A Day in the Life

Clinics In the News: Institute for Justice Clinic on Entreprenuership Feature

One of the Law School's clinical projects, the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship ("IJ"), was the subject of a recent piece in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, the source for news in the Chicago legal world, highlighting its work with low-income individuals wishing to start up businesses in the Chicago area.  The piece focused on one the project's recent success stories: the Perfect Peace Cafe & Bakery located on Chicago's southwest side.  The shop is a bright spot in what is an otherwise desolate neighborhood but the hope is that its arrival will mark the reinvigoration of the community, not only providing residents with a gathering place but also inspire other businesses to return to the area. 

Project Director and Lecturer in Law, Elizabeth Milnikel, described some of the Project's goals and its recent work for clients like Perfect Peace Cafe & Bakery's owners, Denise Nicholes and Julie Welborn: "We're trying to serve those who can't afford an attorney.  We're convinced that an entrepreneur's ability to create new business creates new opportunity for the entrepreneurs, community members and potential employees."  Among the services IJ provides its 150 clients since its inception nearly ten years ago are: writing and negotiating contracts, creating loan agreements with investors and lenders, acquiring business permits and helping clients understand workplace safety regulations and payroll taxes. 

Nicholes and Welborn praised IJ's attentive and responsive service stating, "It was just a miracle how everything came together, ... [t]here were questions I never knew I had to ask."  Welborn went on to further praise IJ's work on their behalf, "At any time we needed to negotiate with the contractors, architects or landlords, they were a part of it.  To this day, anything I do, I run by them first.  In that alone, I don't even know how to put a value to it."

The benefits of the project extend not only to its clients but also the 2L and 3L students who participate.  Kathy Lee, a 3L in the project and member of the Clinic Student Board, commented: "Being able to see issues real people face and being able to address them ... wading through their stories and picking out the legal roadblocks they might face, that is completely different from the experience of going through hypotheticals" in the classroom. 

IJ is just one of the unique clinical projects at the Law School offering students the opportunity to do transactional work that also intersects with aspects of intellectual property and regulatory law.  You can learn more about the other clinical projects by visiting the Clinical Education homepage as well as visiting past posts on the clinics here on "A Day in the Life."  To read the full piece in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin visit the Law School News Page.

Preview of the Chicago Law Foundation 11th Annual Public Interest Auction

Each year, The Chicago Law Foundation ("CLF") hosts one of the most popular social events of the year, the Public Interest Auction.  This year's auction, "Prohib-Auction: Where the Drinks are Cold, but the Bidding is Hot," marks the eleventh anniversary and will be held on Thursday, January 31st at the Law School.  To promote the event as well as the type of work the auction supports, CLF hosted a preview lunch for students this past Tuesday, January 21st.  The law firm of Jenner & Block, LLP (and my former firm!), a sponsor of the event, also sponsored the lunch.  In attendance were two of my former colleagues and fellow graduates of the Law School, Melanie Nelson ('01) and Shannon Jones ('05), both of whom spoke not only about their experiences working with CLF during law school, but also the way they have been able to continue to give back to the community through pro bono work focusing on domestic violence and housing issues, respectively.  Melanie also shared an amusing and timely anecdote about an auction item she and a group of friends purchased during her 3L year.  The item was a day in Springfield at the Capital with then-State Senator and Law School Senior Lecturer in Law, Barack Obama.  At one point during the day Mr. Obama apologized to the students that he wasn't a "more important or impressive host for the day."

Euler Bropleh ('08), Co-Chair of this year's auction, provides us with this excellent overview of all the goodies up for frantic bidding as well as a bit more about CLF and all of its great work:

"One of the biggest events of the school year is a week away and you can feel the excitement.  Each year, the Chicago Law Foundation organizes an auction to raise money for students who pursue public interest work.  This year's Auction will be held on January 31st, from 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM here at the Law School.  The Chicago Law Foundation Executive Board hopefully to build on the success of past auctions.  Last year we raised over $44,000 which enabled us to provide grants to more than twenty students! 

One of the hallmarks of the Auction is the unique faculty items that are offered each year.  Students here at the Law School cherish their professors and the Auction gives them the opportunity to put a price on their appreciation.  Once again, Professor Douglas Baird will serve as auctioneer and he is also offering his highly coveted scotch tasting and dinner event.  Professor Baird is a trained chef and has an extensive scotch collection.  The scotch tasting has been one of the highest ticket items for many years running.

