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Jonathan Turley Calls on Graduates to `Make the Future Your Own'
Professor Jonathan Turley urged the January 2008 graduates of The John Marshall Law School to remember that being a lawyer is the most rewarding of professions.
At the same time Turley, in his commencement address, reminded them that being a lawyer requires a great deal of respect for the law and for themselves.
"The greatest thing about the law is that it is a profession that can give you anything you want in life. That also happens to be its greatest danger," Turley warned.
"The terrible thing is that you will get out of the law exactly what you demand from it. If you ask for only material rewards, it will deliver.
"I hope that you do not take that course; that you do not live your life like some Monopoly game where you can go around as many times as you want. You go around once in this life."
Turley, the J.B. and Maurice Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at The George Washington University Law School, urged the graduates to reach out to the law and all that it can potentially offer. Forgetting that can lead to "the worst type of personal crisis because lawyers know that they could have been anything; they could have found their voices in a hundred different ways-but they remained silent. Now, they can name everything they own, but they cannot comfortably answer who they are.
"Don't let that be you," he said. "You can have all the comforts of life and reach your own potential if you only resolve to live your life creatively and aggressively.
"That is what makes this moment in your lives so electric: your life will be either a triumph or a tragedy of your own making. Let it be a triumph."
Turley reminded graduates they can be passionate about the law, but they also should have something even more important than the law to give perspective to their personal lives.
"The most important way of finding your own voice and your destiny is to remain grounded in something other than the immediate practice of law. Find something true that can be used to measure the truth or falsity of other things in your life," whether that be family, art, religion or any other important facet of your life.
"You are surrounded by some of those true anchors today," he told the graduates. "Around you sit the family members and friends who watched you evolve from annoying little kids into professional adults. They didn't love you because they thought it was a good investment in case you became a J.D. or M.D. They loved you unconditionally-often despite yourself.
"Things are always very important in course, but nothing is more important than they are," he reminded them.
Once the graduates begin the practice of law, Turley said they will be faced with temptations to make adjustments.
"The problem is not the biggest challenges but the smallest ones. It often takes far more courage to refuse to yield on the small corruptions of practice like when a partner tells you to fake a certificate of service. It takes far greater courage for a young associate to say `no' on that occasion that to face a mob.
"There will be many who will tell you that the little cheats are just part of the practice of law. Don't believe them. It is not their choice. It is yours," Turley reminded them. "You must decide what type of lawyer and what type of person you want to be."
Turley gave the example set by Sir Thomas More who refused to sign an oath to the King of England. More is said to have told his daughter, "When a man takes an oath, he is holding his own self in his hands. Like water. And if he opens his fingers then-he needn't hope to find himself again."
"When we begin this life and this profession, we all start like More-holding ourselves in our hands like water. Through the years, hardships and pressures tend to force our fingers apart. It is often the small concessions that loosen our grip to let a bit of ourselves drip away," Turley said.
"If you yield, you can find yourself at the end of your life looking into your hands and wondering where you went and who you are. There is no greater tragedy than a life unlived to its potential.
"So this is my charge-and my wish-for each of you. Keep your fingers tight. One of the best ways is to grip on to something true and don't let go," Turley noted. "You have choices and you have dreams today. Don't let them drip away in a thousand careless concessions. Keep your fingers tight and hold on to those things that define you as a person.
"So keep your fingers tight, hold on to this moment, and make the future your own."
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Graduates Urged to Focus On Dignity of Profession
Class valedictorian Elizabeth Bartels urged her fellow graduates to reflect on the "dignity of the profession" rather than the harsh jokes and crude comments about lawyers that are bandied about.
During her address, Bartels reminded the January 2008 class of what it learned from the late Professor Francis D. "Frank" Morrissey in Professional Responsibility class. "He told us, lawyers are special people with special responsibilities. He spoke of his deep regard for the profession and the necessity of applying ethical guidelines to accompany the great power we were given," she recalled. "He said that he truly considered it an honor to be able to teach professional ethics to future lawyers." 
