cumulative Supplement to his Illinois Criminal Trial Evidence treatise. The book is in its fourth edition. It was first published in 1986 by Butterworth Legal Publishers.
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Student Activities |
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February 5
Another of the decanal candidates will be available for questions at 5:00 p.m. in room 3east. Refreshments will be served.
There will be a mentor meeting at 5:20 p.m. in room 200.
February 6
The Criminal Law Society will meet at noon in room 201.
February 7
The first meeting of the "Student Advisory Committee" will be held at 12:15 p.m. in room 201. This is for student organization leaders. RSVP to Marilyn Criss.
The Entertainment, Media and Sports Law Society will feature sports attorney, Scott Andersen, at its meetings at 5:00 p.m. in room 3east.
The Entertainment, Media and Sports Law Society will be selling flowers for Valentine's Day. Please stop at their table to place your order.
February 8
The Brehon Society will meet at 12:30 pm in room 217.
The American Constitutional Society is co-sponsoring a prominent speaker, Brandt Goldstein, at 5:00 p.m. in room 1200.
February 10
The Black Law Students Association will meet at 11:00 am in room 1105.
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Schedule of Events |
February 5
- Writing Resource Center Three P Workshop, Room 527, 12 p.m.
- JCIL Information Session, Room 403, 12:00 and 5:00 p.m.
- Decanal Candidate Faculty Presentation, Room 1200, 12:15 p.m.
- Career Services Office Alumni IP Career Panel & Reception, Room 216, 12:30 p.m.
- Faculty Lunch with Decanal Candidate, Room 3East, 1:30 p.m.
- BEEP (Bar Essay Exam Program), Room 800, 5:00 p.m.
- Career Services Office - Careers in International Law and Study Abroad Programs, Room 428, 5:00 p.m.
- SBA Mentor Program, Room 200, 5 p.m.
- Trial Advocacy Council Meeting, Room 3East, 5:00 p.m.
February 6
- Decanal Candidate Meeting with Center Directors. 11th Floor East Boardroom, 11:15 a.m.
- Insights I Program, Room 503, 12:00 p.m.
- Decanal Candidate Meeting with Staff, Room 403, 2:45 p.m.
- Writing Resource Center Three P Workshop, Room 216, 4:00 p.m.
- Decanal Candidate Meeting with Students, Room 3East, 5:00 p.m.
February 7
- Deans' Meeting, Courtroom, 10 a.m.
- Career Services Office: Resume & Cover Letter Writing Workshop, Room 428, 12:30 p.m.
- International Business and Trade Law Information Session, Room 403, 12:45 p.m.
- BEEP (Bar Essay Exam Program), Room 800, 5:00 p.m.
- Entertainment Law Society Meeting, room 3East, 5:00 p.m.
- Career Services Office - Life as a Litigation Attorney, room 529, 5:00 p.m.
February 8
- Admissions Open House, Room 200 and 201, 5:30 p.m.
February 10
- BEEP (Bar Essay Exam Program), Room 409, 10 a.m.
- Insights I Program, Room 503, 1 p.m.
February 12
- Writing Resource Center First Memo Workshop, IRAC, Room 528, 12:00 p.m.
- Writing Resource Center Passive Voice Workshop, Room 527, 12:00 p.m.
- Exam Taking Program, Room 200, 12:00 p.m.
- Faculty Meeting, Room 1200, 12:15 p.m.
- Career Services Office - 3L Boot Camp Job Training, Room 1103, 12:30 p.m.
- BEEP (Bar Essay Exam Program), Room 800, 5:00 p.m.
February 13
- Insights I Program, Room 503, noon
- Faculty Meeting, Room 1200, 12:15 p.m.
- Writing Resource Center First Memo Workshop, IRAC, Room 1200B, 4 p.m.
- Writing Resource Center Passive Voice Workshop, Room 216, 4 p.m.
- Career Services Office Evening Student Orientation Part I, Room 1103, 5 p.m.
February 14
- Deans' Meeting, Room 1101, 10 a.m.
- Career Services Office Headhunter Kate Patterson speaks to IP Students, Room 1200A, 12:30 p.m.
- Board of Trustees Meeting, Courtroom, 3 p.m.
- Career Services Office Diversity Program, Room 529, 4:30 p.m.
- BEEP (Bar Essay Exam Program), Room 800, 5 p.m.
February 16
- The True Cost of Promises Made to Illinois Public Sector Employees: An Interactive Workshop to Develop Solutions to be Presented to the State Legislature, Room 1200, 9 a.m.
- BEST Program, room 1103, 9:30 a.m.
- 7th Circuit Spring ABA Law Student Division Meeting, Room 3East, 6:00 p.m.
February 17
- ABA Circuit Meeting, Room 300, All Day
- ABA Client Counseling Competition, room 1200 and 3East, 8:00 a.m.
- BEEP (Bar Essay Exam Program), Room 409, 10 a.m.
- Insights I Program, Room 503, 1 p.m.
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Editor's Note
In the Loop is published by The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Copyright 2007
Editor: Assistant Dean John M. McNamara; Contributors: Marilyn Thomas, Director, Public Relations and Advertising; Andrea Koklys, Assistant Director, Public Relations and Advertising
All information to be included in In the Loop must be placed in the INTHELOOP folder on the H drive of the law school's computer network by 12 p.m. each Wednesday. When the volume of submissions exceeds the available space in the printed version of In the Loop, additonal material will appear only in the online version of the Newsletter, which can be found on the law school's website at www.jmls.edu. 
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