STUDENTS

Southwestern's Moot Court Team Succeeds Against National and International Competitors

Southwestern's team of Nanette Reed, Edward Wiley and Steve Heyn returned triumphant from the Tenth Annual Stetson International Moot Court Competition. The 60 participating teams competed in two phases: a Regional (National) qualifying round against other U.S. law schools and International finals, against top teams from the U.K., Australia, and India. The Southwestern team brought home Second Place Team (Finalist), Second Place Brief/Memorial and Third Place Individual Oralist (Reed) awards in the Regional Round, and First (Wiley) and Second (Reed) Individual Oralist awards and Quarterfinalist team in the International Round. Read more.

Southwestern Launches New Public Interest Program

Students Jonathan Brophy and Jennifer Ollington, coordinators of the new public interest project, GRAP

Tis the Season of Giving

In this season of giving, the student organizations at Southwestern are finding ways to help others. The Latino Law Students Association (LLSA), in conjunction with the SBA, is co-sponsoring the annual toy drive for the kindergarten and first grade classes at Hoover Elementary School. Each child has written a letter to Santa asking for one special gift (the teachers have been instructed to guide the children towards asking for gifts valued at $20, so no child will receive something more expensive than another). Last year, over 700 gifts were delivered to the classes. These toys may be the only holiday gift received by some.

Although all of the letters have been distributed, donations are gladly accepted ($20 per child - make checks payable to "LLSA at Southwestern"). Email llsasw@yahoo.com or contact Dean Cameron's Office for more information.

Student Earns ABTL Public Service Scholarship

Catherine Wagner has been named one of the recipients of the 2005-2006 Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL) Law School Scholarship. She received ABTL's $1000 annual award for her public service work along with four other law students, one from each of the five ABA-approved law schools in Los Angeles County. Selection criteria included academic performance and a demonstrated commitment to public service.

Moot Court Prepares for 2006 Competitions

The Southwestern Moot Court Board of Governors is pleased to announce its competitions for the 2005-2006 academic year (click here for the complete list):

Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
February, 2006 - Location TBD
Team: Emma Graglia, Simon Lamb, Brian Cruz, Kendall Swanson, Vered Golan
Faculty Advisors: Professor Sheehan & Professor Parrish

National Telecommunications Competition
February 3-4, 2006 - Washington, D.C.
Team: Bill Frank, David Bodnariuk, Zeina Jafar
Faculty Advisor: Professor Epstein

Burton D. Wechsler First Amendment Moot Court Competition
February 4-5, 2006 - Washington, D.C.
Team: Elizabeth Hayes, Menely Lari-Joni, Rebecca Jannol
Faculty Advisor: Professor Carpenter

ITAP Competitors Also Off and Running

The Interscholastic Trial Advocacy Program is proud to announce participation in the upcoming competitions (click here for the complete list):

National Trial Competition (NTC) Regional Rounds
February 10-12, 2006 - Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California
Two 2-person teams, with advocates: Ryan Conger, Steven Derryberry, Brian Yasuzawa, and Daniel Varon
Advisor: Professor Joseph Esposito

Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) National Competition - Regional Rounds
March, 2006 - Santa Monica, California
Advocates: Michael Carroll, Vanessa Herzog, Jason Rosen, and Daniel Jimenez
Second Team Advocates: Oksana Sigal, Lashon Harris, Elizabeth Huynh and Brandy Chase
Advisor: Professor Bill Seki

Students Participate in Fall Externships

This semester, 52 Southwestern students served in full- and part-time externships in judicial offices, government and public interest agencies, and companies that focus on entertainment law. 

AROUND CAMPUS

 

Taylor Library Holiday Hours

Reading Week and Finals
(December 2 - December 21)
Monday - Friday: 7:00 am - 12:00 am
Saturday: 9:00 am - 12:00 am
Sunday: 10:00 am - 12:00 am
December 21: 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
BW 1 & 2 available to students 12:00 am - 2:00 am

Inter-session (December 22 - December 23): 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Winter Break 2005 (December 24 - January 8)
Saturday, December 24 - Monday, January 2: CLOSED
January 3 - January 6: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
January 7: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
January 8: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Staff Additions

Southwestern welcomes its newest staff member to campus:

Queli LiaoLamco, Information Services Technician (IST), Management Information Systems (MIS) - Prior to joining Southwestern, Queli was a Computer Systems Analyst at Authorized Cellular Services (ACS) for more than three years, where she provided IT support and coordinated equipment repair. She earned her B.S. degree in Computer Science from Cebu Doctors' College in the Philippines.

