New Dean's Fellows Program:
Students Helping Students
The first year of law school can be overwhelming for many students who are
being taught to think in a different way for the first time. In an effort to
provide additional assistance to 1Ls, Professor Nyree Gray, Director of Diversity
Affairs at Southwestern, has developed and implemented the Dean's Fellows program.
Students enrolled in specific courses have the opportunity to work with an upper
division student who has completed and excelled in the same class, taught by
the same professor. "Professors have specific styles and ways of teaching," Professor
Gray said. "I want to pair students with fellows who have been through
the same process with the same instructors."
Several aspects of the program provide Southwestern students with a unique
opportunity to work with their peers in an effort to bolster their confidence
and performance. Any first-year student who wants help can participate. All
they need to do is contact Professor Gray, who will meet with them, assess
their needs and select the fellow for them to work with. The fellows hired
to serve in these notable positions are paid through Federal Work Study Funds
and meet with the students at a mutually convenient time. "What distinguishes
a Dean's Fellow is that students cannot apply for these prestigious positions.
They have to be invited," Professor Gray said. Read more.
'Tis the Season for Giving
Southwestern's student organizations show their commitment to spreading some
holiday cheer by bringing the law school community together to help those
in need. The Latino Law Students Association (LLSA)
is sponsoring their Sixth Annual Toy Drive for children in pre-kindergarten
through second grade classes at Hoover Elementary School. Each child has written
a letter to Santa asking for one special gift (the teachers have been instructed
to guide the children towards asking for gifts valued at $20, so no child will
receive something more expensive than another). Last year, more than 900 gifts
were delivered to the classes. These toys may be the only holiday gift received
by some. This year, LLSA has partnered with local television station LATV
and hopes to expand the gift giving efforts beyond the second grade with their
assistance.
"The gratitude and amazement on the faces of these children makes
all of LLSA's work and the contributions of our generous sponsors more
than worthwhile," LLSA co-president China Rosas said.
Those
still interested in contributing can pick up a "Letter to Santa" by
emailing llsasw@yahoo.com. All gifts must be turned in to Dean Cameron's Office
by Friday, December 7, so that any unwrapped gifts can be wrapped
before delivery day. Santas will deliver the gifts to Hoover students
on Friday, December 21.Donations are also gladly accepted ($20 per child -
make checks payable to "LLSA at Southwestern"). Email llsasw@yahoo.com or contact Dean Cameron's Office for more information.
STUDENTS
Moot Court Teams Return from First Amendment and Entertainment Law Competitions with Honors
The Wechsler Team with Professor Carpenter
The Weschler team, consisting of writer Nick Francescon and oralists
Julia Romano and Linet Bidrossian competed against 30 other teams and
earned Second Place after a close 3 to 2 vote in the final round.
Francescon's brief also garnered Second Place and Romano won the Best
Finalist Oralist award. Read
more.
TAHP Team Reaches Semi-Finals
The Trial Advocacy Honors Program team of Amber Acuna, Karine Mkrtchyan, Kiernan Curley, and Angelica Ramos reached the Semi-Finals in the ABA Labor & Employment Law Trial Advocacy competition at the United States District Courthouse in Los Angeles. Faculty advisors included Professor Karen Smith and Adjunct Professor Anthony Koutris, and Marie Maurice served as team manager.
ABA Delegate and Southwestern Student Marc Baranov Writes About Loan
Legislation
Third-year day student Marc Baranov currently serves as a Delegate
from the American Bar Association Law Student Division to the ABA House
of Delegates. One of his main goals in this position has been working
on LRAP (loan repayment assistance programs), trying to get the federal
government to forgive loans for students who work in public interest. As a part of this, he wrote an article to update law students on the College
Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (CCRAA), a bill recently passed
to ease the burden of heavy student loan debt. Click
here to read the
article.
EVENTS
January Symposia Tackle Torts and Latin American Legal Reform
Southwestern will host two symposia in January - Perspectives on
Asbestos Litigation and Abandoning the Inquisitor: Latin
America's Criminal Procedure Revolution. A third symposium on wrongful
convictions is set for February
and will be detailed in the next issue.
