Southwestern to Build On-Campus Student Housing

Southwestern has announced plans to construct a new state-of-the-art student housing complex and anticipates breaking ground on the project in late December 2011 or early January 2012. Southwestern is known for its award-winning restoration and adaptive reuse of the renowned art deco Bullocks Wilshire landmark as the hub of its Wilshire Center campus.

The new $20 million facility will comprise 105,000 square feet of built space and will feature 133 dwelling units, a large open-air courtyard and related parking situated on 1.27 acres on the southwest corner of the campus at 7th Street between Westmoreland Avenue and Shatto Place. Over 67,000 square feet of living space will include 60 studio, 53 one-bedroom and 20 two-bedroom fully furnished units that can accommodate 153 students, the equivalent of about 40 percent of the school's typical entering class. The building design, which is expected to achieve a LEED Gold rating, includes four floors of housing above two levels of parking. The units will be available for occupancy in Fall 2013.

"This next very exciting phase of our campus expansion will further transform what is now a model urban law school campus into an even more inviting environment reminiscent of an inspiring, small liberal arts college setting," Dean Bryant G. Garth explained. "The 'living-learning village' created by on-campus housing is a natural extension of the student-centered approach that is the hallmark of Southwestern."

Los Angeles City Councilmember Herb Wesson commented, "Southwestern continues to be an important community partner, anchoring our city center and enhancing our neighborhoods by bringing jobs and new business opportunities. The success of this project stands as an example of what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together." Read more.

Trustees and project team members gathered at an informal groundbreaking in December where construction on the new student housing complex will commence.

Novelists Michael Connelly and Denise Hamilton to Judge First JLE Legal Fiction Contest

Michael Connelly and Denise Hamilton

Presenting a rare opportunity for writers to have their work read by internationally known best-selling authors, the Association of American Law Schools' Journal of Legal Education (JLE) and Southwestern have announced the first JLE Legal Fiction Contest. Submissions must be original short works of fiction related to law school or the practice of law, and winning entries will be published in a future issue of the JLE.

The panel of distinguished judges will include Michael Connelly, author of bestselling legal-themed novels such as The Lincoln Lawyer, The Brass Verdict, The Reversal and the newly released The Drop. His recent book, The Fifth Witness, featured a character called "Bullocks" who is a recent Southwestern graduate. In agreeing to participate as a judge, Connelly said, "I'm excited to be involved because it's been fun for me to include Southwestern in my novels. But I am also a reader and always looking for good storytellers. I think this should be interesting. I'm looking forward to what comes in." Connelly will be joined on the panel by author Denise Hamilton (Damage Control, The Last Embrace), writer Marshall Goldberg ("L.A. Law," "Paper Chase," "Newhart," "It's Gary Shandling's Show") and Charles Rosenberg (legal consultant to "Paper Chase," "L.A. Law," "The Practice" and "Boston Legal," and author of the recently released legal thriller Death on a High Floor).

The contest is open to lawyers and non-lawyers, academics and non-academics - anyone setting a fictitious story in a legal setting (law school, law firm, courtroom, legislature, judge's chambers, etc.) or focusing on a law-related character (lawyer, law professor, judicial clerk, etc.). According to Marshall Goldberg, "The long hours, the ethical conflicts and the differing notions of justice all force hard choices upon law students, practitioners, judges and academics - and these struggles can make powerful fiction." 

Submissions must be in prose form (no screenplays or scripts), under 5,000 words (approximately 20 typewritten pages) and submitted by March 15, 2012 (click here for full requirements). Entries will be reviewed anonymously and judged on originality, quality of writing and depth of character. The ten winners will be announced in June 2012, and their stories will be published in the Journal of Legal Education: The Fiction Issue in early 2013. Additionally, the ten winners and ten runner-up entries will be posted online. Authors will retain copyright ownership. More information on the JLE Legal Fiction Contest is posted online.

In applauding the creativity of the Journal of Legal Education editors at Southwestern in designing the competition and recruiting such an impressive panel of judges, Susan Prager, Executive Director of the Association of American Law Schools, said that she is "eager to see the first published pieces in the competition" and predicts that "these will prove of enduring interest and value." She added: "I only wonder if we will need to deliver more copies of the Journal to our member law schools!"

Assistant Dean Molly Selvin, the managing editor of the JLE and coordinator of the contest said, "In some quarters the legal world is considered stiff and colorless. The Journal of Legal Education and Southwestern believe this contest will help dispel that misimpression, and happily welcome all submissions."

EVENTS

Media and Entertainment Industry Leaders to Discuss Evolving Opportunities and Threats

The legal and business challenges and opportunities inherent in Reality Television programming, social media websites and the creation of music-centric media will be considered in Angels and Demons: Navigating Tricky Entertainment and Media Issues to Reach Legal Nirvana, the 9th Annual Entertainment and Media Law Conference presented by Southwestern's Biederman Institute and the Media Law Resource Center (MLRC). The conference will be held on Thursday, January 19 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.

