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August 17 - 23, 2003 |
John Marshall Launches "LegalEase," New Student Web Portal
The John Marshall Law School has launched "LegalEase," an updated web portal for students with powerful tools to help students get the most from their law school experience.
"LegalEase" provides a wide range of online features not available in the earlier web portal, including: improved class registration; comprehensive class schedules; individualized daily calendars; online chat; bulletin boards; faculty directories; and much more. The new portal is also noticeably faster than the old.
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Oct. 18 Celebration Marks Four John Marshall Law School Events
The John Marshall Law School is hosting an all-encompassing "Retrospective" party Oct. 18, 2003, to celebrate the installation of Dean Patricia Mell, to honor Dean Emeritus Robert Gilbert Johnston, to mark the completion of the Centennial Campaign and to welcome alumni for an all-class reunion.
The program begins with a 6 p.m. convocation on the east lawn of the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., in Chicago, as Dean Mell addresses faculty, staff, students and alumni in a formal ceremony. Afterward, the celebration will move indoors for a retrospective of the law school's accomplishments, especially those of Dean Johnston's tenure.
The law school also will honor its donors who raised $13.5 million for the Centennial Campaign. Their generosity is helping to increase scholarships, refurbish the student lounge and enhance the academic programs.
In support of legal education, a $50 donation to the event will benefit the Robert Gilbert Johnston Endowed Scholarship Fund.
For details on the celebration, contact the Office of Event Management at 312.987.1420, ext. 574.
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Schedule of Events
August 17
- Accelerated Trial Advocacy, Various Rooms, 9:00 a.m.
August 18
- Career Services Meeting, Room 402, 2:00 p.m.
- Accelerated Trial Advocacy, Various Rooms, 9:00 a.m.
August 19
- Accelerated Trial Advocacy, Various Rooms, 9:00 a.m.
- Fall Orientation-Evening and Section D1, Rooms 200 and 300, 4:00 p.m.
- Supplemental Fall OCI Meeting, Room 1200A, 12:45 p.m.
- Review of Intellectual Property Law Orientation, Room 3East, 5:00 p.m.
August 20
- Fall Orientation Sections D2 and D3, Rooms 200 and 300, 8:30 a.m.
- Alumni Reunion Committee Meeting, Room 1200B 12:00 p.m.
- Fall Orientation-Evening and Section D1, Rooms 200 and 300, 4:00 p.m.
- Accelerated Trial Advocacy, Various Rooms, 9:00 a.m.
August 21
- Fall Orientation Sections D2 and D3, Rooms 200 and 300, 8:30 a.m.
- Accelerated Trial Advocacy, Various Rooms, 9:00 a.m.
- Fall Orientation-Evening and Section D1, Rooms 200 and 300, 4:00 p.m.
- LL.M. Orientation, Room 1200, 4:30 p.m.
August 22
- Fall Orientation, Room 200, 9:00 a.m.
- Foreign Student Orientation, Room 1200B, 12:00 p.m.
- Faculty Reception, Room 3East, 5:30 p.m.
August 25
- Classes Convene
August 26
- Admissions FY Information Session, Room 200, 1:00 p.m.
- Admissions FY Information Session, Room 409, 5:00 p.m.
August 27
- Alumni Relations/Development Office Meeting, Room 1202A, 12:00 p.m.
- Career Services Program - Panel Discussion on Fall OCI, Room 409, 12:45 p.m.
August 28
- JMLS/CBA Joint Meeting, Room 1202A, 12:00 p.m.
A complete online listing of events scheduled at The John Marshall Law School can be found at the following URL: http://www.jmls.edu/calendar.htm
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Faculty Activity and Publications
Leslie Ann Reis
Director of the Center for Information Technology and Privacy Law
Activities
She was the guest speaker for the July meeting of the National Security and Privacy Executive Roundtable. She led a discussion on the opportunities and challenges facing today's privacy professionals. Her topics included fair information practices, privacy interests, resources available and websites from government, privacy and IT security organizations and financial institutions. NSPER is a Chicago-based organization of security and privacy executives from some of the area's largest corporate firms. NSPER is designed as an information-sharing organization for the successful integration of security and privacy initiatives working for business.
Professor Mark Wojcik
Publications
His article, "Ten Tips for Starting Your Research Right," appeared in the July 2003 issue of the Illinois Bar Journal.
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Decade of Fair Housing Work Leads to Groundbreaking Changes
The John Marshall Law School has helped bring about groundbreaking changes in housing laws through its Fair Housing Legal Clinic, which marks its 10th anniversary this year.