Dean Levmore and Professor Roin will take six lucky students for an afternoon of indoor wall climbing at Vertical Endeavors followed by a replenishing dinner.  Associate Dean David Zarfes will treat four students to an afternoon at the Peninsula Hotel Spa and dinner at Alinea, one of Chicago's seven AAA Five Diamond Award-winning restaurants.  Professor Miles offers a unique new outing to a Murder Mystery Weekend at the Bay Pointe Inn & Restaurant in Shelbyville, Michigan. 

The list of amazing faculty offerings go on and on; however, for the first time during my Law School days, non-faculty items may end up going for the most money.  Law firms, businesses, and alumni have all been extremely generous, and, as a result, we have some of the most spectacular items ever offered in the Auction.  Alumnus Clifford Weaver (AB '66, JD '69) and his wife Donna donated a week-long stay for four at their Italian wine estate, Le Miccine.  Kirkland & Ellis LLP is providing air fare to Italy and a four-night stay in Rome.  Latham & Watkins LLP has contributed a vacation package that includes gives winning bidders a choice of one of three unbeatable options: a Mediterranean cruise; a 60-day trip through all of South America; or a 3-week, luxury trip throughout Asia and Australia or New Zealand.  Neiman Marcus contributed a shopping spree followed by dinner with its CEO and General Counsel.  One last item sure to go for big bucks is the chance to attend the 2008 NBA Draft with NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver ('88).  You can view more of the other items at the Auction's website.

Since its inception, the Auction has grown to become one of the most important events of the year.  It is exciting not just because it gives us a chance to help our fellow classmates pursuing low-paying public service careers, but also because it is an event that the entire Law School community can enjoy.  You will see faculty and staff enjoying the festivities with students and alumni and the market forces hard at work as people are inspired by the generosity of those around them.  The event truly embodies the spirit of the Law School."

Thanks for the great sneak peek, Euler, and check back soon for a run-down on the results of the Auction and some pictures of all the fun!

What to Do With Your Law Degree: A Panel of Professional Women in Law

This past Friday, January 11th, the Law Women's Caucus and the Women's Mentoring Program co-sponsored a great panel of lawyers to discuss the wealth of options available to our graduates as well as their experiences as women in particular legal career paths.  Allison Handy ('09) gives us this recap of the event:

"The Law Women's Caucus and Women's Mentoring Program joined forces to create a panel event with women from all walks of legal life.  Our panel, "What to Do With Your Law Degree: A Panel of Professional Women in Law," was a great success.  We were able to bring Liisa Thomas ('96), a partner at the Chicago office of Winston & Strawn LLP; Alison LaCroix, Assistant Professor here at the Law School; Joan Laser (AM '70, JD '79), an Assistant United State's Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Katharine Wolanyk ('96), President and Co-Founder of Soverain, a e-commerce software and services company here in Chicago; and Miriam Hallbauer ('95), senior lawyer for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago to the Law School for an hour-long panel discussion followed by a special Wine Mess where all the panelist stuck around to talk with students.

Many students (even a few mean, I was happy to see!) attended the event to hear about the career paths of these very different women.  The panelists talked about the ways they chose their careers and how those decisions led them to their current positions.  While their choices have been different -- Ms. Wolanyk's decision to launch a career in business from her background in engineering and mergers and acquisitions, Ms. Hallbauer's embrace of public interest work in lieu of a more lucrative law firm career -- all the panelists emphasized that students should pick a career about which they can be passionate."

Thanks to Allison for the great description and to all the panelists for taking time from busy schedules to participate!

Interesting Students with a Variety of Interests

I stopped by our weekly wine mess last Friday and was talking to one of our first year students,  Arsineh Ananian,  who comes from California.  After we caught up on how the start of the winter quarter was going she reminded me of her dance interest and mentioned she was off to rehearsals.  Arsineh started dancing when she was 5 and became a "professional dancer" around 18.  She danced throughout college and did it exclusively between graduating from UCLA and starting at the Law School, traveling to Italy and Armenia and all over the US. 

And the great thing is she didn't have to stop dancing when she got to the Law School because she found the University Ballet. UBallet is a ballet group created by a few undergrads at the University that offers free ballet classes throughout the week.  They also put on two shows during the school year; one in the winter and one in the spring. She dances with the performance company and also teaches an intermediate ballet class as well. The show this coming weekend is "Sur La Glace and Duke Ellington's Nutcracker (w/live Jazz X-Tet!!)" It's going to be at International House also know a I-House, Friday 18th at 8 and Sunday 20th at 2. 