Angels and Demons will present three discussion panels: "Exorcising Rights: Releasing the Demons in Reality Programming," "Social Media - Savior or Satan?" and "Sympathy for the Devil in Music." Speakers will include prominent entertainment attorneys and industry insiders from Endemol USA; Fox Entertainment Group; Hollywood Records; Los Angeles Times; NBCUniversal; Paramount Pictures; Bostwick & Jassy; Kulik, Gottesman, Mouton & Siegel; and Leopold, Petrich & Smith.

The event, offering four hours of CLE credit, is scheduled from 1:00 until 7:00 p.m. followed by a reception. Registration fees are $100 by January 6, $125 after January 6 (or at the door as space permits), and $25 for students. The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel is located at 1755 North Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Additional information and registration is available online. Questions may be directed to the Biederman Institute.

Mark Your Calendar!

The 21st Annual Julia Mason
Externship Open Forum

January 18 - 19, 2012
12:30 p.m., BW Central Hall

Contact the Externship Office with any questions.

---

The Southwestern Journal of International Law presents
Our Courts and the World:
Transnational Litigation
and Civil Procedure

Friday, February 3, 2012

Click here for complete details.

CAREER CORNER

The Career Services Office (CSO) will continue to offer a variety of helpful events in 2012, from resume writing to informative presentations by alumni from a variety of practice areas. Questions may be directed to the Career Services Office.

Summer Options and Opportunities

CSO will present an in-depth program featuring faculty panelists who will offer advice and answer questions about law school summer choices from a career planning perspective on Tuesday, January 10 at 12:30 p.m. in W511. Topics include summer school, summer abroad programs, externships, public interest and volunteer opportunities, research assistant and law clerk positions.

Public Interest Career Day Orientation

This orientation on Wednesday, January 11 at 12:30 and 5:00 p.m. in W311 is a MANDATORY review for participation guidelines, funding options and applicable hiring criteria. Public Interest Career Day will be held at UCLA on February 11, 2012. There will be lots of opportunities to interview with a variety of employers, including law firms, government offices and public interest organizations.

Resume and Cover Letter Drafting

Learn how to draft effective resumes and cover letters for legal employment, including presentation of qualifications, prior work experience, overall content, and legal format. This tutorial will be offered in W311 on two dates: Thursday, January 12 at 12:30 and 5:00 p.m. and Friday, January 20 at 12:30 p.m.

Locating and Applying to Law Firms

Don't know where to apply? Don't know how to figure out what employer/firm practices which area of law? Come to this workshop on Tuesday, January 24 at 12:30 and 5:00 p.m. in W311 and learn how to research employers and apply to them for jobs.

Off the Record with... Plaintiffs' Lawyers versus Defense Lawyers

What's the difference between representing a plaintiff and representing a defendant? Are there different skills sets or qualities needed? Do certain classes matter for one versus the other? Come participate in the CSO brownbag lunch series, "Off the Record with..." on Thursday, January 26 at 12:30 p.m. in the Salle Moderne (BW Fifth Floor). Bring your lunch (drinks and snacks will be provided) and chat with alums about various topics. Here is your chance to network with alumni and get some great advice from attorneys who were once in your position! Each session will start out with some general comments and group discussion. Then each attorney will move to a different part of the room, and students are encouraged to chat with each attorney in small group or one-on-one setting. At the end of each session, the group will come together again for some final, closing comments. This is a great way to hear about general career issues, listen to others' questions, and get your own questions answered.

Interviewing for Public Interest Career Day

Are you ready for Public Interest Career Day? Enhance your preparation with key interviewing techniques on Friday, February 10 at 12:30 p.m. inW311

Public Interest and Government Career Day

Last year, more than 100 organizations, government agencies and public interest law firms from around Southern California participated in this day-long event, which included informal table-talk, panel discussions, lunchtime discussions focusing on different substantive areas of practice, and formal interviews for summer and postgraduate positions. This year's event will take place on Saturday, February 11 at UCLA Law School.

Interviewing for Spring OCIP

Interviewing techniques are discussed in preparation for the Spring On-Campus Interview Program (OCIP). These informational sessions will be held on Thursday, February 16 at 12:30 and 5:00 p.m. in W311 to help prepare for these important interviews.

Spring OCIP

We'll bring the employers to you! First-year day (or equivalent), second-year (or equivalent) and third-year (or equivalent) students are eligible to participate in the 2012 Spring On-Campus Interview Program (OCIP), which will be held daily from Tuesday, February 21 until Friday March 2 in the CSO.

