The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Clinic has been awarded a two-year $119,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to continue its work on fair housing issues.

John Marshall is the only law school in the country receiving HUD funding for enforcement work under the federal Fair Housing Act, according to Professor Michael Seng, co-director of the clinic. The grant, awarded through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, is the fifth consecutive award to the clinic. The grant covers work during 2001, 2002 and 2003.

The John Marshall Fair Housing Legal Clinic was established in 1992. It has assisted hundreds of Chicago area residents who have been discriminated in their housing choices because of age, race, sexual preference, income level, disability or family status.

The clinic also has worked closely with government agencies in conducting fair housing testing to show violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and Fair Housing Regulations.

The John Marshall Fair Housing Legal Clinic has an active caseload of approximately 60 cases per year giving John Marshall students valuable experience under the supervision of the clinical faculty. Students learn to deal with real clients, investigate and prepare cases, draft pleadings and motions, conduct discovery and participate in pretrial, trial and appellate court proceedings.

During fall 2000, the clinical students represented clients in significant cases that involved racial discrimination, familial status discrimination, sexual harassment and discrimination based on disability.

John Marshall students discussed the case of "B.B. Wolf vs. Curly Pig," with third-grade students from Spencer Math and Science Academy in Chicago.

The third-graders visited the law school as part of a Law School Admission Council (LSAC)-sponsored program, which highlights February as National Minority Law Student Recruitment Month. The students watched a short video of the mock trial, and along with the help of the John Marshall students, acted as the jury of the case.

The LSAC program is intended to raise awareness of minority recruiting issues currently facing law schools. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 7 percent of lawyers in the United States are from minority groups. Of these, 3 percent are African-American, 2 percent are Asian-American, and the remaining 2 percent are Native American. According to LSAC, in 1997, only 7.6 percent of entering law school students were African American and only 6.5 percent of entering students were Asian-American.

The results of the small-group discussions following the video varied. One group favored the plaintiff, two groups favored the defendant, and the last group resulted in a "hung jury."

Sherri J. Berendt, assistant director of Admission, organized this year's event. Among the John Marshall student volunteers were Nicole Chavis, president of the Black Law Student Association, Michael Carroll, representing the Asian-American Law Student Association, Antoinne Collins, Student Bar Association president and Daisy Denizard, Illinois State Bar Association student representative. Anna McWillie, Academic Services assistant and Yara Alonzo, financial aid counselor, also volunteered their time for the event.

Monday, February 26th

Once again the Women's Law Caucus will sponsor the Glass Slipper Project. This is an opportunity to contribute some of your evening dresses, slippers, evening bags, or gloves to an organization that will distribute them to high school girls for their proms. Articles will be collected on the second floor this week.

The Christian Legal Society meets each week in room 217 at 12:45 p.m.

Tuesday, February 27th

This is Black History Month and our Black Law Student Association will have a reception. Watch for notice of time and place.

Friday, March 2nd

The Latter-Day Saint Student Organization will meet at 10:15 a.m. in room 428.

The S.B.A. is sponsoring a Karaoke/ Talent Show from 6 to 9 in the Student Lounge. Food, Drinks, Karaoke DJ, and lots of fun! $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Please feel free to stop and show off your talent or lack there of. This is sure to be a really great night.

Professor Michael L. Closen

Activities

He and Trevor Orsinger (JMLS student and Illinois Notary Public) have been invited to present a notary education program as part of the annual meeting of the Central Illinois Paralegal Association in Bloomington on September 14.

Publications

Two of his articles on notary topics (the de facto notary doctrine, and the on-line auction sale of notary seals) have been accepted for publication in the next two issues of The Notary, the bi-monthly newsletter of the Notary Law Institute.

Professor Michael P. Seng

Activities

He and F. Willis Caruso, and Testing Coordinator Lillian Seymore participated in the 8th annual Fair Housing Laws & Litigation Conference in San Diego, California. The Conference is organized by the San Diego Fair Housing Council and The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center. One hundred forty attorneys, fair housing advocates, government officials, and housing providers from all over the United States attended this years conference at the San Diego Holiday Inn on February 15 and 16. Ms. Seymore did a general session on the Law and Practice of Testing and a more specialized presentation for the attorneys on the same subject. Professor Caruso coordinated a special session devoted to educating housing authority personnel on their duties under the Fair Housing Laws and made a presentation on how the fair housing laws affect public housing. Professor Seng did a special presentation on the law of standing in fair housing cases and how discrimination is proved. He also discussed discrimination against recipients of section 8 vouchers under both federal and local laws and how fair housing groups can use the Analysis of Impediments Studies required of all municipalities that receive federal housing funds.

February 17 found Professor Seng in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he delivered the Wayne Hyatt Lecture at the 22nd Annual Community Association Law Seminar at the Regent Las Vegas Hotel. The Wayne Hyatt Lecture was established to address cutting edge issues in community association law. Professor Seng's lecture discussed the impact of the Fair Housing Act and other federal and state laws on community, condominium and cooperative associations.

Professor David E. Sorkin

Activities

He was a guest on the Morning Show on KPSI Talk Radio in Palm Springs, California, on February 13, talking about the Ninth Circuit's decision in the Napster case.

Mark your calendar! The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association invites alumni, faculty, staff, and students to our First Tuesday event, Tuesday, March 6, 2001. This event will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Our guest hostess for March is Yolanda Hancock, our new Director of Development & Alumni Programs. The First Tuesday event will be held at Monday's Restaurant, 19 East Jackson Boulevard, main level. The cost is $10.00 for alumni, faculty, and staff and $5.00 for students. This fee includes beer, wine, and munchies. Non-alcoholic beverages are always available.

Please join us for this relaxed, monthly gathering. No reservations required - just come on over! This event is held the first Tuesday of every month. Office of Alumni Programs, 312.427.2737, ext. 558

February 26

Faculty Meeting, Room 1200, 12:00 p.m.

Law Review meeting, Room 3East, 3:00 p.m.

February 27

International Criminal Court Program with Guest Speaker Doug Cassel, Room 1200, 12:00 p.m.

February 28

Career Services - Lunch & Conversations with Alumni, Room 1200B, 1:45 p.m.

After the Bar Ski Party, Room 3East, 5:30 p.m.

March 2

Career Services - Alumni Mentor Lunch, Room 1200B, 12:30 p.m.

SBA Talent Show, Room 3East, 2:00 p.m.

March 3

Open House, Room 200, 10:00 a.m.

March 5

Basic Patent Cooperation Treaty Seminar, Room 1200, 8:00 a.m.

March 6

Basic Patent Cooperation Treaty Seminar, Room 1200, 8:00 a.m.

Career Services - Careers with Small Firms, Room 3East, 12:45 and 5:00 p.m.

Alumni Association First Tuesday, Monday's Restaurant, 5:00 p.m.

IP Paralegal Course, Room 1103, 6:00

March 7

Basic Patent Cooperation Treaty Seminar, Room 1200, 8:00 a.m.

Alumni Association Executive Committee Meeting Room 311, 11:00 a.m.

Alumni Association Board Meeting, Room 3East, 12:00 p.m.

Career Services - Meet Kimm Walton _ The Job Goddess, Room 1102, 12:45 P.M.

Distinguished Scholar Reception, Room 3East, 4:30 p.m.

Career Services - Evening Division Alumni Career Panel, Room 1200A, 5:00 p.m.

March 8

Basic Patent Cooperation Treaty Seminar, Room 1200, 8:00 a.m.

March 9

IL Dept of Central Management Issues Meeting, Room 1200, 8:30 a.m.