|
|
April 8 - 14, 2007 |
|
|
|
John Marshall Programs Take Top Rankings in U.S. News & World Report Graduate Issue |
|
The Lawyering Skills and Trial Advocacy Programs at The John Marshall Law School were given outstanding rankings in the 2008 issue of U.S. News & World Report's Graduate Schools issue.
Specialty programs at law schools were ranked. This year the Trial Advocacy Program jumped from 14th place to fifth place in the nation, and the Lawyering Skills Program ranked sixth in the country. Also ranked was John Marshall's Intellectual Property Program placing 17th in the nation.
"We've long recognized that strong trial and negotiation skills are the unparalleled keys to successful lawyering," said Professor Kenneth Kandaras, director of the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution. "We have focused on strengthening our students' abilities in these areas. This ensures that when you leave John Marshall you're ready to practice law."
"The ranking is attributable to the long-time dedication of The John Marshall Law School to training trial advocates," said Professor Ronald Smith, director of the National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition that John Marshall hosts with the American Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section. At this year's competition, March 28, 29 and 30, 20 teams competed, including teams from London and Puerto Rico. Over the past 17 years, more than 140 law schools have come to John Marshall for the competition.
"Our success is based not only on the work of John Marshall's faculty but also the hundreds of trial attorneys in Chicago who contribute to the training of our students," Smith said.
The Lawyering Skills Program, rated as Legal Writing by U.S. News, has been in the top 10 programs since the specialty was first ranked three years ago.
"The John Marshall Law School has dedicated itself to educating the practicing lawyer, and we have never lost sight of that goal. We are honored and humbled by the fact that our peers at other law schools have consistently ranked the Lawyering Skills Program among the top ten in the nation," said Professor Molly Lien, director of the Lawyering Skills Program.
"We are committed to ensuring that our students have the experience and expertise to perform effectively in the law practice environment. Our students study writing and advocacy during all three years of law school," she noted.
"The program is unusual in that it includes not only analytical memoranda and trial and appellate briefs, but also a rigorous course in legal drafting that involves such diverse assignments as client fee agreements, estate plans and transactional work in a broad range of specialty courses. These specialty courses include areas such as real estate, intellectual property, civil litigation, family law, and international business planning," Lien said.
"John Marshall has also devoted significant faculty resources to lawyering skills. The core courses are taught by experienced faculty—most of whom are tenured, many at the full professor level," according to Lien. "We are also very grateful to the many dedicated adjunct faculty who contribute to our students' education by bringing a practitioner's perspective to our upper level curriculum."
Also ranked was John Marshall's Intellectual Property Program placing 17th in the nation.
In the overall law school rankings, U.S. News placed The John Marshall Law School in the 4th tier.
|
Animal Law Reception for Dr. Rollin |
Dr. Bernard Rollin (third from left), a professor of philosophy at Colorado State University, was an honored guest at a reception co-sponsored by the Animal Law Society at The John Marshall Law School and the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS). He spoke March 26 on ethical issues relating to animal research and genetic engineering. Welcoming him were (from left) Professor Kenneth Kandaras, president of NAVS; Adjunct Professor Susann MacLachlan, faculty advisor to the Animal Law Society; Peggy Cunniff, executive director of NAVS; and Beth Heffernan and Dan Ashta, John Marshall students and members of the Animal Law Society.
|
Annual 1L Competition Hosted at John Marshall |
|
The Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution hosted the Fifth Annual 1L Mock Trial Competition on March 23, 2006. Participating were 26 teams of four first-year John Marshall students. Second- and third-year students, faculty and alumni helped coach the teams and administer the competition.
Professor Kenneth Kandaras (fifth from left), director of the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, joins team coach Steven Shobat (third from left) and Trial Advocacy and Dispute Resolution Honors Board Member Ryan Williams (left), in congratulating the First Place team members (from second from left) Daniel Breen, Steven Hall, Yuri Ter-Sarkissov and Jordan Rifkin. 