Entertainment Law Career Day

Hosted at Southwestern on Saturday, February 25, entertainment lawyers and representatives from the entertainment industry attend this event each year. Panel discussions from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. will focus on Sports Law, Intellectual Property Law and Entertainment Law in relation to the film, music and television industries. This is a great networking event where you can meet lawyers and learn more about what it means to be an "entertainment" lawyer.

Don't Miss Bison Networking Week

The SBA and Student Affairs Office will be sponsoring many events and activities throughout the week, Monday, February 6 - Thursday, February 9, and the CSO will be holding special events. Be sure to add the following important dates to your calendar:

Bar Association Fair, Wednesday, February 8 at 12:00 p.m., Promenade
Come meet and network with practicing attorneys on the Promenade and learn about the benefits of joining a Bar Association. This is a great way to find out more about these organizations and network with lawyers. These associations (or "clubs") offer student scholarships, mentor programs, and networking mixers/events. The In-N-Out Trucks will be on campus, and if you talk to enough attorneys, you can get FREE burgers!

Networking Panel, Thursday, February 9 at 12:30 p.m.,W311
Before you attend the Alumni Resource Network Reception, attend the Networking Panel and find out how to "network." Can you go up to someone and start a conversation? How can you break into a conversation already in progress? How do you transition out of a conversation that is going nowhere? Come learn from networking experts on "how to work the room!" then test your newly acquired skills at the Alumni Resource Network Reception.

Alumni Resource Network Reception, Thursday, February 9, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., Off Campus Location TBA
Sponsored by the Alumni Association and the Institutional Advancement Office, take advantage of your is your chance to network with alumni from many different practice areas and types.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

A Dozen Questions for Professor Ira Shafiroff

Q: After graduating from Brooklyn College, what brought you to California?
A: I wanted to be a lawyer from the time that I was in high school. My uncle, a sole practitioner in New York City, was a man of the highest integrity. He was a true role model of what a lawyer should be. It was largely because of him that I wanted to be a lawyer. Well, my LSAT score was not stellar - don't ask me the score! - so I needed to go to a school that could see beyond a three hour exam. A few schools did. Southwestern was one of them. I was working for the IRS in New York, so I transferred to Los Angeles, left Brooklyn, entered Southwestern's evening program - and it couldn't have worked out better for me.

Q: What was your fondest memory as an evening student at Southwestern?
A: Soon after I came here, I was speaking one night with Professor Dean Boyack - a wonderful man, an alum himself, who taught here for many years - and I learned that there were law schools in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s that had had a history of discrimination against Jews, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. Of course, this odious discrimination no longer exists and these schools have since even apologized for this past behavior, which is fine, obviously. Importantly, however, Southwestern never did such things. We have never discriminated against any person or group based on immutable characteristics. From the moment that I learned about our history, I knew I had come to the right place. It was more than just a school to me. That is my fondest memory - one that I will always have.

Q: What was the most demanding aspect of establishing and running your own estate and tax law firm?
A: The most demanding aspect of starting a solo practice is one, getting clients, and two, dealing with a steep learning curve. Nonetheless, I managed to do both - and pay all the bills, too! Well after my practice was up and running, my mother told me, "You had more guts than brains!" I think she was right. Still, I think solo practice is an option that all law school graduates should at least consider. It is doable and it is so rewarding, in so many ways.

Q: What is the most important information you provide during your annual seminar on how to establish a successful solo practice?
A: How to get clients! Without clients, a solo practitioner - or a firm of any size - is obviously doomed. To be a successful sole practitioner, however, you not only have to get clients, but you also have to provide competent service at a fair price. If you do not do competent work at a fair price, you will soon lose any clients that you have. Of course, after a while, by providing competent legal service at a fair price, you will get a solid reputation and get even more clients. There used to be an expression that has fallen out of use: "Deliver more than what you promise." If a newly minted lawyer does that, he or she will ultimately build a good client base.

Q: Why did you transition from private practice to teaching?
A: Solo practice was the most satisfying work that I have ever done, but teaching is simply not work. It is just a most thoroughly enjoyable part of my life. I have never gone to bed on a Sunday night saying, "Darn, I have to go to work tomorrow." I have often said that if I were independently wealthy, I would still do what I do - teach.

Q: What are some of the most significant changes you've seen at Southwestern in recent years?
A: That's a question, which, alone, could take hours to answer! First is Dean Bryant Garth's coming to Southwestern. In the short time that Dean Garth has led Southwestern, we have seen needed changes in the first year curriculum. We have created the Children's Rights, Immigration Law, and Street Law Clinics. Scholarship money has been greatly increased. We have added excellent faculty, expanded academic support, and created joint programs with The Drucker Graduate School of Management. We also have seen the creation of an online L.L.M. program; expansion of the Donald E. Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute; and most recently, the beginning of construction for student housing. Our reputation is growing steadily. This has been an amazing time for Southwestern.