Perspectives on Asbestos Litigation
Asbestos litigation is America's longest-lasting mass tort phenomenon,
and its importance only continues to grow. A recent study confirms that
by
2009, asbestos will have killed nearly a quarter million people and injured
millions more. As of 2002, approximately 730,000 people had filed asbestos
claims against 8,400 corporate and other entities, which have spent $70
billion on asbestos litigation, with only $30 billion, or 42 percent
of the total, going to the injured claimants. Southwestern University
Law
Review presents Perspectives on Asbestos Litigation on Friday,
January 18 offering a comprehensive look at this unique problem, while
seeking to initiate a multilateral dialogue dedicated to synthesis and
solutions
- all in a unique format that moves from the most practical issues to
the most theoretical, political and sociological. Read more about this Law Review Symposium.
Abandoning the Inquisitor:
Latin America's Criminal
Procedure Revolution
Starting with reforms in Argentina in 1991, Latin America has seen a revolution
to establish adversarial, oral proceedings and options for abbreviated
trial processes. The Southwestern Journal of Law and Trade in the
Americas presents Abandoning the Inquisitor: Latin America's
Criminal Procedure Revolution, a one-day symposium on Friday, January 25 that will
bring together leading legal figures to analyze the reforms achieved
in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela, the ongoing reforms and
debates
in Mexico, the role of international organizations in the reform process,
and recent developments to follow European moves toward jury trials. Read more about this Law Journal Symposium.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Julia Mason Externship Open Forum
January 16-17, 12:30 p.m., Central Hall
The annual Forum provides an opportunity for students to speak informally with practicing attorneys that participate in Southwestern's Externship Program. For more information, click here or contact the Externship Office.
CAREER CORNER
Southwestern Joins ABA Minority Judicial
Clerkship Program
To encourage minority law students to pursue judicial clerkships, the American Bar Association's Judicial Division and Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession created the Minority Judicial Clerkship Program. Southwestern is one of a limited number of law schools invited to participate in the program which brings together approximately 50 minority law students from around the country, judges and former law clerks.
The group participates in panel discussions, a research and writing exercise, and informal social events. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and research skills in a small group setting while interacting with judges and former clerks in a team-building project. The program will be held February 7-10, during the 2008 ABA Midyear Meeting in Los Angeles.
Southwestern students are encouraged to apply. Participation is open to first and second-year Day students, second and third-year PLEAS and Evening students, and first and second-year SCALE students. The deadline for applications is December 10, 2007. Applications will be posted on the Diversity Affairs Information Board located outside of BW370, or can be requested by email. In consideration of final exams, there is a condensed two (2) page application. Questions may be directed to Professor Nyree Gray, Director of Diversity Affairs. Further information on the program is available online.
Summer Options and Opportunities for the
First-Year Student
Find out about all of the options and opportunities available for your
first summer in law school. Information will be presented regarding
summer abroad programs, summer school, externships, working in a law firm,
working in public interest, becoming a research assistant for
a professor, volunteering, as well as the Law Review and Law Journal "write
on" competition on Tuesday, January 8 at 12:30 pm in W511.
This is a "must-attend" event for all first-year students.
Orientation Set for Public Interest Career Day
In anticipation of Public Interest Career Day, when students
can interview with a variety of public interest employers, government
agencies
and law firms, a mandatory orientation program will take place on
Wednesday, January 9 at 12:30 & 5 p.m. in W311. Topics covered include participation
guidelines, funding options and applicable hiring criteria.
Never
Too Early to Have a Stellar Resume
The winter break is a good time to get that resume together. Career
Services offers winning resume samples in their office or online.
You can also get
some tips and advice at the Resume/Cover Letter Preparation Workshop
on Thursday, January 10 at 12:30 and 5 p.m. in W311.
Additional information for the three above events is available from
the Career Services Office.
