The Informant
November 25, 2008
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Law Women Toys for Tots Drive
Over the next couple of weeks, Law Women will be collecting toys for the Toys for Tots Foundation. With the holidays just a few short weeks away, this is a great opportunity to provide new toys to children in the community who would not otherwise have gifts this Christmas. Law Women will be conducting the drive from Nov. 24 through Dec. 10. A box is available in the Records Office during this time where you can leave your new toys. Please help make this a special holiday season for the children of our community.
Holiday giving opportunity
If you are looking for a way to give help to those in need this year, and want to do something besides the usual food and clothing drives, please check out www.worldvision.org. Specifically, under the "Ways to Give" tab, World Vision offers an actual catalogue of gifts that you can buy for those in need around the world. You can pick out farm animals for villages in Africa (pigs, chickens, goats, etc.), or donate to provide a small business loan to women affected by AIDS. You can buy a bicycle to help a girl in India or Cambodia get to school. You can buy a well, or a portion of a well, to provide clean water for villagers in numerous countries. You can provide clothing and blankets to impoverished children here in America. You can browse by category or price, and there is no minimum donation amount required. You can also sponsor children in various countries.
FACULTY
Prof. Long writes opinion piece on ADA law
Prof. Alex Long wrote an opinion piece for the Perspective section of the Knoxville News Sentinel Sunday, Nov. 23, under the headline “Amending the ADA law - it's about time.” You may read the piece here.
Profs. Kuney, Looper file motion
Professors George Kuney and Donna Looper have filed a Motion for Leave to File Brief Amicus Curiae and Brief in Support of Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in Shultz v. United States, a case involving a constitutional challenge to the Bankruptcy Code’s means test, which bars certain individual debtors from seeking relief under chapter 7 and instead channels them to chapter 13 or denies them bankruptcy relief. The plaintiff-debtors in the case hail from Chattanooga and are represented by Thomas E. Ray of Samples, Jennings, Ray & Clem, PLLC. Tennessee, along with Georgia and Alabama, has one of the highest consumer bankruptcy filing rates in the country, and experts predict these rates to rise considerably in the current economic environment. In 2008, as of October, nationally, 880,076 non-business bankruptcies have been filed, eclipsing the total filings from all of 2007 by more than 50,000. In fact, October 2008 non-business bankruptcy filings totaled 106,266 – the first time monthly filings have topped 100,000 since the means test was enacted. 3L Walt Siedentopf worked with Prof. Kuney to help shape the case for Supreme Court review in the courts below.
STUDENTS
Student Bankruptcy Law Writing Competition
The Bankruptcy Litigation Committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute has announced its first annual ABI Bankruptcy Law Student Writing Competition. For details, click here. Prof. George Kuney is happy to meet with students wishing to discuss topics relating to section 363 sales and plans of reorganization.
IL Career Integration Program
More than half of the 1L class members have participated in the individual "Getting to Know You" career strategy sessions with the Career Center staff this month. As part of the Center's 1L Career Integration program, students are also attending small group workshops to learn how to use the most important career and job resources. Additional "Using Best Resources" workshops are scheduled for this week. "Getting to Know You" sessions will resume in January. Both opportunities can be scheduled after exams and before the University closes for the holiday. Sessions will also be offered in January. Check with the Career Center staff to sign up for these opportunities.
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.
CAREER CENTER
IL Career Integration Program
More than half of the 1L class members have participated in the individual "Getting to Know You" career strategy sessions with the Career Center staff this month. As part of the Center's 1L Career Integration program, students are also attending small group workshops to learn how to use the most important career and job resources. Additional "Using Best Resources" workshops are scheduled for this week. "Getting to Know You" sessions will resume in January. Both opportunities can be scheduled after exams and before the University closes for the holiday. Sessions will also be offered in January. Check with the Career Center staff to sign up for these opportunities