Q: What is the most important piece of advice you give to your students?
A: The most important advice is, prepare, prepare, and prepare. To that I add, preparation does not mean reading a canned brief or gazing at a commercial outline. This is passive learning, which is so ineffective. I tell my students that the most effective type of learning is active learning: reading and briefing cases, going to class and participating by answering questions and taking selective notes, putting together a course outline, and doing many, many practice exams. Thorough preparation is what makes for a successful law school student, a successful bar applicant, and, eventually, a successful lawyer. Have you ever read about the prodigies who perform in Carnegie Hall? They are incredibly gifted - and they all spend countless hours preparing for their concerts. As the book, Outliers, makes clear: Do something 10,000 times and you are an expert. The key to success, whatever one wants to succeed at, is thorough preparation.

Q: Which is your favorite course to teach and why?
A: That's like asking parents which among their four children is their favorite! Property is wonderful because it is a pillar of the common law, and I get to work with 1Ls. Wills and Trusts is tremendous because each case we read, in some way, is about humanity: a person planning for his or her demise, something we all will experience. Trial of Jesus Seminar explores the most important trial in history, a trial that actually changes the history of the world. Selected Topics in American Law is seemingly mundane relative to all of this, but in some respects, it also is the most important: helping students make the California bar exam a one-time experience. Each of these courses is my favorite in its own special way.

Q: What is the most unique aspect of your course Selected Topics in American Law?
A: Teaching students to pass the California bar exam on the first attempt is its uniqueness. That is Selected Topics raison d'etre. In Selected Topics, we don't discuss how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. There are no great policy discussions. Nor do we even pretend to use the Socratic Method - we have no cases to read in the class. Rather, our focus is writing to pass the bar's essay and performance questions, while also building up a core of knowledge to pass the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) portion. It is that "simple." I taught the first section in Fall 2008. Since Fall 2009, we have added more sections so that we now have Day, Evening and SCALE sections. We all owe a heartfelt thanks to Professors Christopher Cameron, Bridgette de Gyarfas, Joerg Knipprath, and Dennis Yokoyama for teaching Selected Topics and making all these sections possible.

Q: How do you help students prepare for the bar exam?
A: Beyond teaching students how to write an answer that is a clear pass, I also instill in them the confidence they need to pass. Passing the bar exam requires having certain writing skills and a core of knowledge. However, there is also an emotional or psychological component: having the confidence to know that this is a very doable exam. I make it clear that question for question, law school is much harder than the bar exam. Simultaneously, though, I also tell students in Selected Topics that they have to have a laser-like focus in the class and during bar review: to do all the assignments without exception. In short, I teach skills so that they can be confident of passing the first time, but impress upon them that they cannot be reckless and not do the required work.

Q: What is the focus of your current scholarship?
A: After years of writing on federal tax procedure and California wills and trusts, I have now turned to researching and writing about important trials in history involving Jews. I am not writing an article or book, however; rather, I have chosen the medium of film. I know, I know. Another screenwriter from LA! Be that as it may, I am now finishing off my first screenplay - I only have to do it 9,999 more times before I am an expert - which is about the trial of Jesus. Based on my understanding of the Gospel accounts and knowledge of Jewish and Roman law, I present a picture quite different from the traditional view of what happened and why. After I finish this project - and see if it is good enough to be sold - I have several other projects in mind.

Q: If you knew you could not fail what would you do?
A: Be a law school professor who also writes screenplays!

FACULTY ACTIVITIES

• UNDERSTANDING WHITE COLLAR CRIME, 3rd ed. (LexisNexis Publishing, 2011)

• Re-elected Chair, Board of Governors, Queen Margaret's School, Duncan, British Columbia, Canada

• Panel Presentation, "Law School Clinics: Education and Access," 19th Annual Rothgerber Conference, Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law, University of Colorado Law School, Denver, CO
• Panel Presentation, "Rethinking the Manifestation Determination Review Process: The Need for Meaningful Procedural Safeguards," Emerging Scholars Conference: Exploring Difference: Disability and Diversity in Education, Law, and Society, Chapman University, Orange, CA
• Speaker, "Remedies: Exploring the Options, Scope and Source of an Administrative Law Judge's Authority," 2011 California Special Education Hearing Officer and Mediation Training, Sacramento, CA

- CLICK HERE FOR MORE FACULTY ACTIVITIES -

TRUSTEES

Thomas Hoberman '75 Named Chair of Southwestern's Board of Trustees

Thomas Hoberman '75, a prominent entertainment attorney, active alumnus and benefactor of Southwestern, has been elected Chair of the law school's Board of Trustees. Mr. Hoberman first joined the Board in 2002, and prior to his appointment at the December 7, 2011 Board meeting, he served as Vice-Chair. He succeeds Dennis Codon '77, who served as board chair for 7 years.
 
"We are extremely fortunate to have an alum and chair with such a great combination of personality, professional stature, and superb judgment," Dean Garth said. "Tom has been instrumental in championing the growth and development of our faculty, programs and partnerships during his decade on the board and will be a wonderful leader as we embark on important new initiatives and the next phase of our campus expansion."
 
A partner in the firm of Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller, L.L.P. in Beverly Hills, Mr. Hoberman practices transactional entertainment law, focused on the representation of actors, writers, producers and directors primarily in the motion picture and television media along with production companies in the reality and long-form area and many top executives in the entertainment field. He also devotes a substantial amount of his time to issues concerning intellectual property, name, likeness and branding. Read more.

FACULTY

James Camp Joins Southwestern as New Assistant Dean for Property Administration and Development

James C. Camp, a partner in the firm of McKenna, Long & Aldridge LLP, has been named as Assistant Dean for Property Administration and Development, a new post at Southwestern. In this role, Dean Camp will be responsible for Southwestern's real estate planning and development along with related business functions such as tax assessment, insurance and student housing leasing. He will also serve on the adjunct faculty.

Dean Camp has had a long affiliation with Southwestern as the law school's attorney for property related issues since 1988. According to Dean Bryant Garth, "The beginning of the construction of student housing marks the first step in a major transformation of Southwestern's campus. As our real estate lawyer and key advisor, Jim Camp has played a vital role in getting us to this stage. We are very fortunate to be able to bring him to Southwestern full time to guide us through the next steps and ensure that we provide the best possible campus environment for our students and faculty."

Dean Camp has been instrumental in Southwestern's land acquisition and development program, including the purchase of the Bullocks Wilshire Building in 1994 and the subsequent adaptive re-use of the landmark. He also represented the law school during the five-year negotiation with the Los Angeles City Council to permanently vacate the block of Westmoreland Avenue between 7th Street and Wilshire Boulevard that bisects the law school campus. Read more.

Celebrating Professor Kushner

The Southwestern faculty gathered at a special luncheon in honor of Professor James Kushner, who has become Professor Emeritus in Residence after more than 36 years at the law school.

Southwestern Welcomes New Adjunct Faculty

A number of practitioners and experts in a variety of fields have joined Southwestern's adjunct faculty for the remainder of the 2011-2012 academic year. Read more.

STUDENTS

TAHP Team Wins National Criminal Trial Advocacy Competition

From left: Enrique Rodriguez, Ashley Fetyko Smolic, J.B. Twomey and Anet Badali (photo by Keith Rosenthal)

Two Trial Advocacy Honors Program (TAHP) teams from Southwestern performed exceptionally well at the California Association of Criminal Justice's (CACJ) National Criminal Trial Advocacy Competition in early November. The team of Anet Badali, Enrique Rodriguez, Ashley Fetyko Smolic and J.B. Twomey won the competition while the team of Katherine Bruce, Jahmy Graham, Nestor Lopez and Michael Morse received one of four Honorable Mentions for their outstanding advocacy skills.

"Receiving the Best Advocate award was such an incredibly proud moment," Badali said. "I felt humbled to be acknowledged among such outstanding advocates from all across the nation. Winning the National Championship as well as this award was a proud moment not only for our team, but for the entire Trial Advocacy Honors Program. It was another testament of how successful Southwestern's TAHP is in preparing advocates for every aspect of competition."

Twenty-four participating teams represented law schools across the nation at the San Francisco competition. Competing law schools included Brooklyn Law School, California Western School of Law, Chapman University School of Law, Charlotte School of Law, Florida State University College of Law, U.C. Hastings College of the Law and Santa Clara University School of Law. They had to prosecute and defend a criminal case that involved charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Rodriguez, who argued with Badali for the defense, said the team's win was especially sweet because "it was a true honor to be considered the best team among a group of very talented advocates."

Twomey, who also serves as the Chair of TAHP's Board of Governors, explained that the teams received the case file in mid-September. It contained a statement of the case, statements of witnesses, medical records, exhibits, the governing law and the competition rules. Southwestern's team advocates wrote and prepared all their trial materials. Both teams practiced three times a week, with some sessions lasting more than five hours. "We really came together as a team," Twomey said. "We encouraged each other continuously, challenged each other intellectually and prepared thoroughly. It was such a great feeling to win the CACJ National Championship."

TAHP Captures First and Third Places at Regional Competition

(from left) Team coach Andrew Pongrazc '08, Jessica Balady, Mathew Rudes, Elliot Jung, Andrea Friedman and team coach Jennifer Turner '07

At the American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Eighth Annual Law Student Trial Advocacy Regional Competition, the Trial Advocacy Honors Program (TAHP) team of Jessica Balady, Andrea Friedman, Elliot Jung and Mathew Rudes took First Place, and the team of Michael Bauer, Dora Clements, Michelle Henderson and Kunal Jain finished in Third Place.