Bullocks Wilshire Featured in Limited-Edition Book

Acclaimed architecture and design photographer Tim Street-Porter showcases Los Angeles in a recently released, limited-edition book by Rizzoli. Filled with one spectacular image after another, Street-Porter takes the "viewer" from the most coveted homes of Hollywood and Beverly Hills to the palm-lined avenues, hip hotels and art deco theaters of the city, including Southwestern’s own Bullocks Wilshire. The building's colorful Porte Cochere, expansive Central Hall, mechanic elevator doors, unique clocks, and recognizable exterior are featured on two spreads of this 240 page book.

FACULTY ACTIVITIES

For a list of recent faculty activities, click here.

EVENTS

The Biederman Institute Presents a "Brave New World"

Leading Anti-Death Penalty Lawyer, Stephen Bright, to Deliver Treusch Public Service Lecture

One of the country's leading human rights advocates and an authority on capital punishment and prisoner’s rights, Stephen B. Bright will give the 2006 Paul and Phyllis Treusch Public Service Lecture at Southwestern on February 7 at 12:30 p.m.

For more than 20 years, Bright has served as Director of the Southern Center for Human Rights, an Atlanta-based public interest project that provides legal representation to individuals facing the death penalty and to prisoners challenging unconstitutional conditions throughout the South. He has personally represented death row inmates at trial, on appeal and in post-conviction proceedings since 1979. In one of his most high-profile cases, Amadeo v. Zant in 1988, he convinced the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the death sentence due to racial discrimination. Read more.

Summer Options and Opportunities for the First-Year Student

Find out about all of the options and opportunities available for your first summer in law school. Information will be presented regarding summer abroad programs, summer school, working in a law firm, working in the public interest, becoming a research assistant and having an externship on Tuesday, January 10 at 12:30 pm in W311. This is a must attend event for all first-year students!

Orientation Set for Public Interest Career Day

In anticipation of Public Interest Career Day, when students can interview with a variety of public interest employers, government agencies and law firms, a mandatory orientation program will take place on January 11 at 12:30 & 5 p.m. in W311. Topics covered include participation guidelines, funding options and applicable hiring criteria. Additional information is available from the Career Services Office.

It is Never Too Early to Have a Stellar Resume!

The winter break is a good time to get that resume together. Career Services offers winning resume samples in their office or online. Or, attend the:

Resume/Cover Letter Preparation Workshop
Thursday, January 12
12:30 and 5 p.m. in W311

Development Office Provides Events to Meet and Learn from Alumni

The Development/Alumni Affairs Office is planning the following events for January. If you are interested in participating in any of these events, please contact Joan Bautista in the Development Office.

First-Year Student/Alumni Networking Reception
Tuesday, January 17, 5 - 6:30pm, BW 2nd Floor
Learn the networking process early! You MUST RSVP to the Development Office if you plan to attend.

Inn of St. Ives
Thursday, January 19, 6:30pm. Hosted by Alumni Board Members, James Castranova '76 and Felicia Duque Black '75, with the topic "Does a state law requiring parental notification for minors seeking an abortion too restrictive? Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England is currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court." Seats are limited and by invitation only.

ABC's of a Criminal Trial
Saturday, February 11, 1 - 4 pm. Sponsored by the Alumni Association, this three hour seminar walks students through the practical steps of a criminal trial. Speakers include practitioners from the Office of the District Attorney, Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Public Defender, and the Los Angeles Superior Court. Space is limited. You MUST RSVP to the Development Office if you plan to attend.

FACULTY

McComb Foundation Establishes Professorship at Southwestern

Southwestern has received a grant from The Marshall and Margherite McComb Foundation for $250,000 to establish the Justice Marshall F. McComb Endowed Professorship. This new endowment was created "to help the law school attract and retain outstanding faculty members; provide important recognition and additional financial support for the teaching, scholarship and professional service activities of the recipient; and advance the law school’s ability to realize greater excellence overall in the future." Read more.

Berger Elected Grand Marshal Once Again!

Southwestern Welcomes New Adjunct Faculty

Professors Keith M. Clemens and H. Nyree Gray have joined Southwestern's adjunct faculty for the Spring 2006 semester.

Hon. Keith M. Clemens, a retired Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner and private judge for dispute resolution, will teach Community Property. Specializing in family law, business law and civil litigation, Professor Clemens was a partner with the Center for Enforcement of Family Support before taking the bench. As Commissioner, he presided over family law trials, settlement conferences, and domestic violence cases, among other matters, and was a member of the Family Law Committee, Domestic Violence Task Force and Technology Committee of the Los Angeles Superior Court. He is the co-author of "Enforcement of Support Orders Against Self-Employed Obligors" for the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MATRIMONIAL PRACTICE (R. Brown, ed.; Prentice Hall Law & Business, 1991). He is also a member of the board of directors of Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center and the legal advisory board of the Los Angeles Free Clinic. He earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, his J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is a member of the California State Bar.

