A Day in the Life

New Clinical Oppportunity: Federal Criminal Justice Project

The Mandel Legal Aid Clinic is proud to announce the creation of a new clinical opportunity, the Federal Criminal Justice Project (FCJP).  FCJP will be led by Director Alison Siegler, formerly an attorney with the Federal Defender Program and instructor of Federal Sentencing course here at the Law School. 

The primary mission of the FCJP is to zealously represent indigent defendants charged with federal crimes while giving students a unique opportunity to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.  The FCJP will represent clients from arrest through trial/plea bargaining and sentencing and will also represent clients on appeal.  Students will be assigned to cases in teams of two and among their responsibilities will be interviewing of clients and witnesses; conducting and participating in bond hearings, preliminary hearings, arraignments, plea and sentencing hearings, and trials; preparing and filing written motions; negotiating withe the United States Attorney's Office and probation officers; and participating in investigations.  In addition to representing individual clients the FCJP will serve as an information clearinghouse and resource for Chicago-area federal criminal defense lawyers and will work to address larger systematic problems with the federal criminal justice process.  Projects members will also attend weekly sessions with the Director that will include exercise and simulations, lectures and discussion sessions. Finally students will take courses in Evidence, Criminal Procedure I, a new course this fall, Federal Criminal Procedure and participate in the Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop before the start of their 3L year.

The Federal Criminal Justice Program marks the second new clinical project this year, and joins the Exoneration Project as part of an ever expanding number of clinical opportunities offered to our students.  The FCJP will launch in the Fall Quarter.

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2008 Hinton Moot Court Competition

In follow-up to Monday's posting about the Hinton Moot Court Finals we are pleased to announce that this winners of the 2008 Hinton Moot Court competition were Kyle Reynolds '08 and Michael Walsh '08.  All the contestants received copious and glowing reviews from all three justices each of whom expressed their delight in seeing any of the finalists in their courtrooms in the future.  Congratulations to all the finalists and the hard-working Moot Court Board for organizing yet another amazing competition!

Students Helping Students

One of the most common topics about which we receive questions here in Admissions is the level of competition at the Law School.  The answer I usually give is that our students are competitive with themselves but not each other, and are, in fact, more than happy to help one another wade through Fed Jur or Con Law I.  A great example of this is a session organized by the Law Women's Caucus (LWC) to help 1Ls choose the best elective for the Spring Quarter.  All 1Ls choose one elective from a selection of seven to eight 2L/3L classes, including Legislation (taught by Professor Gersen '04), Health Law (taught by Professor Malani '00), Economic Analysis of the Law, and Copyright (taught by Professor Picker '85), as their fourth class.  To aid the 1Ls in this process member of the LWC held an informal session where the upperclassmen shared their experiences and opinions on specific classes and about the way to choose classes more generally.  One of the 1Ls in attendance, Michelle Sowemimo ('10), shared her thoughts on the session:

"I found the session EXTREMELY helpful to understanding more about the electives beyond what was already available on the website.  The 2Ls and 3Ls who gave advice did an excellent job of balancing both the pros and cons of each elective.  This gave me a clearer idea of what each elective would entail.

I think being able to choose electives in the first year will really help me to start narrowing down my academic interests.  I also didn't realize until the session that I would be in classes with 2Ls and 3Ls which I think is also a great asset!"

Thanks, Michelle!  For more information on academic support services offered by the Law School contact Maureen Sheehan '04, Associate Director of Student Affairs, who is a great source of guidance about crafting your course schedule not only for the 1L  year but for the entirety of your law school career.

Student Organizations 101: Environmental Law Society

Next in "Student Organizations 101" series is the Environmental Law Society (ELS) which, in conjunction with the Public Interest Law Society, held a lunchtime speaking event on careers in public interest work in environmental law.  Below is a recap of the event, and an introduction to ELS, by Kristin Greer Love ('09).

"Last week the Environmental Law Society (ELS) and the Public Interest Law Society (PILS) co-hosted "So, You Want to Save the Planet?: Public Interest Work in Environmental Law," a lunch talk with three young attorneys who are fighting the good fight for the environment.  Our lunch panel featured Andrew Armstrong of the Illinois Attorney General's Office's Environmental Division, Sherry Daun ('03) of the Chicagoland Bicycle Foundation and Meleah Geertsma of the Environmental Law and Policy Center.  Law students, undergraduate students from the College, and graduate students from the Harris School of Public Policy joined three public interest attorneys for a delicious lunch from a Hyde Park institution, Snail Thai restaurant.