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Carnegie Foundation Selects Southwestern for Groundbreaking Legal Education Study
Southwestern has been chosen as one of ten law schools by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
to participate in a consortium on the future of legal education. As a
member of this eminent group, Southwestern is one of two California
schools, along with Stanford, to be included in the project
that will develop recommendations on law school curricula and skills
training over the next few years. They will be joined by the City University of New York School
of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Harvard Law School, Indiana
University-Bloomington School of Law, New York University School of
Law, University of Dayton School of Law, University of New Mexico
School of Law, and Vanderbilt Law School.
According to Dean Bryant Garth, "Based on my own research and
involvement with legal education and the profession over the past
several decades, I am convinced that the Carnegie Foundation is pointed
in the right direction in influencing the reform of the teaching of
law. We are honored that Southwestern has been selected to play a key
role in this effort to help provide law students around the country
with the tools they need to successfully prepare for - and reinvigorate
- the profession." Read more.
Southwestern’s Katrina Efforts Recognized by Pro Bono Council
Southwestern was honored at the 2007 Los Angeles Pro Bono Council Luncheon featuring Chief Justice Ronald George of the California Supreme Court on December 3. Dean Bryant Garth represented the law school at the program recognizing "the Pro Bono Achievements of the Katrina Response Volunteers." Southwestern worked closely with the Pro Bono Council during the aftermath of the Katrina disaster in organizing Red Cross and legal clinic training to prepare lawyers and law students for assisting hurricane victims who had been relocated to Los Angeles.
Mitch Kamin, president of Bet Tzedek Legal Services (a member organization of the Pro Bono Council), had commended Southwestern for its efforts in providing the first legal clinic of its kind for displaced Katrina victims, during his Public Interest Law Week keynote address at the law school last month. Southwestern’s volunteer efforts were spearheaded by students Ed Anderson, Linda K. Bradlyn '07 and Alison Kleaver '07 in conjunction with the Dean’s Office.
The Los Angeles Pro Bono Council was formed in 2005 to encourage law firms to provide pro bono services and assist lawyers in finding pro bono opportunities. Pro Bono Council organizers credit Chief Justice George with inspiring their efforts as he has been instrumental in advocating increased attorney volunteerism statewide.
FACULTY ACTIVITIES
PROFESSOR RONALD ARONOVSKY
PROFESSOR PAUL BATEMAN
- Presenter, "Law Tutors' Training Workshop," UC Davis School of
Law, Davis, CA
PROFESSOR MARK CAMMACK
- ISLAMIC LAW IN CONTEMPORARY INDONESIA: IDEAS AND INSTITUTIONS (with R. Feener;
Harvard University Press, 2007)
- CLICK HERE FOR MORE FACULTY ACTIVITIES -
FACULTY
Faculty Scholarship Highlighted in Newsletter
Southwestern's new Faculty Scholarship newsletter is now available online (PDF). The publication highlights some of the latest research and scholarship being produced at Southwestern, including: Professor Sung Hui Kim discussing her article "Gatekeepers Inside Out" (Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics (2007)), Professor Warren Grimes recent exploration of buyer power in antitrust law, and a Q & A with Professor James Kushner about his current research projects on urban planning/development law, global climate change, and a new edition of his Land Use Law Casebook.
Southwestern Welcomes New Adjunct Faculty
Two experts in entertainment law have joined Southwestern's adjunct faculty for Spring 2008. Read more.
AROUND CAMPUS
Taylor Library Hours for December and January
Reading Week and Finals: December 2-21
Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 19: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thursday-Friday, December 20-21: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00
p.m.
BW1 & BW2 available to students November 30 - December 17
from midnight to 2:00 a.m.
Winter Break: December 22 - January 6
Saturday, December 22 through Tuesday, January 1: CLOSED
Wednesday, January 2: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 3: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday, January 4: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 5: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 6: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Staff Additions and Promotions
Anel Mora, Student Services Assistant, Financial Aid -
Ms. Mora earned a B.A. degree from Mount Saint Mary’s
College, where she majored in Sociology with an emphasis in Communications,
Documentary Film and Social Justice. Fluent in Spanish, her prior
work experience includes customer service, handling inquiries and office
management.