And her dancing hasn't kept her from being involved at the Law School.  She is a  1L rep for LSA and a member of Street law and helps out with admissions events.  Here is a quote from Arsineh:  "My biggest fear about coming to Chicago was that it would force me to leave behind my dance career and fall into a danceless abyss of law.  I'm really happy that this is not the case and that I am able to work out my schedule to fit in all my school work and lots of dance."

So I hope this give you a little insight into the many wonderful students we have her at the Law School!

The Law School Welcomes New Clinical Opportunity: The Exoneration Project

The Mandel Legal Aid Clinic is proud to welcome an addition to the unique clinical opportunities available to the students at the Law School, The Exoneration Project, which makes it bow this month.  Director of Clinical Programs, Randy Schmidt ('79), made the announcement:

"The Exoneration Project will provide representation to client who are asserting their actual innocence in state and federal court.  Students in the Project will be involved in all aspects of the case from initial case selection through investigation and litigation.  There will be a classroom component that will allow students to learn more about investigation, litigation discovery, post-conviction petitions and other legal work.  Students will interact with supervising attorneys and clients on a regular basis, and 3L students will have an opportunity to appear in court.

The supervising lawyers and founders of the Project are from the law firm of Loevy & Loevy, a civil rights firm in Chicago.  Tara Thompson, a 2003 graduate of the Law School, and Gayle Horn will be the primary supervising attorneys on this project.  Jon Loevy and Russell Ainsworth, attorneys also at the Loevy firm, will also provide some supervision in the Project."

I recently spoke with Law School and Clinic alum, Tara Thompson (who also happens to live in my condo building!), about her thoughts on the Project:

"I'm ecstatic about coming back to the Law School and working with the Exoneration Project.  Working in the Clinic (I was fortunate enough to work with Professor Craig Futterman in the Civil Rights & Police Accountability Project) was one of my favorite parts of law school, and where I first learned about communicating with clients, building a case from the ground up, and the importance of using my privileged position as a lawyer to help people who are the most vulnerable to the injustices in our legal system.  In the Exoneration Project, students will have an opportunity to investigate and evaluate cases, draft post-conviction petitions and other types of petitions and motions, and appear in court.  I and the other lawyers from my firm who will be staffing the Project hope that it will be a great addition to the other wonderful opportunities in the Clinic already available to the students."

We warmly welcome the newest addition to the Clinic and encourage you to check out other posts about the clinical experience as well as the Clinical Programs page on our website.

Latino Law Students Association & Law Women's Caucus Team Up to Bring Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy State's Attorney to the Law School

One of the best things about the U of C's small community is that not only do students interact and collaborate on a regular basis but so do many of the more than 60 student organizations at the Law School.  Today's lunchtime event was an example of one such event.  Chris Baeza ('09), one of the student leaders of LLSA, provides us with a recap of the event:

Knowing that many of the students interested in serving the public good, Latino/a Law Students Association and Law Women's Caucus teamed up to bring Anita Alvarez to the Law School for a lunchtime event.  Ms. Alvarez, Chief Deputy in the State's Attorney's Office, is running for Cook County State's Attorney.  The event was very well attended, highlighting the interest U of C students have in public affairs.  Ms. Alvarez, the only woman and Hispanic to run for the office, shared stories about her experience in the public sector and on the campaign trail.  She also shared some insights into the fears she had going into public work, as well as the numerous benefits that come from serving your community.  While the financial gains in the private sector are appealing, Ms. Alvarez said, "there are great opportunities to give back."

Ms. Alvarez also spoke to the importance of having minority and female lawyers in public service.  Being only one of two Latinas in her law school class, she recalled how difficult it was starting out as an Assistant State's Attorney.  What kept her going was the fact that "you can always do better," and that there is "always room for change."

What left the greatest impression on me was how engaged and interested my peers were in what Ms. Alvarez had to say.  Hearing the questions they asked -- some wondering her thoughts on how to improve the judicial process in Cook County, others asking for her tips on how to balance life and career -- made me realize that reason why students come to U of C go far beyond just getting a job.  For many it is the passion to use their law degree to make their community better.  Ms. Alvarez put into words the very thing that seems to drive many of the students at the Law School to want to give back to the public good:  an aspiration to "hear the community's voices and concerns" and "to be the voice for victims in courts."  You can't put a dollar amount on the value of a passion to change the world for the better.

The Law School is committed to supporting our current students and graduates who want to pursue careers in the public sector through such programs as the 1L Summer Public Interest Loan Program and the Hormel Public Interest Program.