The Informant
November 11, 2008
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Left to right, Marisa Mar-Jones, Natalie Burton, Jessica Van Dyke, Law Women President Malaka Watson, Prof. Karla McKanders, David Veazey, and Prof. Joan Heminway.
Prof. Karla McKanders speaks to Law Women
UT College of Law Professor Karla McKanders spoke to an open meeting of UT Law Women on Friday, November 7, about her work with refugee and asylum law in Pennsylvania and East Tennessee. She spoke about the challenges that refugees and asylum seekers face in getting legal representation and in understanding their rights
Combating Discrimination: International, National, and Regional Challenges for the Next Administration and Congress
Nov. 12, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Room 132
The 2008 presidential campaign is unprecedented in many respects. Irrespective of the outcome, Election Day will herald a milestone for diversity in the next presidential administration, with either an African American taking the presidential oath of office for the first time, or a woman taking the vice-presidential oath, also for the first time. While the magnitude of this event cannot be understated, the United States still faces significant challenges related to diversity and combating discrimination both here at home and globally.
With these challenges in mind, the University of Tennessee College of Law Committee on Community welcomes a panel of distinguished experts to the law school to discuss the role of lawyers in designing and implementing strategies to combat discrimination, hate crimes, and related problems on the local, national, and international level. In addition to highlighting avenues of alternative legal practice, panelists will focus on key policy concerns related to discrimination and diversity for the incoming Congress and presidential administration on the heels of the November election.
Speakers
Prof. Fran Ansley, University of Tennessee College of Law Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus
Michael Lieberman, Washington Counsel, Anti-Defamation League
Tad Stahnke, Director, Fighting Discrimination Program, Human Rights First
Moderator
Rita Geier, Associate to the Chancellor and Senior Fellow at the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville
UT Law joins Animal Legal Defense Fund
The University of Tennessee College of Law has partnered with the Animal Legal Defense Fund to create a student chapter of the national non-profit group, whose mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. MORE
PAD’s Annual Second Harvest Canned Food Drive Nov. 10-14
One in six East Tennesseans will go hungry tonight. In our community, a staggering 238,831 people are at risk of hunger.
The "working poor" make up the largest portion of the people that receive food from Second Harvest. Often, working poor families struggle week-to-week to support their families and provide food for their table. The working poor are employed, but most do not receive benefits from their work, so they are left alone to pay healthcare and medical expenses for their families. When gas and food prices rise, working poor families feel the pinch.
So what can you do to help those in need in our community? Donate nonperishable items to the Second Harvest Food Bank during PAD’s Annual Second Harvest Canned Food Drive from Nov. 10-14. Collection boxes will be located throughout the law school for donated items. The most needed items are peanut butter, cereal, macaroni and cheese, soup, tuna, canned fruits, and canned vegetables.
Additionally, in support of this drive, numerous professors will be participating in the Immunity Days on Tuesday, Nov. 12, and Wednesday, Nov. 13. What are Immunity Days? Students may buy immunity from questions for the class period by placing a can on the desk in front of them. Students must bring a different canned item to purchase immunity during each class. Please discuss participation with each professor as not all are participating.
Thank you for your support of the 238,831 people who need your help in this tough time.
FACULTY
Prof. Glenn Reynolds is UT’s Quest Scholar of the Week. MORE
Prof. Goodwin guest lecturer in English/Linguistics class
Prof. Iris Goodwin was guest lecturer in English/Linguistics 490, Language and the Law, Nov. 4. She offered a talk entitled “Legal Language and Poetic Language: Worlds Apart and Why.” She offered examples of good and bad legal writing and placed both beside poems of Emily Dickinson and T.S. Eliot in order to underscore the necessity of univocal meanings in the law.
Prof. Emeritus Gray active in Pennsylvania mediation
Prof. Emeritus Grayfred Gray is advising Allan Sobel, Executive Director of Susquehanna (Pa.) University's Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society, on establishing the Neysa C. Adams Pro Se Assistance and Mediation Clinic. The weekend of Nov. 1-2 Prof. Gray conducted the first of three weekends (40 hours) of Basic Mediation Training for its first class of volunteer mediators. The program will finish up later this month. also coordinating the development of a community mediation leaders network in Pennsylvania to facilitate support among them and public advocacy for their work.
STUDENTS
Rio Summer Program informational meeting Nov. 24
An information session will be held regarding the Summer Legal Study Program in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Nov. 24, during the Free Hour (12:20-1:10 p.m.) in Room 136.
Business court clerk opportunities
The Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program, an initiative of the American Bar Association’s Section of Business Law, encourages students to pursue business court clerkship opportunities and to consider careers in the practice of business law. In considering a student's diversity, the Section of Business Law will give special consideration to individuals who have overcome social or economic disadvantages such as physical disability, financial constraints, or cultural impediments to becoming a law student. Up to nine interns will be given a summer stipend of $6,000 and placed in business court clerkships in the Philadelphia Commerce Court or the Delaware Court of Chancery. Other possible internship locations include New York and Florida. To apply, students must be Section of Business Law members. For membership information and to join the Section, click here.
Business law writing competition
The American Bar Association’s Section of Business Law is sponsoring its 23rd Annual Mendes Hershman Student Writing Contest to encourage and reward law student writings on a business law subject of general and current interest. Cash awards are given for first, second, and third place entries ($2,500, $1,000, and $500, respectively). All winners will be invited and subsidized to attend the Section Spring Meeting, April 16-18, 2009, in Vancouver, BC to receive their award. Papers will be judged on research and analysis, choice of topic, writing style, originality, and contribution to the literature available on the topic. Papers submitted are normally 20-30 pages long, but should not exceed 100 pages of double-spaced typed text, including footnotes. Students need not be members of the Section of Business Law to participate. All entries must be submitted electronically on or before January 9, 2009. Click here to download a cover form to be included with your entry. For more information click here.
Student research assistant needed
Prof. Ben Barton seeks a research assistant for the rest of this semester and next semester to help work on a book on lawyers and judges. Please email a resume to bbarton@utk.edu.
Student writing competition in securities law
The Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni (ASECA) is sponsoring a student writing competition for papers in the field of securities law. Cash prizes of $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000 will be awarded for first-place, second-place, and third-place entries. Submissions must be received by ASECA by Nov. 15, 2008 to be eligible. For more information, see the flyer on Prof. Joan Heminway’s bulletin board on the second floor or contact Prof. Heminway at jheminwa@tennessee.edu or ASECA’s Executive Director, Cecile Srodes, at info@secalumni.org.
CAREER SERVICES
Career Services programs this week: