STUDENTS
Darnell and Engel Perero Can Now Say 'We are the [International] Champions!'
Southwestern's team of Katie Darnell and James Engel Perero returned to
Los Angeles as the Champions of the Stetson International
Environmental Law Moot Court Competition. The participating teams competed
in two phases: a regional (national) qualifying competition against law
schools from the U.S. and Australia, and an international competition against
top teams from around the world.
The team finished as finalists in the regional
round of the competition, held in Tampa, Florida, which qualified them to
advance to the international competition.
In addition, Darnell earned the honor of Second Place Oralist in the regional
competition. In the international round, Darnell and Engel Perero competed against
teams from John Marshall and Hastings, as well as international teams from
Brazil, India, and Sydney, Australia. In the end, the Southwestern team prevailed in front
of a bench of international environmental law scholars, practitioners,
and human rights attorneys. Darnell also earned the Best Oralist
title in the international round. The team was advised by two members
of last year's Second Place team, Nanette Reed '06 and Edward Wiley
'06, as well as Melanie Partow '04.
"Of particular note is our
team's success over the team from Sydney, Australia," said Partow.
After competing against Sydney three times in the qualifying and
preliminary rounds, and losing each round (despite prevailing oral
scores), Darnell and Engel Perero once again competed against the team in the
final round of the international competition - which they won, becoming
the international champions. "It was a well deserved success," shared
the proud alumna advisor.
ITAP Teams Excel at Competitions
Southwestern's Interscholastic Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP) teams have been making their mark in competitions. At the San Diego Defense Lawyers Competition, a national invitational,
20 teams competed, including advocates from schools such as Pepperdine, St.
John's, Brooklyn and Hastings. Southwestern's Team 1, consisting of Torsten
Bassel, Alison Gray, Heather Patrick and Evan Okamura advanced to the semi-final
round where they defeated the team from McGeorge and won overall Second Place
in the competition. Southwestern's Team 2, with members Tessa King, Sharon
Liang, Heena Patel and Antoine Williams received honorable mention as one
of the top eight teams.
Out of 16 teams in the 2006 St. John's National Civil
Rights Competition, Southwestern finished third overall. The team of four -
including Ron Carey,
Mia Flosiand, Britton Light, and Jen Turner - won the preliminary rounds,
defeating Thomas Cooley and the host school, St. John's. The team was seeded
number two in the Semi-Final round, where they faced the University of Florida
(last year's champions) and lost on a split ballot decision. Some of the
other law schools teams competing were William and Mary, Brooklyn, McGeorge,
NYU, University of Virginia, and the University of Georgia.
"All did an outstanding job and were excellent ambassadors for our
law school," said Adjunct Professor Joseph Esposito '89, an ITAP advisor. "Team
Manager Chris Young made sure every last detail was dealt with so the advocates
could focus on the competition." Three Southwestern alumni served
as assistant coaches for this team: Mario Trujillo '96, Oksana Sigal '06
and
Mike Carroll '06.
For the second year, Southwestern hosted the Third Annual ABA
Labor & Employment
Law Trial Competition, where the law school's team finished as semi finalists.
Southwestern's competitors included student advocates Linda Bradlyn, Yan
Gershfeld, Autumn Puro and Clinton Hare, who went undefeated in the preliminary
rounds and entered the semi-finals ranked in first place. There were a total
of 10 teams from seven law schools including Pepperdine, Chapman, University
of San Diego, UCLA, California Western and Thomas Jefferson. Professor Joseph
Esposito called the team's effort "an amazing product in the semi-finals
and a narrow loss to the ultimate tournament champs, Pepperdine. The round
was so close that the Tournament Director felt we had won!"
Students Participate in Fall Externships
This semester, 79 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
New Advances in Online Registration
As
of November, Southwestern students are able to add and drop courses
through WebAdvisor, a web interface that allows students to access
certain academic information online. With this launch of the new
add/drop feature, first-year day students are now able to register for
their Spring 2007 electives, while upper division students are able to
add and drop courses for the Spring semester online. Students were
first introduced to WebAdvisor in April 2006, when they could simply
view their grades, class schedules, and unofficial transcripts, as well
as submit updates to contact information. In August, students were able
to begin searching for classes online. The new add/drop feature is
another exciting step towards Southwestern’s plan to make full online
registration available for the 2007-2008 academic year. The WebAdvisor
implementation team welcomes input regarding the new online system.