"Winning the competition was great," Jung said. "But, what I am most proud of is the fact that two Southwestern teams placed first and third. In fact, when they announced the four teams that advanced to the semifinals, we learned that Southwestern had ranked first and second out of the preliminary rounds. TAHP is on fire right now."

Thirteen teams from the region, including those from Chapman, Pepperdine, Thomas Jefferson, University of Colorado, University of LaVerne and University of San Diego law schools, met in Los Angeles to argue a case that involved The Family and Medical Leave Act. The winning team defeated teams from the University of La Verne in the Semifinal Round and Pepperdine in the Final Round.

Balady credits team coaches Jennifer Turner '07 and Andrew Pongrazc '08 for their result, "Our coaches are the reason we won," she said. "It was their support and encouragement that gave us the tools we needed to help us advance to the final round." The ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law hosts eight separate regional competitions. Southwestern's winning team, as well as the first place team from each region, will compete in the national competition at the end of January 2012, in Miami, Florida.

Moot Court Teams Reach Semifinals in National and Regional Competitions

Southwestern's Moot Court Honors Program recently sent two teams to national competitions. At the Wechsler First Amendment Competition in Washington D.C., the team of Isaiah Costas-Barofsky, Sabrina Jangda and Chris Knipprath tackled a question about the First Amendment right to protest and whether a state's political intervention ban was constitutional. They advanced through the competition together and emerged as Semifinalists. Additionally, Costas-Barofsky brought back the award for Second Place Oralist. According to the team's advisor, Professor Joerg Knipprath, their strong showing is "further testimony to the high quality of Southwestern's Moot Court program and gets the year off to a good start."

The Southwestern team of Crystal Chen, Grace Clements and Shannon Wainwright traveled to San Diego to compete in the Regional Rounds of the 62nd Annual National Moot Court Competition. This team battled over the First Amendment rights of high school students and spoliation of evidence. This team also advanced through the competition, defeating teams from Thomas Jefferson, UCLA and Chapman University law schools, and finished a very close round as Semifinalists, losing only by a single point to the University of San Diego School of Law. The team also earned Fourth Place Brief and Clements was the Fourth Place Oralist.

Graduate Class Gift Campaign Continues

Members of the 2012 graduating class are continuing with the program established last year to support students following in their footsteps. The Graduate Class Gift (GCG) is a great way for those embarking on the next stage of their legal career to make a gift to Southwestern in honor of their graduation, with proceeds benefitting Public Interest Grants (unless otherwise specified). Fourth-year evening student Kate Lawrence developed the program in 2010 with Joan Bautista, Southwestern's Director of Institutional Advancement.

"This program is an excellent way to build on school pride and get students to start thinking about giving back during their last year of law school," said Lawrence, who previously served as Associate Director of Reunion Giving at her alma mater, Scripps College. "This is so important because statistics show that giving during that first year (after finishing school) turns it into a habit. Contributing to the Graduate Class Gift is a way to start the appreciation right now."

Last year, the GCG Committee attained 49 percent participation and raised $14,000. The GCG Committee is aiming to get 100% of the graduating class to make a gift before Commencement in May - and any students (no matter what year they are in) who make a gift of $100 have the opportunity to join the Dean's Circle at the Young Leader level. The Dean's Circle is normally reserved for donors who make gifts of $1,000 or more annually, but as Young Leaders, those students will have access to exclusive Dean's Circle networking events during the coming year. Other gift levels include the Graduate Year level (minimum gift of $20.12), and the Participation level (minimum gift of $1.00).

(from left) Jane Cho '12, Jessica Verano '12, Judith L. Jacobs '94 and Kate Lawrence '12 at the recent Public Interest Law Week Casino Night

"I joined GCG because I want to give back to the school," Jessica Verano '12, Co-Chair of the 2012 Graduate Class Gift Campaign, said. "In addition, I want to encourage my fellow students and future alumni to also give back to the school. Further, what our class decides to give sets the tradition for future alums - I want to make sure we continue a tradition of giving."

A gift at any level is important and makes a difference. In fact, the true focus and goal of the Graduate Class Gift is participation. Alumna Judith L. Jacobs '94 has once again generously offered a $10,000 matching gift - she will match any donation from a graduating student (even $1) up to $10,000 (if a student decides to join at the Young Leader level, she will match it with $200). Read more.

HISTORY CORNER

Southwestern's Centennial presents an opportunity to explore some of the stories of the law school's remarkable graduates. Two immigrants who made outstanding contributions Southwestern and the legal profession, Rosalind Goodrich Bates '26 and Hilario Camino Moncado '28, reflect the rich diversity of Southwestern's alumni.