David Lalazarian, Multimedia Assistant,
Administrative Services - Mr. Lalazarian earned his B.A. degree in
History from Pepperdine University
and is currently pursuing his J.D. degree in Southwestern’s evening
program. He has worked as a college work study student at Southwestern
in both the Fitness Center and audio-visual services for the past two
years.
Promotions
- Arline Asplund - Senior Associate Director, Administrative Services
- Joan Bautista - Senior Associate Director, Development
- Aaron Brown - Head of Circulation Services, Law Library
- Marcie Canal - Senior Assistant Director, Administrative Services
- Ivonne Castillo - Public Information Associate, Public Information
- Elizabeth Eck - Assistant Director, Career Services
- Rosalyn Escobar - Administrative Services Associate, Administrative
Services
- Johanna Gan - Assistant Director, Administrative Services
- Joyce Lam - Counselor II, Financial Aid
- Hannah Lee - Registration and Academic Records Associate, Registration
and Academic Records
- Tamara Moore - Assistant Director, Donald E. Biederman Entertainment
and Media Law Institute
- Ayumi Nakamoto - Associate Director, Registration and Academic
Records
- Paulette Palafox - Senior Assistant Director, Admissions
- Robin Prophete - Assistant Director, Career Services
- Liz Reinhardt - Associate Director, Public Information
- Mitzie Vitela - Externship Program Coordinator, Externship Program
- Caleb Winter - Office Coordinator, Admissions
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
"W.A.Y." - Who Are You & Why Are You here?
This Month - Leah Cohen-Mays, Second-year Evening Program
Many people in L.A. will tell you that, no matter what they do to
bring home a paycheck, they are really actors. Leah Cohen-Mays says
that she is a law student who just happens to work as a professional
actress. She enjoys providing the voice of Cleo in "Tutenstein" on
Discovery Kids, teaching hip-hop to children at Reflections Dance Studio
in Woodland Hills, and acting in commercials for Wal-Mart and promos
for the TV show "Monk." She recently completed a stint on "Dance
Revolution," a Saturday morning program on CBS where she coached
kids to dance in an effort to encourage young viewers at home to get
off of the couch and move.
But the second-year evening student is so much more than just another talent
in a sea of aspiring stars. Cohen-Mays uses her intelligence and enthusiasm
to contribute to her law school experience. Looking at her list of extracurricular
activities at Southwestern, one wonders where she finds the time for showbiz
and volunteer work. She is a member of the Moot Court Honors Program, a writer
for the Commentator, the Fundraising Chair for BLSA, Secretary of
the Christian Legal Society, and as a member of the Public Interest Law Committee,
she served as Chairperson of the Trivia Bowl Challenge during Public Interest
Law Week, co-writing 175 questions as well as hosting the competition. "I
love this place!" Cohen-Mays said of Southwestern. "I love the professors,
the students, and Dean Garth. He's funny and cool and open to what you have
to say."
Born in Tarboro, North Carolina, and raised in Miami, Florida, Cohen-Mays earned
her bachelors degree from Hampton University in Virginia, where she studied
biology and considered becoming a doctor. She was in a Post-Baccalaureate program
at the University of Miami when her advisor suggested she work in a hospital
to see if medical school was the right decision before making the seven-year
commitment to it. She volunteered at the Miami Children's Hospital where she
realized the medical profession was not for her.
After college, Cohen-Mays moved to L.A. and spent seven years working in human
resources at Capitol Records. If it seems that her career pursuits have run
the gamut, one thing is certain: she wants to use her law degree to help others,
especially youth, in need. "I have that crazy creative personality that
I don't know exactly what I want to do, but I know what I want to eventually
achieve, to be a judge," she said. "But I'm exploring my options
to learn the best path to get there while helping children along the way."
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