Comments or questions regarding WebAdvisor may be directed to the Registration Office.
Taylor Library Hours: December - January
Reading Week and Finals: December 1 - December 22
Monday - Friday - 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sunday - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Thursday, December 21 - 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday, December 22 - 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
BW 1 & 2 available to students December 1 - 19 from midnight to 2:00 a.m.
Winter Break: December 23 - January 8
Saturday, December 23 - Monday, January 1, 2007 - CLOSED
Tuesday, January 2 - 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 3 - 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 4 - 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday, January 5 - 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 6 - 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 7 - 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Staff Promotions
A number of Southwestern staff members have recently received promotions. They are:
- Joan Bautista, Associate Director of Development
- Jennifer Chang, Accounts Payable Clerk
- Elizabeth Eck, Careers Services Associate
- Johanna Gan, Administrative Services Associate II
- John Kohler, Events Manager
- Queli Liao-Lamco, Technical Support Specialist
- Anne Lynn, Administrative Assistant
- Tamara Moore, Program Manager - Donald E. Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute
- Angelique Porter, Faculty Services Manager
- Robin Prophete, Career Services Associate II
- Sylvia Villalpando, Administrative Assistant
- Mitzie Vitela, Administrative Assistant
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Q: What would you like your students to gain from your classes if it could only be one thing?
A: Professionalism - I think it's very important for law students to realize
that their role is no longer one of a student but a professional-in-training.
LAWS teaches students how to think about a legal problem, research it and
write (and talk) about it effectively. A crucial theme throughout is professionalism,
including always remembering the sense of professional responsibility,
doing the best job possible, and establishing a solid reputation.
Q: What did you learn from your participation in Harvard's Prison
Legal Assistance Project?
A: A lot! Most importantly, a first-hand lesson about the human stories
behind my clients' criminal cases and the disciplinary proceedings in which
I
represented them.
Q: After earning your bachelor's degree in Philosophy, what influenced
you to attend law school?
A: A couple of things ... I had a general interest in how the law impacts
people's daily lives and interactions. Also, being the daughter of immigrant
parents, I felt that I owed it to my family and community to get the
best education possible and pursue a professional career.
Q: As Faculty Advisor for PLEAS and for the Armenian Laws Students'
Association, what is the most common piece of advice you have given students?
A: Reflect, plan and take charge of your education and career, but
also be open to pursuing unanticipated opportunities.
Q: What has been your greatest accomplishment?
A: If I have to pick one thing, I'd have to say it's getting myself
onto a trajectory (and some of it is definitely right time/right
place phenomenon)
that allows me to be engaged in what I think is really worthwhile
and enjoyable (without sacrificing one for the other) - namely, my
current
job, family and community, and personal interests.
Q: As the
Director of Externships, why do you believe that the "Guided Reflections" that
externs participate in online benefit both the students
and the program?
A: Being a reflective student (or professional-in-training) is crucial
to having a worthwhile educational experience as opposed to
just experiencing a field placement. The Guided Reflections
compel externs to think about why they are doing an externship, what
they're learning and how they're
learning it. They force the student to think about the quality of supervision
they're getting and to do something about it if they are not satisfied
with it. Being a reflective student makes for a reflective professional
- which is essential to good lawyering.
Q: What examples from your own experiences in the field do you
share with your students?
A: Examples that shed light on the realities of practice - the joys
as well as the challenges! I talk about judges who can be difficult;
the enormous
satisfaction of a job well done; the seemingly impossible necessity
for attention to detail; and the personal stories behind even the
most impersonal
cases.
Q: What do you like most about teaching Legal Analysis,
Writing & Skills?
A: I really like teaching a course that provides law students with
the fundamentals of being an attorney and developing skills that are
crucial
to all different
sorts of practice. It's so satisfying to hear from students how useful
LAWS was to their summer job, externship or work as an attorney.
Q: Who are your personal heroes?