H. Nyree Gray, a partner with the law firm of Abbott & Associates, will teach Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiating. Specializing in contractual litigation, labor and employment law, Professor Gray has experience in litigating plaintiff employment discrimination claims in the areas of race, age, gender, and sexual harassment in both state and federal courts. Formerly with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Employee Relations Division of the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, she has spoken and lectured on various topics, including employment law, neutral fact finding and investigating. She earned her B.A. in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley, her J.D. from Southwestern and is a member of the California State Bar.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

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

Like many law students, Aaron Colby didn’t grow up wanting to be a lawyer. Even as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan - which he'd chosen in part because of the school's legendary football team - Aaron was still wrestling with his life’s direction. When he decided to pursue a Bachelor of General Studies - an unconventional degree covering various academic fields - some friends and family were concerned. But Aaron stood his ground, determined to keep his options open. He eventually opted for law school. "I knew, at the very least, a law degree would open up a plethora of opportunities," he explains. "Which it has."

Since arriving at Southwestern, Aaron has hit his stride. He is an associate editor of the school’s law review and an assistant editor of the Entertainment Law Reporter, which is published by Professor Lon Sobel. He joined Moot Court after winning the award for one of the top briefs in the intramural competition. As president of the school’s Entertainment and Sports Law Society (ESLS), he organized well-attended discussions with the Dodgers' general counsel, music publishers, agents and other professionals.

Deciding while still in his first year of law school that entertainment law was his career path, he applied for several summer externships in the field, until a meeting with Dean Greener prompted him to stick to his old motto of "keeping his options open." Aaron instead secured a clerkship with a Superior Court Judge, which proved to be an "incredibly valuable experience." The following semester, he externed part-time at the Screen Actors Guild and the next summer he landed a position with Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold, a litigation defense firm where he "learned a little bit of everything." Aaron has accepted an offer to join the firm full-time after he completes the bar exam next year. And he’s still perfectly comfortable keeping his options open.

Helpful hints for students from Southwestern Staff

Dana says: "You're between classes, desperate for a soda and the only dollar bills you have are crinkled and keep getting rejected by the vending machines... does this sound familiar?! Most people don't notice that a dollar coin changer is located next to the machines and is less fussy about the bills it accepts - it will often take a crinkled dollar and change it to a dollar coin (which is accepted by all the vending machines on campus)."

Getting to Know the Area: Off the Beaten Path - Hidden Gems Just Down the Street

Wilshire Center Farmers Market
Mariposa Avenue between Wilshire and 6th Street
Every Friday 11:30am - 3:00pm

Karaoke at Caffe Brass Monkey
659 S Mariposa Ave (just south of Wilshire)
Free parking with validation after 5pm in the structure next to Brass Monkey, on Mariposa

Known by the famous and not-so-famous looking for a good time, Caffe Brass Monkey has become one of the premiere locations to sing your heart out in Los Angeles. Karaoke starts at 9pm every night (except Friday, when it starts at 4pm), and offers more than 15,000 songs in six different languages. There is no cover, but during karaoke, there is a two drink minimum, and the place is known to get crowded once the singing begins.

Mama's Hot Tamales Cafe
2122 West Seventh Street (across from MacArthur Park and the MacArthur/Westlake Red Line Metro station)
Open everyday (including weekends) from 8:30am - 3:30pm
Validated parking is available on Lake Street at Unified Parking.

If you have a suggestion for a future "Getting to Know the Area" feature, please email it to pubinfo@swlaw.edu.

ESSAYS & SCHOLARSHIPS

A selection of scholarships and essay contests are available in the Financial Aid Office (W102), on the bulletin board in the Westmoreland basement and below.

Scholarships

Applications Being Accepted for the Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Scholarship Fund, first awarded in 2001, was established by the Alumni Association to recognize Southwestern students for their outstanding service to the law school and community. Scholarships in the amount of $3,000 each will be awarded to two Southwestern students in April, 2006. Students who have a record of participation in community and/or law school activities, before and/or during their attendance at Southwestern, and are in good academic standing are encouraged to apply. Financial need, as determined by the Financial Aid Office, will be taken into consideration. Graduating students may also apply.

Interested students should submit a letter explaining their qualifications for the scholarship to Joan Bautista in the Development Office no later than Friday, January 20, 2006.  Questions may be directed to the Development Office.

Philippine American Bar Association of Los Angeles (PABA) Scholarship and Fellowship Program
Award: $750 Scholarship/$2,500 Fellowship*
Deadline: January 6, 2006
For more information, email Joy de Leon (jdeleon@cpm-creative.com) or R. Sybil Villanueva (pinays@gmail.com).
*The Fellowship will be granted in connection with a coveted clerkship at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California for either the Spring or Summer 2006 term.

