The Informant
March 31, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UT College of Law site for TBA 4 ALL Day
program this Saturday
The UT College of Law will be the site of a Tennessee Bar Association 4 ALL Public Service Day Project this Saturday, April 4. On that day attorneys across Tennessee are donating their time and talents to bring access to justice to those in need.
The TBA Young Lawyers Division, TBA Leadership Law, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Knoxville Bar Association, KBA Barristers, and the UT College of Law will host a legal clinic Saturday. At the clinic, members of the community received free legal consultation from area attorneys and were also able to attend informative classes regarding specific areas of the law, including consumer rights.
The organizations have also teamed up to accept the "Meet the Need Challenge" in Knox County, a statewide challenge for lawyers to take all unclaimed pro bono cases from legal services agencies, leaving no unclaimed cases on 4/4.
"The law school has partnered with these groups to help in the effort to provide legal services on April 4,” said UT Prof. Penny White. “Not only did UT Pro Bono recruit volunteers from the entire law school, we also encouraged the Interviewing and Counseling classes in the advocacy curriculum to participate in interviewing potential clients who will seek legal aid on April 4. It is a wonderful example of how law schools can not only talk about a life-long professional commitment to pro bono but also demonstrate it."
Annual Blackshear scholarship banquet Saturday
Judge Camille R. McMullen, a 1996 alumna of the UT College of Law, will speak at the ninth annual Julian Blackshear Scholarship Banquet Saturday, April 4 beginning at 6 p.m. at the UT Visitors Center. Tickets are available through the Development Office. MORE
Trademark team named Second-Best Oralists
UT's Trademark Moot Court team of Chris Collins, Sally Goade, and Patrick Hawley competed in the nationals finals of the Saul Lefkowitz Competition in Washington, DC, in the courtrooms of the Federal Circuit Court March 21. The team argued exceptionally well and was named the competition's Second-Best Oralist team. McGeorge School of Law took first place in both the oralist and overall team competitions.
Admissions hosts first Law Preview Day
More than 50 prospective students attended the College's first law Preview Day '09 Friday, March 17. After a welcome from Dean Doug Blaze (above) the students heard from current UT law students and faculty about what life is like here. A second Law Preview Day will be held May 22.
Annual Law Dog Day at Victor Ashe Park
This coming Sunday, April 5, from 2 until 4 p.m. the Animal Law Project and the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund will host the annual Law Dog Day at Victor Ashe Park (4901 Bradshaw Road). Put down the books and give your pooch(es) a chance to run around with other law dogs in Victor Ashe Park’s off-leash dog park. Questions? Email aarmbrus@utk.edu.
Collection for the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley
Next week (April 5 – 10), the Animal Law Project and the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund will collect items to donate to the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley (Knoxville’s no-kill shelter). In these tough times, the Humane Society desperately needs the following: Purina brand “kitten chow,” Purina brand “dog” and “cat” chow, Purina brand “puppy chow” (beef or chicken flavor only), bath size terry cloth towels (No sheets or blankets), puppy toys and chews (not vinyl or latex), batteries (9 volt, AA, AAA), Copy paper (8.5 x 11). We will have a donation box at Law Dog Day (Sunday 5th). Additionally, the box will sit outside the Records Office all week.
UT represented at Nashville conference
The UT College of Law was well represented at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Regional Conference in Nashville last Friday and Saturday, March 27 - 28. Students attending were Mari Ayogi, Sukhyun Byun, Amit Patel, Mili Shah, Xiang Wu and Lin Ye. Karen Britton and alumnus Melvin Malone spoke on a panel on the topic of Career Mapping for Lawyers. Waller Lansden law firm hosted the event.
Phi Alpha Delta hosts reception for Justice Lee April 15
Please join Phi Alpha Delta for a reception honoring the newest Tennessee Supreme Court Justice, Sharon Lee. The McReynolds Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta is hosting a reception in honor of Justice Lee April 15 from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at Calhoun's by the River. Faculty, including Dean Doug Blaze, as well as attorneys and judges in town are expected to be in attendance. Admission is free for students and faculty. A table will be in the Commons through this Thursday, April 2, to sign students and faculty up to reserve their place for this event. Contact Sachin Kori at sachin.kori@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Chili Cook-Off raises $700 for YWCA Victim’s Advocacy
Law Women thanks all of the Chili Cook-Off Teams and the College of Law community for supporting the Annual Law Women Chili Cook-Off. Law Women raised over $700 to benefit The YWCA Victim's Advocacy Program. Thank you for helping Law Women contribute to the YWCA's goals of providing comprehensive victim support including education, safety, and crisis intervention and addressing related health issues for women and their children who are affected by domestic violence.
