The Informant
November 2, 2010
ANNOUNCEMENTS
In the trenches with a veteran trial lawyer
Attorney Ray Fraley will speak on Nov. 3 at noon in room 132 on his trial experiences, as well as his expertise in cross examination. The Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution is sponsoring the program. Fraley is a veteran trial lawyer, having tried over 500 cases, including over 300 jury trials, a recent medical malpractice case resulting in a $5.3 million judgment and 14 first-degree murder cases.
Annual canine Halloween costume contest Nov. 6
The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund will host its fourth annual fundraiser for the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley on Saturday, Nov. 6. The pet Halloween costume contest will begin with registration at 2 p.m. at Victor Ashe Dog Park. The registration fee is $10. The categories are funniest, scariest and most original pet costumes. All proceeds go to the Humane Society, and contestants will be eligible to win several prizes. Event flyer.
A conversation between a high-profile litigator and a state attorney general
On Nov. 12 at noon in room 132, class-action litigator Randy Hopper and Mississippi State Attorney General Jim Hood will discuss how state attorneys general pursue litigation involving important matters of public policy, as well as how private counsel and state attorneys partner to bring about just resolutions for a state's citizens. Included will be a discussion of high-profile litigation, including the Tobacco Class Action, high profile fraud and antitrust cases, and, while not presently in litigation, issues relating to the BP oil spill.
FROM THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY
Researcher to speak on women's regional activists
Jessica Wilkerson, an interviewer for the Southern Oral History Program and doctoral candidate in women's and gender history at the University of North Carolina, will speak out her recent research trip to Knoxville on Friday, Nov. 5. She and a team of researchers conducted about 60 interviews with women and men who were activists in the 1970s and 1980s. She will share some of their stories to paint a picture of how a regionally distinctive women's movement emerged in the post-1960s South. The speech is sponsored by the Feminist Action Coalition and is part of the first Feminists Unite! Reunion. The talk will be held at Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria in the Old City from 6-8 p.m.
FACULTY
From Greg Stein, Associate Dean for Faculty Development
Professor Penny White was one of the featured speakers at the South Carolina Law Review 2010 Symposium on “Law and Democracy: Maintaining an Independent Judiciary,” held at the University of South Carolina School of Law on Oct. 21-22. The symposium included presentations on law and democracy, judicial ideology, judicial recusal and judicial independence and integrity. It included an address by the Right Honorable Lord Justice John Laws, Treasurer of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, and thus, member of the High Court, Queen's Bench Division. White addressed the topic of “Judicial Selection and Judicial Recusal: Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co.” and its impact.
Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds’s review of Jack Goldsmith’s “The Terror Presidency” has been published in the Fall 2010 issue of the Baker Center Journal of Applied Public Policy.
His article, “Five Takes On McDonald: The States and the New Right To Arms,” (coauthored with Brannon P. Denning) has been accepted for publication by the University of Virginia’s Journal of Law and Politics.
Reynolds recently delivered the Pope Lecture On Capitalism at Clemson University. His topic: “The Higher Education Bubble and What Comes Next.” The lecture is available online in video form here.
Professor Joan Heminway was quoted in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, commenting on the degree to which UT should and does focus on diversity in its hiring. Read MORE.
STUDENTS
Spring Judicial Externship
The College of Law's Judicial Externship Program allows third-year students to serve as externs to Tennessee's state and federal judges. Specific placements depend upon the student's background and experiences and the faculty supervisor's discretion. Participating students undergo an intensive orientation program before being placed in judges' chambers to work throughout the semester. In addition to working 12-15 hours per week for the judge, students must complete weekly work journals, must attend all externship sessions and must meet periodically with the extern faculty supervisor.
Students interested in applying to participate in the Spring 2011 Judicial Externship must apply for the externship on or before Friday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m. Students must fill out the online application, available at http://innopac.law.utk.edu/ and submit it along with an updated resume to Professor Penny White at pwhite4@utk.edu. White will advise admitted applicants before the registration deadline. Admitted applicants must bid the requisite number of points in order to be admitted to the externship.
Loan repayment program taking applications
Applications are being accepted for the John R. Justice loan repayment program, a college loan repayment program for current state and federal public defenders and state district attorneys. The application deadline is Nov. 15 with awards being distributed sometime after the first of the year. MORE
Student writing contest
The Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni is sponsoring a law student writing competition in any area of securities law. The deadline for entries is Nov. 15. MORE
Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice essay contest
Entries are being accepted for the 2010 Hogan/Smoger Access to Justice essay contest, formerly known as the Roscoe Hogan Environmental Law essay contest. The intent-to-submit deadline is Jan. 31, 2011. MORE
Bankruptcy writing competition
The Bankruptcy Litigation Committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the country’s premier trade association of the insolvency and restructuring community, invites students to participate in its third annual ABI Bankruptcy Law Student Writing Competition. First through third place recognition, which include a cash prize, publication opportunities and ABI membership for a year, will be awarded. Professor George Kuney will work with any students interested in developing and writing a paper for this competition. The deadline is March 1, 2011. MORE
Chapter 13 writing competition
The National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees is sponsoring a writing competition for law students that features a $1,000 first prize, as well as registration and boarding at the group's annual conference and seminar in August 2011. The topic of the essay, article or comment can be on any issue concerning chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code and may not exceed 15 pages of double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman text. The winning submission will be eligible for publication in the association’s quarterly membership publication, which reaches Chapter 13 Trustees and bankruptcy judges nationwide. Professor George Kuney will meet with interested students to assist in developing a topic and to provide feedback as part of a “supervised writing project” as permitted by the competition’s rules. Competitions of this sort are often undersubscribed by quality entries and, thus, may represent fruitful opportunities for committed entrants. The deadline is April 30, 2011. MORE
STAFF
Director Karen Britton among faculty for NALP forum
Director of Admissions, Financial Aid and Career Services Karen Britton has been invited to serve on the faculty at NALP's Newer Professionals' Forum in February 2011. This is the premier training program for new career professionals in law schools and legal employers. NALP, the National Association for Law Placement, is the primary professional association in the legal recruitment industry, counting among its members all ABA accredited law schools and over 1,100 legal employers in the U.S. and Canada.
CAREER SERVICES
Upcoming program offered through the Bettye B. Lewis Career Center:
-- No events scheduled this week.