The Japanese American Bar Association Educational Foundation Scholarship
Award: $1,500 (3)
Deadline: January 15, 2006
For more information, visit www.jabaonline.org.

Kern County Women Lawyers Foundation Public Benefit Fund Scholarship
Award: Varies (from $250 - $3,000)
Deadline: February 1, 2006
For more information, contact Sheri C. Vining at 661-322-7383

Essay Contests

The GRAMMY Foundation Legal Writing Contest
Award: 1st Place-$5,000, 2nd Place (4)-$1,500
Deadline: January 6, 2006
For more information, email eli@grammy.com or visit www.grammyfoundation.com.

American College of Legal Medicine Student Writing Competition in Legal Medicine - The Letourneau Award for Law Students
Award: $1,000
Deadline: January 10, 2006
For more information, visit www.aclm.org.

American College of Legal Medicine Student Writing Competition in Bioethics
Award: 1st Place-$1,000 and publication, 2nd Place-$500, 3rd Place-$250
Deadline: January 10, 2006
For more information, visit www.aclm.org.

American Indian Law Review (AIRL) Annual Writing Competition
Award: 1st Place-$1,000 and publication, 2nd Place-$500, 3rd Place-$250
Deadline: January 15, 2006
For more information, visit www.law.ou.edu/lawrevs/ailr.

National Center for Nonsmokers' Rights Legal Research and Writing Competition
Award: 1st Place - $5,000, 2nd Place - $3,000, 3rd Place $1,000
Deadline: January 15, 2006
For more information, visit nosmokingcontest.org.

Association of Securities and Exchange Commission Alumni, Inc. Annual Securities Writing Competition
Award: 1st Place - $3,000, 2nd Place - $2,000, 3rd Place $1,000
Deadline: January 15, 2006
For more information, email Robert C. Friese (rfriese@sfglaw.com).

Willamette Journal of International Law and Dispute Resolution Student Writing Competition
Award: $500 and publication
Deadline: January 16, 2006
For more information, visit willamette.edu/wucl/wjildr.

Louis Jackson National Student Writing Competition
Award: $3,000 and $1,000 (2)
Deadline: January 18, 2006
For more information, visit www.kentlaw.edu.

Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems (TLCP) Trandafir International Business Writing Competition
Award: $2,000 and publication
Deadline: February 1, 2006
For more information, vusut www.law.uiowa.edu/journals/tlcp/trandafir.php.

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology (JOLT) Biennial Writing Competition
Award: 1st Place-$1,200, 2nd Place-$650, 3rd Place-Complete MicroMash Online MBE Review Course
Deadline: February 1, 2006
For more information, visit www.law.richmond.edu/jolt.

American Business Law Journal Student Writing Contest
Award: $1,000 and publication
Deadline: February 15, 2006
For more information, email Professor Lucien Dhooge (ldhooge@pacific.edu).

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Student Journal Writing Competition
Award: 1st Place-$1,500 and travel expenses to NAELA Symposium, 2nd Place-$1,000, 3rd Place-$500
Deadline: February 27, 2006
For more information, visit www.naela.org.

National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) First Annual Selma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing Competition
Award: $500 and travel expenses to a NAWL Meeting
Deadline: March 1, 2006
For more information, contact Kathleen Harleston at kathleen@harlestonlawfirm.com or Kristie Prinz at kprinz@prinzlawoffice.com.

American Immigration Law Foundation's 23rd Annual Edward L. Dubroff Memorial Legal Writing Contest
Award: $1,000
Deadline: March 13, 2006 (5:00pm EST)
For more information, visit www.ailf.org.

The American College of Trustee Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Mary Moers Wenig 2006 Law Student Writing Competition
Award: $5,000 (1st-place); $3,000 (2nd-place); $1,000 (3rd-place)
Deadline: April 1, 2006
For more information, visit www.actec.org.

Adam A. Milani Disability Law Writing Competition
Award: $300-500
Deadline: June 15, 2006
For more information, visit www.law.mercer.edu.

The Theodore Tannenwald, Jr. Foundation for Excellence in Tax Scholarship and the American College of Tax Counsel 2006 Tannenwald Writing Competition
Award: 1st Place - $3,500, 2nd Place - $2,500, 3rd Place $1,500
Deadline: June 30, 2006
For more information, visit americantaxpolicyinstitute.org.

National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) Law Student Essay Competition
Award: $1,000 and conference scholarship
Deadline: August 1, 2006
For more information, visit www.naccchildlaw.org.