Rosalind Goodrich Bates '26

As early as the 1920s, Southwestern alumna Rosalind Goodrich Bates '26 was making her mark as a trailblazer and playing a prominent role in the advancement of women and minorities in the legal profession. While a law student, she was a founder of Iota Tau Tau, which eventually became one of the largest national legal sororities in the country. She later became the first woman to serve on the Southwestern Alumni Association Board of Directors. A trial lawyer who also practiced international law, Ms. Bates served as a Judge Pro Tem in the Los Angeles Superior Court. She was a member of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL), serving on the Executive Board as a delegate from California, as editor of the National Women Lawyers' Journal and as chair of the organization's annual convention. She was also editor of the legal publications La Abogada (the Female Lawyer) and Lawyers Club Docket. As a founding member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Ms. Bates served as the United States representative to the 1944 convening meeting in Mexico City. She was also president of the California Business Women's Council and the Los Angeles Business Women's Council. Originally from El Salvador, Ms. Bates was featured in the 2010 ABA publication, How Women of Color Can Thrive within the Practice of Law, and was included in the Hispanic National Bar Association Commission on Latinas in the Profession, "Las Primeras" project.

Hilario Camino Moncado '28

Hilario Moncado '28 used his Southwestern legal education to give back to his fellow Filipinos both in the United States and his homeland. Born in a rural, impoverished area of the Philippines, he moved to Hawaii at age 15 to work on a sugar cane plantation and eventually came to the mainland. While he was a student at Southwestern, Mr. Moncado was a reporter for the student newspaper The Bison and helped establish the student group, Filipino Circle of Southwestern University. Following graduation, he served as historian of the Southwestern alumni association and was editor of the Alumni Reporter newsletter. In 1925 in Los Angeles, Hilario founded the Filipino Federation of America, a mutual aid society for Filipino immigrants. It was incorporated in California in 1927, and by 1930, the organization had 22 branches (18 in California, two in Hawaii and two in the Philippines). Following his return to the Philippines, Mr. Concado was elected as a delegate from Cebu to serve in the Philippine Constitutional Convention in 1934, and in the mid-1930s, he founded the Filipino Crusaders World Army.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

"W.A.Y." - Who Are You & Why Are You here?

This month - Tyrrell Dupey, Third-Year Day Program
Sports and the arts have always captured Tyrrell Dupey's interest. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, she swam competitively as a child as well as during her first year at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she earned a bachelor's degree in music business. While in college, Dupey applied for a sports internship because it would give her an opportunity to work in an environment that dealt with some issues that are similar to those in the music business. She graduated early, turning her internship with the St. Paul Saints minor league baseball team into a full time job. Her position as a sales and marketing assistant for the organization was invaluable because it gave her the chance to learn about everything from ball park signage and newspaper ads to how trade deals are put together."During the 14 months I was with the Saints, I realized it was something I really loved. It reaffirmed my passion for sports," she said.

Dupey began her legal education at another law school in California, but after attending the annual Entertainment Law Career Day at Southwestern to learn more about sports law, she realized that Southwestern offered more opportunities related to her interests. Dupey explained, "I met Adjunct Professor Vared Yakovee. As one of the conference panelists, she encouraged attendees to join the Sports Lawyers Association, which I did. I attended that organization's annual conference, and it got me thinking about my career goals for the legal profession. I felt Southwestern would provide more chances for me to pursue this path and applied to transfer."

At Southwestern, Dupey wasted no time getting involved. Last February, she volunteered at Southwestern's Amateur Sports Law Symposium. She is currently co-president of the Entertainment and Sports Law Society and helps produce the group's events. She also serves as the Supervising Student Editor of the Journal of International Media and Entertainment Law and enjoys working with the Journal's Supervising Editor, Professor Michael Epstein. Dupey interned at NuMedia Studios from January to May, and then turned it into an externship from May to August. "At that job, I did all things litigation, especially research, and I was able to participate in a mediation."

Professor Dave Fagundes, who taught Dupey's Copyright course, told her about another opportunity to work for a sports attorney. This led to her current position as legal clerk for Southwestern alumna Trisha Newman '04, a solo practitioner who also provides legal counsel for the L.A. Derby Dolls, a female roller derby league. Dupey also enjoyed Professor Yakovee's Amateur Sports Law Class and is currently working with her to organize an event on women in sports law.

All of these experiences continue to shape the direction Dupey wants to pursue in her career. "It's funny - prior to law school, I loved baseball and wanted to work on the players' side in agency and representation," she said. "Now that I am a law student, I've realized that might not be for me. I'm open to anything in sports law. I would like something that has a business focus, too." As is often the case with transplants from colder climates, Dupey adores the Southern California weather and the diversity of its scenery and activities. But more importantly, she loves the work she's doing at Southwestern. "Transferring law schools was one of the smartest decisions I ever made," she said. "The networking I've been able to do here has been amazing."