Environmental Law Organization Speaker
On Wednesday, April 1, from noon until 1p.m. in Room 132, Sam Evans will present on his 750-mile Appalachian bike trip to Washington, D.C. in protest of mountaintop removal coal mining. Sam's trip blog is at http://lookoutdoornews.com/voices/past_rides/. Tomato Head lunch will be provided.
Seton Hall faculty member to speak on Same-Sex Marriage site controversy
April 8, at 12 p.m. as part of the Speaker Series, Professor Marc Poirier of Seton Hall School of Law will speak on "Ocean Grove versus Ocean Grove: Property, Community, and the Where of a Same-Sex Civil Union Ceremony." The talk centers on an ongoing controversy in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, over whether a same-sex couple can rely on the state's Law Against Discrimination to compel the rental of a beachfront pavilion for their civil union ceremony. The owner of the pavilion is the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, although the Association has granted an easement to the town of Ocean Grove in order to allow public access to the beach. At the time of the request for rental, the Association rented out the pavilion for weddings on a regular basis. It refused to rent to the couple, however, because the Association is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, which while affirming the value of homosexual persons prohibits the use of church buildings for same-sex union ceremonies. The pavilion is not a church building, though it is often used for religious purposes; and the Association has formally made the pavilion available to the public for recreational use. The state recently found probable cause of a violation of the state law on public accommodations, so an administrative hearing is very likely. The case obviously sits at more than one intersection in the law. Not only does it raise the issue of gay rights in general (and the right to marry in particular), but it also implicates church and state and numerous property issues. Professor Poirier's talk will be followed by a panel discussion with College of Law faculty members. Please save the date and plan to attend.
VITA program swinging into action
Tax season is here, and that means it's time for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. VITA is a program, sponsored by both the IRS and UT Pro Bono, whose mission is to provide free tax services for UT students, faculty, and staff, as well as low- to moderate- income individuals and families. This year, VITA will be taking place Monday-Wednesday, 4-7 p.m., in the Student Organization Office on the third floor (Room 302). VITA will also be hosting a special International Night on Tuesdays for international students and friends (U.S. citizens can come on any night). Please be sure to bring a valid photo ID, your Social Security card, and all relevant tax documents (W-2, 1099, etc.). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Roman Hankins (rhankins@utk.edu) or Rachel Levinson (rlevinso@utk.edu).
FACULTY
From the Associate Dean for Faculty Development
Prof. Schaefer article in Maryland Law Review
Prof. Paula Schaefer's article "Inadvertent Disclosure in 2009 and Beyond: The Lingering Need to Revise Professional Conduct Rules" will be published in Volume 69 of the Maryland Law Review.
Prof. Rivkin presentation to journalists
Prof. Dean Rivkin made a presentation to a Conference on Environmental Journalism sponsored by East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists March 27. His topic was "Covering Environmental Law & Policy."
Prof. Long conference participator at American University
Prof. Alex Long recently participated in a conference at the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, DC entitled "Assisting Law Students with Disabilities in the 21st Century: A New Horizon" Professor Long moderated a panel that discussed what the new ADA Amendments Act of 2008 might mean for law schools and law students with disabilities. Other panelists included the president of the National Conference of Bar Examiners and the president of the American Association for People with Disabilities.
STUDENTS
The International Law Society is coming back to UT Law
Thinking about working or studying abroad?
Interested in finding out about the upper level classes in international law currently offered at UT Law? Heard about the Jessup Moot Court Competition but don't know what it is? Simply interested in international affairs and/or wondering how you might be able to use your law degree to make a difference in the world? Interested in leadership opportunities in a newly-revived student organization? The International law Society will hold and interest meeting Wednesday, April 1, during the free hour in Room 136. If you are unable to attend the meeting, but are interested in finding out more about joining the organization, please email Hannah Lowe at hlowe6@utk.edu.
2009 OUTlaw Conference
The 2009 OUTlaw Conference will be held April 3-4 at Washington University School of Law. Details
FCBA Student writing competition
The Federal Circuit Bar Association announces the 2009 George Hutchinson Writing Competition on a topic directed to a subject within the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Deadline for submissions is June 26, 2009. MORE
LEWIS CAREER CENTER
-- Judicial Clerkship Interest Meeting for 1, 2, and 3Ls, Tuesday, March 31, 12-12:50 p.m., Room 135.
-- "Work/Life balance: Tipping the Scales Your Way," Career Center and Law Women program, Thursday, April 2, 12-12:50 p.m., Room 132.