A: I grew up part of an immigrant family and community and have always
held in high regard parents' sacrifices for creating better lives
for their
children. So, I'd say my parents are my personal heroes and in
a wider context, my admiration goes to people who take on the responsibility
of improving others' lives.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about the pro bono work you've done?
A: My pro bono work has been in the area of family law and domestic
violence. What I've most enjoyed is helping people, especially
children, get some
stability, and in some cases safety and security, in their lives.
Q: If you knew you could not fail, what would you do?
A: Write for the radio show "This American Life."
Q: Why did you choose to teach at Southwestern?
A: Southwestern puts students first and educates them to be effective
lawyers (not always the case with law schools!). I also like
Southwestern's commitment
to diversity - ranging from its part-time evening and day
programs to the other types of diversity that are represented in the
student body,
faculty and administration.
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FACULTY ACTIVITIES
PROFESSOR GOWRI RAMACHANDRAN
- Freedom of Dress: State and Private Regulation of Clothing, Hairstyle,
Makeup, Tattoo, and Piercing Choices 66, MARYLAND LAW REVIEW (2006)
- Presentation, "Freedom of Dress: State and Private Regulation of Clothing,
Hairstyle, Makeup, Tattoo, and Piercing Choices," Makeup, Performance,
Identity, and Discrimination Conference, Duke Law School, Durham,
North Carolina
PROFESSOR ANGELA RILEY
- Speaker, "Good (Native) Governance," Emerging Scholars Panel,
Native American Alumni Celebration, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Speaker, "Tribal Sovereignty in a Post-9/11 World," The Pedagogy
of American Indian Law, University of North Dakota Law School, Bismarck,
North Dakota
PROFESSOR MICHAEL SCOTT
- Speaker, "The Web 2.0 and Other New Licensing Methods," IFCLA
Conference on IT LAW - The Global Future, International Federation of
Computer Law Association, Amsterdam, Holland
- Panelist, "The Right of Privacy and the Government's Right To Know," Privacy
Rights in the Internet Age, San Fernando Valley Bar Association,
California State University at Northridge (CSUN)
- Co-Chair, roundtable discussion, "Suing the Spooks: NSA Litigation and
the Future of Privacy," Southwestern Law School and the State Bar
of California IP Section, Computer Law Committee, Southwestern Law School
FACULTY
Professor Sobel Named Chair-Elect of Prestigious ABA Forum Committee
Professor Lon Sobel is the new Chair-Elect of the American Bar Association's
Forum Committee on the Entertainment & Sports Industries. He was elected in October at the
Forum's Annual Meeting in Century City. Professor Sobel will become Chair
of the Forum - which has more than 4,000 members, a quarter of whom are Law
Student members of the ABA - next August. The Forum presents an annual day-and-a-half
CLE program on entertainment, sports and arts law, alternating each year
between Los Angeles and New York. It also sponsors several shorter programs
throughout the year in different cities around the country. And it publishes the quarterly
Entertainment & Sports Lawyer. Professor
Sobel has been a full-time member of the Southwestern faculty for two years
and is the Director of Southwestern's International Entertainment & Media
Law Summer Program in London.
Southwestern Welcomes New Adjunct Faculty
Experts in various areas of law have joined Southwestern's adjunct faculty for Spring 2007. More.
Eight is Great
For
the eighth consecutive year, Professor Michael Berger has been selected
Commencement Grand Marshal by graduating students - he will again lead
the opening processional in the May 20 ceremonies. Southwestern extends
congratulations to Professor Berger once again!
EVENTS
Give a Little Bit
Southwestern's student organizations show their commitment to spreading
some holiday cheer by bringing the law school's community together to help
those in need. In this season of giving, the student organizations at Southwestern
are finding ways to help others. The Latino Law Students Association (LLSA)
is sponsoring their fifth annual toy drive for children in Pre-Kindergarten
through Second 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, more than 700 gifts were delivered to the classes. These toys may be
the only holiday gift received by some. "It's an amazing tradition and an opportunity to help kids who
really need it," LLSA co-president Elisabeth Duarte said.