Team coaches Sean O'Brien (second from left) and Holly Grosshans (right) congratulate Second Place team members (from left) Meredith Shane, Danica Weirhand, Nicole Oyer and Mike Schlectueg.
|
Veterans' Benefits Analyzed |
|
The Labor and Employment Law Society and the Military Law Society are co-hosting a special guest lecture by Brian Clauss, an arbitrator and mediator concentrating on labor and employment disputes.
The Apr. 12 lecture begins at 5 p.m. in room 216, and focuses on the subsections of employee benefits laws related to the activation, deployment and return of veterans of the armed services.
|
A Great Day for the Irish |
The John Marshall Law School's Brehon Society, representing students of Irish decent, marched in Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 17. The Brehon Society has been a part of the parade for the past several years.
|
Students Hear Inspirational Talk from Supreme Court Justices |
|
The Women's Law Caucus at The John Marshall Law School was honored to have two Illinois Supreme Court justices address students on the role of women in the law today.
Former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann McMorrow, who served as the first woman elected to the Supreme Court, and Justice Ann Burke, who took McMorrow's spot on the bench when she retired, offered their insights on the many opportunities available to women in legal careers.
Burke reminded students that the first woman attorney in Illinois, Myra Bradwell, wasn't allowed to practice. She took over the local law paper, today known as the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, but she never gave up her interest in the law and did as much behind-the-scenes work as a pro bono attorney as possible.
After women officially entered the legal profession, they were often relegated to work in offices. When they were given the opportunity to argue cases, women primarily did divorce, real estate and traffic cases, Burke said. But then, a legal pioneer came along in the person of Mary Ann McMorrow—the only woman in the 1953 class at Loyola University School of Law.
When she accepted a position with the Cook County State's Attorney, McMorrow became the first woman to prosecute major criminal cases. After nearly 10 years with the state's attorney's office, she went in to private practice. She was elected a judge of the Cook County Circuit Court in 1976, and then served on the Illinois Appellate Court bench before being elected to the Illinois Supreme Court serving from 1992 to 2006.
"You always have one eye trained on the past, and one eye on the future," Burke said. "No one bears this out more than Justice McMorrow. She really understood and understands what's going on around her. She hears the glass ceiling cracking."
Burke believes the accomplishments of women lawyers in Chicago today have much to do with the steps taken by McMorrow.
Burke was a mother returning to college to complete her degree, and was 40 years old when she was in law school.
"After passing the bar, a whole new world opened up to me," she said. "I chose children and family law, primarily, and I worked by diligence and the ethic of hard work.
"I was transformed by the law because I loved what I was doing. If some window opened, I said `Why not?' and was willing to try it," Burke said.
McMorrow points to Burke as "a modern woman and a modern judge. Women have come a long, long way. It's not total parity, but the profession has come a long way. Now law can be practiced virtually without limit, and I urge you all to take advantage of this," she told the students.
Professor Susan Brody (left) and members of the Women's Law Caucus (from third from left) Danielle Vakoutis and Sara Troutt, program committee co-chairs and Chief Officer Janene Carter, welcomed Illinois Supreme Court Justice Ann Burke (second from left) and former Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann McMorrow (third from left). The justices talked with students about the roles women have in law today.
|
BLSA Team Takes National Title at Moot Court Competition |
|
John Marshall Law School students took home the national title at the 2007 Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition hosted by the National Black Law Students Association in Atlanta March 22 through 25.
John Marshall had two teams—2Ls Marques Rice and Alfred Murray II, and 3Ls
Chiante Gibson and Damon Stewart—advance to nationals from the regional competition in February. After the first rounds of the national competition, the team of Rice and Murray advanced to the finals.