To recognize this milestone, the clinic is hosting a Sept. 6 celebration at Chicago's Union League Club. The $100 per person dinner will also serve as a fundraising kickoff for the new Fair Housing Clinic Scholarship, established in June 2002 with a substantial donation from alumnus Richard J. Doherty, who is a former student at the clinic. The endowed fund will award tuition grants to deserving students in the clinic.
Since its inception in 1993, the clinic has helped nearly 1,000 clients file housing discrimination claims in various local, state and federal administrative agencies and in state and federal courts. The work of John Marshall's students has won not only the rights to housing for the clients, but also monetary settlements for clients and attorney's fees and costs for the clinic.
Each semester, the students interview dozens of people to determine if their claims fall within the protections of fair housing law, and whether the clinic can develop a case based on allegations of discrimination of race, sex, disability, familial status, marital status, age, sexual orientation or other protected categories.
Over the past 10 years, students have won cases in every area of discrimination, and several of their cases have effected changes in law. For example, a clinic claim filed in 1999 before the Chicago Commission on Human Relations changed the city's rental procedures by requiring Section 8 housing vouchers to be considered as income.
The clinic also won a $60,000 settlement on appeal to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals when the court agreed a Missouri family had not been sufficiently compensated for punitive damages against the real estate agent that refused to show them housing because of the size of the family. And, a nationally known time-share company settled a claim, with a refund of $12,250 and $62,750 in punitive damages and attorney's fees, after it refused to make its time-share condominiums handicapped accessible.
Each semester, an estimated 20 students who have earned their 7-11 license and completed courses in evidence and fair housing law are accepted for a semester's work in the clinic. There they learn how housing discrimination cases are investigated and prepared. They can help draft pleadings, prepare motions and attend or conduct hearings, conduct discoveries, and assist in trials, hearings or appeals.
"The clinic was established to give students the broadest experience possible to the type of work practicing attorneys face, including counseling, negotiating, preparing for trial and actually participating in hearings and appeals. We are preparing students to go out and practice law, and giving them a better understanding of the theories they're learning in the classroom," stated clinic Executive Director and Professor Michael P. Seng.
They are guided by a dedicated staff each step of the way. The clinic is directed by Seng and Clinical Director and Professor F. Willis Caruso, and staffed by Clinical Professors Joseph R. Butler and Damian Ortiz, Adjunct Professor Lewis W. Powell III, and Lillian Seymore, coordinator of testing, investigation and outreach.
The John Marshall Fair Housing Legal Clinic has received numerous honors the past 10 years, including a 2001 award for excellence in pro bono and public interest service from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Federal Bar Association. This year, Seng received the Pioneer of Fair Housing Award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for his commitment and dedication to civil rights.
For additional information on the Fair Housing Legal Clinic or the special anniversary dinner, call the Fair Housing staff at 312.987.2397.
Professor Michael Seng of The John Marshall Law School holds the Pioneer of Fair Housing Award he received during ceremonies at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offices in Washington. Seng was honored for his commitment and dedication to civil rights. He helped establish the Fair Housing Legal Support Center and the Fair Housing Legal Clinic at the law school 10 years ago.
Clinical Director F. Willis Caruso (right) discusses fair housing law with clinic students.
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The John Marshall Law School Celebrates 200th Anniversary of Marbury Case With Judicial Review Symposium
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Marbury v. Madison decision by the United States Supreme Court, The John Marshall Law School is hosting an Oct. 3 symposium, "Marbury v. Madison and Judicial Review: Legitimacy, Tyranny and Democracy," featuring top Constitutional scholars.
The Braun Endowed Lecture will be given from 1 to 5 p.m. at the law school,
315 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago. John Marshall Professor Samuel Olken is hosting the symposium, which coordinates with the opening of the next U.S. Supreme Court session.
Marbury v. Madison was decided in 1803 in a decision that is said to have set the fundamental principles of our judicial system. Led by Chief Justice John Marshall, the court's ruling set up judicial review, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. The case also underscores the existence of the separation of powers and the validity of the judiciary branch of government.
The symposium will be presented in two sections. "Marbury v. Madison in Historical Perspective" will be discussed by Professor William E. Nelson, the Edward Weinfield Professor of Law at New York University School of Law; Professor Larry D. Kramer, the Samuel Tilden Professor of Law, also at NYU, and Professor Olken.
"Marbury's Legacy: Reflections on Judicial Review" will be offered by Professor Mark V. Tushnet, the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown University Law Center; Professor Louis Michael Seidman, also of Georgetown; Thomas W. Merrill of Columbia University School of Law; and Professor Walter J. Kendall III of The John Marshall Law School.
To reserve a place at this free program, contact the Office of Event Management at The John Marshall Law School at 312.987.1420, ext. 578 or events@jmls.edu.