The three lawyers shared invaluable insights for students who are interested in pursuing public interest work soon after law school.  Armstrong worked for a couple of years in the private school, gaining invaluable litigation that made him a stand-out candidate for his current job in the Attorney General's Office.  Daun began as a volunteer with the Bicycle Federation, while practicing elsewhere and now works with lawmakers and city officials to improve funding and planning for alternative transportation and to advocate for cyclists.  Geertsma completed a one-year Master's Degree program in Public Health after her J.D. which broadened her knowledge base and better prepared her to litigate and investigate complex public health and environmental concerns stemming from coal power plants.

Their advice? First, network with attorneys who have jobs that you would love to have a few years after graduation and talk with them about how they made it.  Next, read about loan forgiveness programs for public interest lawyers and borrow as little as possible during law school.  On the same note, live like a law student after graduating and use your income to pay down your debt.  The panelists also suggested courses such as Legislation for those interested in government practice such as working in a legislator's office or as a liaison between a public interest organization and legislators; Administrative Law and Environmental Law for those interested in (what else?) environmental work.  Another piece of advice was to consider a joint-degree program such as a JD-MPP [such as the program available at the Law School] that will add value and make you a better candidate on the public interest job work.  The panelists also suggested working in the private sector is also a great way to develop your skills before moving to a public interest position where you are likely to have a lot of responsibility right from the beginning.  Finally, they suggested volunteering and/or interning with organizations during law school to get a sense of whether you would like to work with them after law school."

Kristin also gives a run-down on past and future events ELS organized and embodies the type of commitment and enthusiasm students at the Law School have for their causes and interests, and the way they seek to inform the rest of the community about new issues.

"Earlier this year ELS sponsored a talk on congesting pricing with Visiting Professor Jonathan Nash [also a past Law School Bigelow Fellow to our very own Student Services Fellow, Kristen Mercado ('04)], a service trip to nearby Jackson Park to help with a habitat preservation project, and an outing to the annual Chocolate Festival at the Garfield Park Conservatory, a beautiful cultural and botanical center on Chicago's West Side.  In the Spring Quarter, we will host a talk with Professor Eric Posner among others on climate change justice.  We're also planning several events for Earth Week, including talks on homeland security and the environment, environmental issues in the Supreme Court, carbon markets, as well as a trip to dine at Chicago's Green Zebra and a river restoration project."

No one can call these ecologically-minded students lazy!  For more on other student organizations that contribute to the rich and diverse community at the Law School, revisit the blog soon.  You can also learn more about the intersection between the law and the environment you can soon read a review and listed to a podcast of the latest in the Chicago's Best Ideas series, "Climate Change and the Battle of the Generations," delivered by Dean Saul Levmore.

Student Organizations 101: Asian Pacific American Law Students Association

As part of a series of introductions to the more than sixty student organizations at the Law School we are pleased to present an introduction to the Asian Pacific American Law Students Organization (APALSA).  APALSA, like many of our other student organizations, recently sponsored a lunchtime speaker event.  Karen Kim ('09) and James Moon ('09) provides with a recap of a recent event:

"Recently the University of Chicago's Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) held a lunchtime speaker events featuring two prominent government attorneys.  The first was Asheesh Agarwal ('97), Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, DC.  The second was Manish Shah ('98), Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois here in Chicago.

Messrs. Shah and Agrawal spoke generally about the appeal of government positions in contrast to private practice.  They also discusses the role of political ideology in government services and the importance in legitimacy in federal law enforcement.  Mr. Agrawal shared his experiences in recent federal issues involving voting discrimination, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and political appointments within the DOJ.  Mr. Shah talked about the role of a prosecutor, the benefits and drawbacks of being a government prosecutor in contrast to a litigator in private practice, and the general difficulty of reconciling differences of opinion with the administration setting policy. 

Overall, the event was one of many activities sponsored by APALSA this year.  In addition to hosting a number of guest speakers, APALSA members volunteer monthly at a downtown legal aid clinic, run a Big & Little Sibling mentoring program for its junior members, and help organize networking events with APALSA groups from surrounding schools.  Through its activities, APALSA aims to foster a sense of community and provide a network of formal and informal support for Asian-American law students here at U of C."