Rice and Murray were arguing the issues surrounding the disparities of federal sentencing guidelines as they affect persons arrested with powdered cocaine or cocaine-based drugs (the difference in the federal sentencing guidelines between the penalties for powder cocaine versus cocaine base.) The question focused on the 5th Amendment's substantive due process and equal protection clauses, and the 8th Amendment's cruel and unusual punishment clause.
After arguing the first three rounds, Rice became ill with food poisoning. The chief judge at the competition allowed for a substitution, and Gibson stepped in to argue the final rounds with Murray.
"That is when teamwork really pays off," Murray said. "We'd been working together on this problem since September 2006, and we were lucky that both John Marshall teams advanced to the finals and that Chiante was there to step in."
Scoring for the "Best Oralist" was based on the first three rounds. Rice won the honor, and Murray won the honorable mention.
Team members also thanked Professors Ralph Ruebner, Tim O'Neill, Joanne Hodge and Ardath Hamann for their time and special efforts working with them. They received special assistance from Professors Walter Kendall and Rogelio Lasso, Associate Dean Linda Crane, Adjunct Professor Dawn Bode and Career Services Office Assistant Director Rachel Dawson.
And the team had special praise for their coach, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Joselynne Gardner McCoy (J.D. '06), who worked with them since February.
"We just can't imagine what our competition would have been without her," said Murray. "She was an invaluable resource, and having competed herself, she had insights on competitions and scoring that were so helpful to us."
Gardner McKoy said she decided to volunteer "because I loved participating (as a student) in moot court so much I wanted to make sure that other John Marshall students had the same experiences I did with moot court."
She served on the Moot Court Executive Board, won 2nd Best Oralist at the American Bar Association Moot Court Competition, and participated in the Chicago Bar Association Moot Court Competition and the Health Care Law Moot Court Competition.
The John Marshall Law School team proudly displays its first place trophies won by Marques Rice and Alfred Murray II at the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition hosted by the National Black Law Students Association in Atlanta March 22-25. Rice also won "Best Oralist" and Murray got an honorable mention. John Marshall had two teams advance to the competition. Pictured are team members (from left) Damon Stewart, Murray, Rice and Chiante Gibson with Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Joselynne Gardner McKoy (center) who coached the team.
|
Faculty Activities and Publications |
Professor Celeste Hammond
Activities 
She was a presenter at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) in January. She participated in the program of the Section on Post JD Legal Education, Marketing LL.M. Programs in An Era of Fierce Competition," on January 5, 2007.
She was invited to continue as a member of the Executive Committee of the AALS Section on Real Estate Transactions.
She will testify before the Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Real Property Acts on April 12, 2007 in Columbia, Missouri. The Joint Editorial Board makes recommendations to the National Commission on Uniform State Laws (NCUSL). She will explain why her proposals for a Uniform Real Estate Auction Laws is worthy of the Board's attention. This request for testimony stems from the publication of an article by Professor Hammond and Steven Good, a member of the Center for Real Estate Law Advisory Board, " Real Estate Auctions- Legal Concerns for An Increasingly Preferred Method of Selling Real Property," 40 Real Property Probate & Trust Law Journal 765 (2006).
She was interviewed by Marilyn Kennedy Melia, the Real Estate reporter for the Chicago Tribune, regarding an article about real estate mortgage foreclosures in the residential market. Melia wanted to know about the Illinois rules about the procedure and steps homeowners could take to protect their `equity of redemption.'
Visiting Professor Alicia Hilton
Publications 
Her article about "Rubin v. The Islamic Republic of Iran, The Persepolis Tablets: Terror Victims Target Ancient Persian Artifacts," was published in the Hot Topics section of the April 2007 American Bar Association Litigation Update.
Professor John D. Ingram
Publications 
His article, "The Meaning of `Arising Out of' Employment in Illinois Workers' Compensation Law" was cited recently in 41 Wake Forest L. Rev. 943.
|
Student Activities |
April 9
The Women's Law Caucus Annual Glass Slipper Project will be held from April 2 to April 13. Clothing, shoes, jewelry and make-up is being collected in the student lounge. These articles are donated to high school students for their proms.