Law school studies cluttered her thoughts of a noble profession. Bartels said, "I began to see my education as strictly a means to an end, and I devoted little time to reflecting on the `dignity of the profession.'"
International headlines of attorney arrests in Pakistan in November 2007 brought Professor Morrissey's words back to her.
"These lawyers stood up in a time of martial law... These lawyers, who were beaten and arrested, were not acting as deceitful profit-oriented monsters but as individuals whose profession was inextricably tied to the rule of law and the integrity of their Constitution. The lawyers were the ones willing to fight to protect their system of justice," Bartels told her classmates. "At that moment, I felt a deep sense of pride and camaraderie, and for the very first time, I truly understood `the dignity of the profession.'
"Today I know that my legal education was not just about memorizing rules and tests. It was about understanding the great concepts of justice to which we become linked through our profession.
"Keats identified lawyers as monsters who unscrupulously use the judicial system for profit. But Professor Morrissey taught us about the honor and the great responsibility that come with serving justice. If we forget this _ if we reduce the practice of law solely to mechanics and rules, then we will become the subject of the lawyer jokes," Bartels warned.
"But today we celebrate the opportunity to rise to the occasion and embrace our admission to a dignified profession."
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Animal Law Society Collects Materials for Dogs
The John Marshall Law School's Animal Law Society is hosting a donation drive to benefit the West Hancock Canine Rescue, an Illinois non-profit.
Every year thousands of dogs are rescued from high-kill shelters and transported around the country. Towels, sheets and blankets will be collected to help keep these often underweight dogs warm and comfortable on their long journey's to safety. A drop-off box for donations will be on 2-M.
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Corboy Thanked by Scholarship Recipient
Melinda Polan (center), an eight-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, meets Philip H. Corboy (right) who endowed the Corboy Scholarship that helped pay for Polan's legal education. The scholarship, established in 1999 by Corboy, covers tuition expenses not already paid for by the police department. Approximately 40 police officers have been recipients of the scholarship. Joining them is John Marshall Law School Dean John Corkery (left).
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Peace Work Is Topic for Feb. 26 Presentation
Jess Heyman will present "International Human Rights: Notes from the Field," a personal look into her field work for peace in Rwanda and Sierra Leone, at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, in Room 503 of The John Marshall Law School, 315 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago.
Heyman, a Yale University graduate, focuses on peace and conflict studies, and her field work included working with the Rwandan government's National Unity and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
She will continue her research in Argentina on a Fulbright Scholarship. She will leave in March to study retributive and restorative justice, including the development of a National Museum for Human Rights in a building that was a detention center used by the Argentine military dictatorship.
Heyman is a founding member of the Artemis Project, a group working to preserve and digitize archives of the world's 31 truth commissions. The group also has done extensive work and research relating to the role of such commissions in reconciliation.
This program is co-sponsored by Amnesty International, Christian Legal Society, Criminal Law Society, Decalogue Society, International Law Society, and the Global Legal Studies Program.
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Donation Makes Competition Bid Possible for Animal Law Team
A gift to The John Marshall Law School's Animal Law Society from alumnus Mark Pedowitz (J.D.'78) is enabling John Marshall to be represented at the Animal Law Closing Argument Competition at Harvard Law School.
Of the more than three dozen teams that compete in trial advocacy, negotiations and moot court competitions, this is the only team whose expenses have been underwritten by a donation. The law school covers the expenses for all other teams.
Pedowitz's donation covers entry fee, travel and hotel expenses for the team of Timothy J. Reilly and Michael Bauer, both 3Ls, who will argue at the Harvard competition Feb 15 through 17. This is the first time a John Marshall team is participating in this competition. The donation also covered the cost of the team's exhibits.
"I know that our competing in Boston would not be possible without the generous donation to the Animal Law Society by our distinguished alumnus," Bauer said.