Thanks to Karen and James for the recap and check back to the blog for the next installment in Student Organizations 101!

The "Over the Hump" Party: U of C Students Celebrate the Mid-Point of the Year

U of C students are well-known for their dedication to their studies but they are also great at bringing balance to their lives with lots of fun.  Sara Feinstein (08), our Law Students Association President, gives us an example of the way our students celebrate the mid-point of the year:

"Students at the University of Chicago tend to embrace a "work hard, play hard" mentality.  The quarterly Law Students Association party exemplifies this mentality.  During Winter Quarter, after the 1L students complete their second Bigelow writing assignment, LSA hosts a heavily subsidized party affectionately called "Over the Hump."  This party, usually on a Thursday night, involves drinks, dancing and a much needed opportunity for law students to relax with their friends.  Over 200 law students attended the event held on February 7th at Club 720."

CLF Auction Raises Record-Breaking $89,000 for Summer Public Interest Grants

On January 31st the Chicago Law Foundation hosted its annual Public Interest Auction.  Not only is the Auction one of the biggest fund-raising efforts for CLF it is also one of the biggest social events of the year.  Lauren Kramer ('08), one the organizers of the event, provides us with this recap:

"As students entered the Green Lounge, they were greeted by the CLF Board dressed to the nines in flapper costumes and gangster gear, only to be whisked back in time to an era when the gin was always cold, the band played all night, and everyone would unwind and "speakeasy."

During the silent auction, a jazz band played 1920S hits as guests bid on the vast and varied collection of items available.  Highlights included Professor Epstein's vintage ties, a full collection of Supreme Court Bobble Heads, the new iPod Touch, and the remote control boats that formerly graces the Law School fountain.  Tables laden with delicious snacks and bartenders shaking or stirring with true grace only added to the atmosphere.

As the silent auction came to a close and Professor Baird stepped up to the podium to begin the live auction portion of the evening, guests sat forward on their chairs and grasped their number with sweaty palms, ready to ferociously bid.  Early in the auction, students showed that they were ready to throw down some serious money for public interest.  A Neiman Marcus gift card and personal shopper, dinner with Professor Samaha, and a night of poker with Professors Posner and Gersen were early favorites.  As the auction progressed, the fervor only increased with intense bidding wars over a Bulls game with Professor Henderson, the opportunity to attend the 2008 NBA Draft and have lunch with the NBA's Deputy Commissioner, and a Kirkland & Ellis-sponsored trip for four to Italy.

All in all, CLF raised over $89,000 at this fabulous event, more than doubling the success of past years.  The entire $89,000 will support students who choose to work in the public interest sector.  We can only hope that next year will be even better!"

Thanks to Lauren for the great recap and congratulations to all the members of CLF who worked so hard to make this year's Auction such a fantastic success and, of course, thanks to all the members of the Law School community who so generously gave to support our students who dedicate themselves to serving those so much in need.

"Super Wednesday" Coffee Mess

Each Wednesday morning the whole Law School community gathers in the Green Lounge for coffee, donuts and conversation for the longstanding Coffee Mess tradition.  This past Wednesday's Coffee Mess had a special theme.  The Law School Democrats hosted a "Super Wednesday" Coffee Mess that allowed students to informally discuss the results of Super Tuesday with faculty, including Professors Cass Sunstein,  Alison LaCroix, Adam Cox and Gerald Rosenberg.  Hollin Kretzmann ('08), a member of the group, provided us with the student perspective on this great event:

"Students across the country are keeping tabs on the primaries and talking about the election results and the Law School students are no different.  But what if we added the insights of Obama's top legal advisor, a couple of Constitutional scholars and economic experts to the mix?

What you get is the the Law School Democrats hosting of an informal "Morning After" discussion during Coffee Mess, inviting politically engaged faculty to sit with students over coffee and bagels to pour over the Super Tuesday results.  The diversity of opinions precluded a consensus on what Tuesday's results mean, but you can be sure professors and students had a lot to say!"

Although this event was a theme Coffee Mess, the type of interaction it fostered is indicative of the collegial and friendly Law School community, and something I always happily anticipate each Wednesday!

For some more faculty commentary on the presidential campaigns you can read Professor Geoffrey Stone's recent piece on former President Bill Clinton's role in the election in the Chicago Tribune, as well as other musings on current events and emerging legal issues on the Law School's widely renowned, frequently updated Faculty Blog.

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!