The National Lawyers Guild will feature a panel discussion at noon in room 201.
Latino dance lessons will be held at 6 p.m. in room 800.
April 10
The National Lawyers Guild will show a movie "The Road to Guantanamo" at 6 p.m. in room 1101.
The Real Estate Law Student Chapter of Lambda Alpha will present speaker, Ed Chupack, who will talk about a recent deal in the sale of equity office properties at 5 p.m. in room 216
The Corporate Law Association will sponsor speaker, Stuart Duhl, who will discuss legal ethics at noon in room 403.
The Latino Law Student Association will feature a speaker at its meeting at noon in room 1102.
April 11
The Polish Society is having a poker tournament for charity on 3east from noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.
The Fair Housing Association will meet at 12:15 in room 1200.
The JMLS Security Group will have a panel discussion regarding government surveillance cameras at noon in room 201.
The Animal Law Society will be holding a fundraiser in the student lounge. Please donate.
April 12
The annual Spring Fling will be held at noon in room 3 east. All students, staff and faculty are welcome. We will be presenting student organization awards, public interest awards, all graduates favorite professor and the candidates for the student bar association will speak. Lunch will we served promptly at noon.
The Labor and Employment Law Society, Student Bar Association and the Women's Law Caucus will co-sponsor speakers, Brian Clauss and Margaret Riley who will discuss the employment rights of military personnel at 5 p.m. in room 216
The Children and Family Law Society is having a fundraiser party at 8:00 p.m. at Durkin's Bar to raise money for a scholarship for a needy high school student.
The Latino Law Student Association will sponsor dance classes at 5:30 in room 800.
April 13
The Annual Latino Law Student Association Fiesta will be held in room 200. Great entertainment, good food and dancing await your pleasure.
April 14
Phi Alpha Delta is sponsoring a "Black and White" cocktail party for District X1 to honor the transitioning of officers and to get the schools together.
The Black Law Students Association will meet at 11 a.m. in room 1105.
Public Interest Law Council 5K race.
April 15
The Corporate Law Association Cubs Rooftop Party.
|
Schedule of Events |
April 8
April 9
- Teleconference on the Future of Higher Education, Room 1102, 11 a.m.
- Distinguished Scholar Reception, Room 3East, 4:30 p.m.
April 10
- Multiple Guess Program, Room 503, 11:45 a.m.
- Insights I Program, Room 503, noon
- Center for Intellectual Property Markey Lecture, Room 1200, 3 p.m.
- Career Services Office - Meet the Small and Mid-size Legal Employers Reception, Student Lounge, 4:30 p.m.
- An In-house Attorney's View of the Office Equity Transaction, Room 216, 5 p.m.
April 11
- Deans' Meeting, Room 217, 10 a.m.
- Tax & EB Open Houses, Room 526, 529 and 532, noon
- Fair Housing Laws and Their Implementation by the John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Clinic, Room 1200, 12:15 p.m.
- Board of Trustees, Courtroom on 3East, 3 p.m.
- Tax & EB Open Houses, Rooms 409, 428, 403, 5 p.m.
April 12
- Alumni Assn. Nominating Committee Meeting, Room 1101, noon
- Spring Fling, Room 3East, noon
- Insights II, Room 530, noon
April 13
- National Undergraduate Diversity Mock Trial Competition, 3East, 8 a.m.
April 14
- National Undergraduate Diversity Mock Trial Competition, 3East, 8 a.m.
- PMBR, Room 1200, 9:30 a.m.
- Bar/Bri Final Exam Video Review - Con Law I & II, Room 200, 10 a.m.
- Bar/Bri Final Exam Video Review - Future Interests, Room 201, 10 a.m.
- Multiple Guess Program, Room 503, 12:45 p.m.
- Insights II, Room 503, 2:30 p.m.
|
|
|
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. 
|
|