"It is exciting to join the effort to bring the inhumane treatment of animals into the public consciousness and to be a part of such a prestigious event like the competition at Harvard Law School," Reilly said.
"It is every attorney's duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and this is a value exemplified in the field of animal law. My hope is that with continued dedication, hard work and generosity the field of animal law can expand and continue to make real change," he added.
The team is being coached by Adjunct Professor Susann "Sunny" MacLachlan who also has invited judges and attorneys to evaluate and critique the team's arguments.
"Because of my own interests in the areas of Animal Law and Animal Welfare, I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to present a team from John Marshall at Harvard's premiere competition in this field," she said. "The fact that such a prestigious institution sponsors a competition in this subject matter only reinforces the emerging importance of this area of practice."
There are more than 80 law schools in the United States offering animal law courses. Animal law is a fast-growing area of practice, comparable to the nascent environmental law movement of the 1970s, MacLachlan explained.
Michael Bauer (left) and Timothy Reilly (center) are the John Marshall team for the Animal Law Closing Argument Competition at Harvard Law School. Congratulating them are Julie Yriart (second from left), president of John Marshall's Animal Law Society; team coach and Adjunct Professor Susann MacLachlan (fourth from left) and Professor Timothy O'Neill (right) as they prepare for competition at Harvard Law School.
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January 2008 Commencement
Showing off their diplomas are (from left) Laura Deschamps, Lauren Tobiason and Rachel Nerdahl.
Classmates ready for commencement are Ramsey Senno (left), Chad Naffziger (right) and Jeffrey Archambeault.
It was a happy day for (from left) Elizabeth Holladay, Jason Shimotake, Andrew Schwartz and Renee Brunskill Schildgen.
Halil Hampton greets his grandmother after commencement ceremonies.
Classmates (from left) Josh Alexander, Jeff Davis, Nicole Lorman Ciovacco, Joe Okojie and Dan Padernacht celebrate their graduation from The John Marshall Law School.
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Schedule of Events
February 11
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Insights I, Room 216, noon
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CSO: Diversity Program, Room 523, noon
February 12
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Meet the Deans - Open Office Hours, Student Lounge - North End, 5 p.m.
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CSO: Careers in Real Estate, Room 216, 5 p.m.
February 13
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CSO: Alumni Mentor Kick-off Breakfast, 3East, 8 a.m.
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RIPL Candidate Orientation, Room 428, 10 a.m.
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Alumni Board Meeting, Room 800, CBA Building, noon
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Board of Trustees, Courtroom on 3 East, 4 p.m.
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RIPL Candidate Orientation, Room 300, 4 p.m.
February 14
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CSO: Striving for Balance in a High Stress Job , Room 1200A, noon
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In-House Faculty Works-In Progress Scholarship Roundtable, Room 3East, 12:15 p.m.
February 15
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Legal/Business Pitfalls: Screenplay through Distribution, Room 1200, 9 a.m.
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The John Marshall Law Review Editor-in-Chief Election, Room 300, noon
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Looking at 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges: Part Two, Room 503, 2 p.m.
February 16
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BAR/BRI-JMLS Bar Essay Exam Program, Room 428, 10 a.m.
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Insights I, Room 216, 1:30 p.m.
February 18
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Insights I, Room 216, noon
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CSO: Resume & Cover Letter Writing Workshop, Room 1102, noon
February 19
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Faculty Scholarship Roundtable Series with Gregory Shafer, Loyola University, Room 3East, noon
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CSO: Professionalism Series: How to Handle Assignments, Room 1200A, noon
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WRC, Plagiarism Seminar for International Students, Room 201, 4 p.m.
February 20
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Mini Bar, Room 800, 9 a.m.
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Student Focus Group, Room 1102, noon
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CSO: Headhunter Kate Patterson speaks to IP students, Room 216, noon
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Eight Secrets Lecture Video by Professor Whitebread, Room 200, noon
February 22
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Ethics CLE, Room 1200, 8 a.m.
