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November 16 - 22, 1998 |
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Editor: Assistant Dean John M. McNamara, room 1212, ext. 393, 6mcnamar@jmls.edu. All information to be published in Up & Coming must be placed in the UPCOMING directory on the H drive of The John Marshall Law School's computer network by each Tuesday at 12 p.m. |
Lawyers In Movies and Books Are Flawed Heroes Who Americans Identify With In Struggles for Justice Says Best-Selling Author Turow Scott Turow will be the featured speaker on Nov. 20 at the 11th Annual Symposium on Media Law, "Where Have You Gone, Perry Mason?"Things have changed since the days when television's Perry Mason wrapped up his cases neatly for viewers, says best-selling author Scott F. Turow, the featured speaker Nov. 20 for the 11th Annual Symposium on Media Law. The noon centennial program in room 1200, "Where Have You Gone, Perry Mason?" is sponsored by The John Marshall Law School, and funded by a grant from the law firm of Baker & McKenzie. Turow believes the popular portrayal of lawyers in today's media reflects a changing role for law in America as compared to in the `60s. "It (law) is a far more pivotal force than it was 30 years ago," Turow explains. "The result is that lawyers can no longer be idealized, largely because people know too much about them. Unlike Perry Mason, today's lawyer heroes are flawed creatures. This is significant for two reasons. First, Americans see lawyers that way, as less than heroic. Second and more importantly, somehow Americans identify with the struggle between competing values which they see lawyers enduring," he said. Turow, a partner with the firm of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, has penned a string of legal thrillers that have been commercial successes beginning with "Presumed Innocent" in 1987. Since then he has authored three more novels including "Burden of Proof," "Pleading Guilty" and "The Laws Of Our Fathers." Two of his works were the basis for film and television. "Presumed Innocent" became a successful motion picture starring Harrison Ford. ABC-TV produced a mini-series version of "The Burden of Proof." Turow describes his writing and legal practice as "sides of the same coin." He says, "The law and its task of identifying what is just has a gravitational hold on my soul. I dream about trials; I still get agitated and compelled by legal issues, just as I did as a One L." "One L" is also the title of Turow's first book about his experiences as a first-year law student, or "One L," at Harvard Law School. Although Turow had always wanted to be a writer, he didn't expect to find himself as intrigued by the law as he is, partly due to his upbringing. "My father was a doctor and a prophet in his own time, which is to say that he hated lawyers long before it was fashionable to do so." In addition to his work as an author and lawyer, Turow devotes a substantial part of his time to pro bono work and charitable causes. The 11th Annual Symposium on Media Law is one in a series of programs marking the John Marshall Law School's 100th anniversary. The event is invited to hear Turow's address. To reserve a space, call the John Marshall Department of Event Management at (312) 987-1420, ext. 574.  Sweeney Named Director of Center for Intellectual PropertyChicago attorney James R. Sweeney has been named director of the Center for Intellectual Property Law at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. During his 42-year legal career, Sweeney was recognized for his extensive experience in patent, trademark and copyright prosecution and litigation. He is a senior partner at the firm of Lee Mann Smith McWilliams Sweeney & Ohlson. Sweeney has been chairman of The John Marshall Center for Intellectual Property Law Advisory Board since 1997. Michelle Bridges will be joining Sweeney as the center's associate director. Since 1974, Bridges has been staff director of the American Bar Association's Section of Intellectual Property Law. At the ABA, she has been responsible for membership recruitment, finances, publications and policy implementation. "As the new director, I am going to be building upon the reputation of the Center for Intellectual Property Law's nationally and internationally recognized LL.M. program," Sweeney said. "John Marshall has been educating attorneys in the field of intellectual property law since 1940, when the first course was offered in cooperation with the Chicago Patent Law Society.  James R. Sweeney, new Director of the Center for Intellectual Property Law"As the field of intellectual property has changed, so has the focus of John Marshall's program, which draws on the expertise of practicing attorneys. Their insights and work in our classrooms have given John Marshall's program the kind of hands-on approach that we believe works best." Sweeney received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame. After serving in the U.S. Navy as an officer on a submarine, Sweeney earned a law degree from Northwestern University.  Michelle Bridges, new Associate Director of the Center for Intellectual Property LawHe has extensive national and foreign experience in intellectual property law. He also has given testimony as an expert witness and was an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Sweeney has been a member and officer in a variety of legal associations, including: the Patent Law Association of Chicago; the Chicago Bar Association; the Illinois State Bar Association; and the Patent, Trademark and Copyright Section of the American Bar Association. Sweeney also is a member of the Bar Association of the 7th Circuit and the American Intellectual Property Association. He served as a commissioner of the Illinois Supreme Court for disbarment matters and was a member of the hearing board of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. |
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November 16