AROUND CAMPUS

Southwestern Hosts Hearings on California's Civil Justice Crisis

"We need to stop chasing funding and return to chasing justice" - a comment by Paul Freese, Director of Litigation at Public Counsel - summed up the sentiment at a recent hearing held at Southwestern as part of a four-part series on California's Civil Justice Crisis. The hearings were organized in response to cuts in funding to both the courts and legal services which imperil access to basic life necessities, including housing, education, and social services for many members of the California community.

Co-sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce, the State Bar of California, the California Commission on Access to Justice, and organized by OneJustice, the Hearings on California's Civil Justice Crisis featured judicial officers, pro bono firm attorneys, public interest attorneys, professors and advocates presenting testimony to demonstrate the devastating effects of recent deep cuts in court funding and chronic underfunding of legal assistance on every segment of society from low-income individuals to major corporations. Clients who received services from various legal aid agencies also shared their personal stories putting a face on the need for quality pro bono or low cost legal representation.

Hon. Lee Edmon, Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, provided opening remarks. The December 2 hearing at Southwestern was presided over by Senator Joe Dunn (Ret.), Executive Director, The State Bar of California; Hon. Mike Feuer, Chair, California Assembly Judiciary Committee; Dean Deanell Reece Tacha, Pepperdine University School of Law; Joanne Caruso, Partner, Baker & Hostetler LLP; and Dean Bryant Garth. Witnesses included: David Lash, Managing Counsel of Public Interest and Pro Bono Services, O'Melveny & Meyers LLP; Hon. Terry Friedman, Member, Judicial Council of California and former President, California Judges Association; Professor Gary Blasi, UCLA School of Law and Board Member, Inner City Law Center; Joey Cox, Intervention, Prevention and Support Services Director, Kings Community Action Organization; Cristin Zeisler, Partner and Director of Pro Bono Services, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP; and  Hon. Margaret Henry, Supervising Judge, Dependency Court, Los Angeles Superior Court.

Law Library Hours for December 2011 and January 2012

Winter Break

December 19: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
December 20-23: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
December 24 - January 2: CLOSED

January Intersession - January 3 - 8, 2012

Tuesday - Thursday: 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Regular library hours resume on Monday, January 9.

New Staff

Sara Alongi, Admissions Assistant, graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in Anthropology and minor in Sociology. She completed her M.A. in English at San Francisco State University. Sara previously worked as an Education Project Coordinator for The Women's Building, Enrichment Teacher for Learning Bee, ESL Instructor for the Advance English Academy and Technical Writer for Neutrogena.

Cecelia Sylvia, Student Services Assistant, Dean of Students and Diversity Affairs Office, received her B.A. in Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino. Prior to joining Southwestern, she worked at Chaffey College as a tutor for the Writing Center and as an apprentice for the Gateways to Teaching Office.

Promotions

The following promotions reflect these staff members' significant contributions to the growth and development of Southwestern through their dedication, hard work and professionalism:

• Arline Asplund, Director of Administrative Services
• Mario Brooks, Director of Library Computer Services
• Linda Bush, Faculty Services Associate
• Berthania Carswell, Administrative Services Office Coordinator
• Ivonne Castillo, Public Affairs Office Coordinator
• Jennifer Chang, Payroll Supervisor/Benefits Clerk/Junior Accountant
• Nicole Duntz, Dean's Office Coordinator
• Katrina Garcia, Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer
• Queli Go, Network Services Administrator
• Kelly Greer, Associate Director of Admissions
• Gregg Hinton, Faculty Services Associate
• Linda Huynh, Academic Affairs Office Coordinator
• Sean Kao, Director of Network Services
• Eric Kula, Institutional Advancement Database Coordinator
• Calvin Lowery, Diversity Affairs Associate
• Tajira McCoy, Senior Admissions Counselor
• Sandra Montgomery, Faculty Services Associate
• Ayumi Nakamoto, Senior Associate Director of Registration and Academic Records
• Connie Ng, Law Library Computer Services Associate
• Paulette Palafox, Senior Associate Director of Admissions and Outreach Initiatives
• Elizabeth Reinhardt, Senior Associate Director of Public Affairs
• Melodie Rivers, SCALE Office Coordinator
• Erin Santos, Faculty Services Associate
• Sylvia Villalpando, Academic Administration Manager
• Alma Vitela, Registration and Academic Records Office Coordinator
• Bianca Yoosefian, Law Library Computer Services Associate
• Michael Zuniga, Registration and Academic Records Associate

ESSAYS & SCHOLARSHIPS