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Mini Bar, Room 800, 9 a.m.
February 23
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5th Annual Latino Law Forum, Room 1200, 9 a.m.
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BAR/BRI-JMLS Bar Essay Exam Program, Room 428, 10 a.m.
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Insights I, Room 216, 1:30 p.m.
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John Marshall Honors Three Attorneys
The John Marshall Law School presented three honorary degrees at its Jan. 27 commencement. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Fitzgerald (left)and John Marshall Board of Trustees President Leonard Amari (right) join with Dean John E. Corkery (center) in congratulating Philip H. Corboy (second from left); John Marshall Professor Corinne Morrissey (fourth from left) who accepted the posthumous honor on behalf of her late husband, John Marshall Distinguished Visiting Professor Francis D. Morrissey; and George Washington University Law School Professor Jonathan Turley (fifth from left)who delivered the commencement address.
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Fair Housing Center Hosts Training
Instructors for the 16th annual Litigation Skills Training hosted by The John Marshall Fair Housing Legal Support Center were (from left) Clinical Professor F. Willis Caruso, co-director of the center; Judge Deborah Myers-Cregar, Office of Administrative Hearings for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Los Angeles; Judge William Cregar, former HUD administrative judge; Professor Michael P. Seng, co-director of the Fair Housing Legal Support Center; and Chicago attorney Ed Voci. The training session was conducted Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 at the law school.
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Consultant to Offer Advice on Creating Professional Portfolio
The Centers for Excellence at The John Marshall Law School are hosting a program designed to help students develop a professional portfolio that can be used in job searches.
"Building Your Professional Portfolio-An Essential Tool for the 21st Century Career" will be a presentation from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26, by Dr. Margot B. Weinstein.
Weinstein will give suggestions on how to develop a professional portfolio that helps showcase direct evidence of your qualifications and abilities when seeking your dream job. She will characterize the in's and out's of a professional portfolio from beginning brainstorm sessions to using your portfolio in interviews to landing the job.
Weinstein is founder and CEO of MW Leadership Consultants LLC and vice president of Kingston Group Inc., a commercial real estate company. She has a doctorate of education focusing on adult and continuing education and counseling adults. Her leadership research was adapted to a paper titled "How CEOs of Real Estate Companies Like to Learn." The paper won the 2006 award for the best academic manuscript in education from the American Real Estate Society.
This is a free program. The session will be given in Room 800 of the CBA Building.
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Faculty Activity and Publications
Professor Debra Pogrund Stark
Activities
She was invited to present a paper on the topic "Integrating Transactional Skills Into the Core Curriculum: An Example Taken From Property Law" at Emory University School of Law on May 30-31, 2008. The presentation will take place as one of the programs at the Conference on Teaching Drafting and Transactional Skills sponsored by the Center for Transactional Law and Practice at Emory.
Professor Mark E. Wojcik
Activities
On January 31, 2008, he spoke to law students at Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale on the topic of careers in international law.
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Student Activities
February 11
The Animal Law Society is having a blanket and towel drive for dogs which are transported from one area to another. These dogs are rescued from high-kill shelters and taken to areas where they are more likely to be adopted. Donations will be collected in the student lounge.
The Criminal Law Society will sell cans of Crush in the student lounge for Valentine's Day.
The Gay and Lesbian Society will meet at 5 p.m. in room 217.
February 12
The Student Bar Association will meet at 5 p.m. in room 201.
February 13
The Diversity Committee will meet at 5 p.m. in room 201.
Habitat for Humanity is having a bake sale in the student lounge.
The Elder Law Club will meet at 5 p.m. in room 413.
February 14
Attention all chief officers of the student organizations: Dean William Powers' "Student Advisory Committee" will meet at noon in room 201.
Tickets are on sale for the Annual Barrister's Ball. There is considerable savings if you purchase them early.
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