Those interested in contributing can pick up a "Letter to Santa" November
20 - 22 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on the Westmoreland front steps. All gifts must
be turned in to Dean Cameron's office by Friday, December 8 so they can be
wrapped on December 9. Everyone is invited to the wrapping party on the 3rd
floor of the Bullocks Wilshire building. Santas will deliver the gifts to
Hoover students on Friday, December 15.
LLSA co-presidents Elisabeth Duarte
and Daniel Goularte have made this year's project even more ambitious. "We
have agreed to take on one more track for the Hoover drive, bringing gifts
to kids who will not be in session when
we have the Santas come to the school," Duarte said. (Those gifts will
be delivered when that track returns to school.)
Donations are also 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.
Biederman Institute Examines Digital Revolution
On Thursday, January 25, the Biederman Institute will present its annual
conference co-sponsored with the Media Law Resource Center, "REVOLUTION:
Legal Challenges of Integrating Traditional Media and Entertainment into
a Digital Environment." The industry is already beginning to shift with the music business
moving from CDs to the Internet, theatrical revenues increasingly derived
from DVD sales, more first-run TV series available for viewing on portable
digital devices, and individual discussions’ proliferation on the blogosphere.
The conference will explore the immense legal challenges provided by these seismic changes
that continue to evolve in the digital world. The event offers 4 hours of
CLE credit. The student rate is $25; for others, early registration (before
January 15) is $100; thereafter, the rate is $110. More information is available through the Institute Office.
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 and externships, working in a law firm, working in the public
interest, and becoming a research assistant on Tuesday,
January
9 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
10 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.
You can also get
some tips and advice at the Resume/Cover Letter Preparation Workshop
on Thursday, January 11 at 12:30 and 5 p.m. in W311.
COMING IN FEBRUARY
Law Review Symposium -
"Rules of Evidence: FRE v. CEC"
February 2-3, 2007
Law
Journal Symposium - "Antitrust and Intellectual Property in Global
Context: A Symposium in Celebration of the Work of Lawrence A. Sullivan"
February 23, 2007
Southwestern
faculty, students and staff will have the opportunity to attend the
programs without charge; however, reservations will be required. More
information will be available online in January.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
"W.A.Y." - Who Are You & Why Are You here?
This Month - Elisabeth Duarte, 3rd-Year Day Program
Elisabeth Duarte has never suffered the indecisiveness that afflicts so
many of her Generation Y peers. She knew she wanted to be an attorney
when she was in third grade. "My parents always said 'You're going to be
a doctor or a lawyer, you pick,'" she said.
The 3rd-year day student
says she's lucky. After all, she landed the first job she applied for,
working part time as a law clerk for Wilkes & McHugh,
a civil litigation firm that specializes in nursing home abuse/neglect
cases. She's co-president (along with Daniel Goularte) of the Latino
Law Students Association (LLSA), the award-winning student group responsible
for the successful Hoover Elementary Toy Drive. She'll be competing with
ITAP during the spring semester, and she received a scholarship from
the
Mexican American Bar Foundation. In August, she'll marry her longtime
boyfriend.
But her hard work and dedication play a far bigger role in her early
successes than good fortune. Her parents immigrated to America from Cuba
in the1970s
and Duarte has lived in Torrance all her life. She earned her bachelors
degree in Political Science with a minor in Law & Society at USC
in just three years. Duarte saw opportunities at Southwestern and wanted
to
stay in the Los Angeles area.
She carries a full course load and works
16-20 hours per week in a job where she's had to learn a lot about
medicine and the problems nursing
home patients face. "My job is all about discovery. I interact with
clients a lot, and I like litigation much more than pushing papers. There's
more heart to it," she said. As the only person in the office who
is fluent in Spanish, Duarte is also able to communicate with more clients.
Now in the thick of November, preparing for the toy drive (see the Hoover
Toy Drive story above) takes a tremendous amount of her time and energy.
But all
the meetings, coordination, gift wrapping, and volunteering, especially
right in the midst of final exams, are worth it to Duarte. "It's
an amazing tradition that Patricia Higuera '05 started. The children
at Hoover
Elementary write the cutest little letters to Santa. They're mostly Latino
and just learning to speak English. They'll ask for dolls, crayons and
balls. Their requests alone make you realize you're dealing with kids
in tremendous need."
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