University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Susan Stabile has announced the dates for the Fall Retreat in Daily Living: Reflections on the Apostles’ Creed.  Each year Stabile offers lunch time program tos University of St. Thomas students, faculty and staff, also open to alumni. 

     On, Friday, September 23, the University of St. Thomas Law Journal and the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions will host their annual fall symposium from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Held in the Schulze Grand Atrium at the School of Law in downtown Minneapolis, the focus of the symposium is the lawyer’s role and professional formation. 

University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Nekima Levy Pounds is featured in the MinnPost's series highlighting young professionals in the Twin Cities.  Pounds was picked for her commitment to civil rights issues in the Twin Cities.

     The Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions and the University of St. Thomas School of Law will host a public debate: “Searching for Justice: Juvenile Offenders and Life Without Parole” on Tuesday, August 23 from 12:30 to 2 p.m.in the Schulze Grand Atrium at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in downtown Minneapolis.

Each year top up-and-coming lawyers in Minnesota, "who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less," are recognized by Super Lawyers magazine as “Rising Stars.”   The selection process is rigorous and based on peer recognition and professional achievement.  The University is pleased to announce that eleven St. Thomas School of Law graduates were recognized as "Rising Stars" in Minnesota.  

     Dean Thomas M. Mengler has announced that Judith Rush will become the new Director of Mentor Externship on August 15.  Rush currently has a solo ethics and professional liability advisory, appellate, and family law practice in St. Paul, and brings nearly two decades of experience in teaching law students, developing and presenting programs for lawyers, and serving the legal profession, lawyers, and the public.

Associate Dean Rob Vischer is quoted in the Star Tribune article, "Minnetonka lawyer enters ethical 'gray zone'. "

Dean Thomas M. Mengler has announced that Kendra Brodin has been named the Director of Career and Professional Development for the University of St. Thomas School of Law as of June 27. 

University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Teresa Collett was recently installed as the president of University Faculty for Life, a multidisciplinary association of scholars speaking out for human life. 

The Community Justice Project at the University of St. Thomas School of Law would like to congratulate this year’s Champion for Youth Award winner – Justice Alan C. Page of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Each year, the Community Justice Project recognizes an individual or organization that makes a difference in the lives of youth. This year’s Champion for Youth award sought to recognize an individual that strives to dismantle the pipeline to prison and help Minnesota youth succeed.

University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Jerry Organ continues to be an important voice on the issue of scholarship transparency at law schools recently being featured in an interview with Bloomberg Law.  Professor Organ was also cited in  the Business section of the New York Times on May 1, 2011 about the impact of law school scholarship renewal policies.  It also quoted Associate Professor Jennifer Wright.  Although the article does not directly identify the UST School of Law scholarship renewal policy, it clearly describes the struggle that law students face at most law schools in the country.

University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Rob Vischer has been named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

The University of St. Thomas Center for Intercultural Learning and Community Engagement (CILCE) and Office for Service-Learning hosted their annual Community Engagement Celebration on April 27.  University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds and several law school students were honored for their community engagement and service learning accomplishments.

Timothy Flynn has been nominated by the faculty and staff of the Interprofessional Center for the UST Outstanding Clinic Student of the Year award.  The award will be officially confirmed by the Association of American Law Schools Section on Clinical Legal Education at its June meeting.  The Clinical Sectionn (CLEA) created the award to honor a law student at each law school who has excelled in a clinical course.  The award is given annually at the completion of the academic year. 

UST School of Law student Juno Nayagam has been appointed Lt. Governor for 8th Circuit Events for the ABA's Law Student Division. 

University of St. Thomas School of Law Associate Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds has been appointed Chair of the newly formed Minnesota State Advisory Committee, established by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights at the direction of the U.S. Congress.

The Executive Committee of the AALS Section on Clinical Legal Education has recognized University of St. Thomas School of Law Associate Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds with the 2011 Shanara Gilbert Emerging Clinician Award for her work with the Community Justice Project under the auspices of the Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services (IPC).

On Friday, May 6th, 2011, University of St. Thomas School of Law Associate Professor Robert Kahn will be in Paris to speak at a symposium on "The legal question of Holocaust denial / Genocide Denials and the Law."  The symposium is sponsored by the Perelman Center for Legal Philosophy at the Free University of Brussels and the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.  

The Business section of the New York Times published an article on May 1, 2011 about the impact of law school scholarship renewal policies that featured University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Jerry Organ.  The article describes the struggle that law students face at most law schools in the country where scholarships are tied to GPA or class rank.  UST School of Law scholarships, by contrast, are based on good academic standing, which removes a stressful layer of competition between students and creates an atmosphere of cooperation and teamwork, valuable skills for future lawyers. 

Governor Mark Dayton met with African-American leaders in North Minneapolis on March 30th, 2011 to listen as they shared their concerns about  the economic divide that exists in the state of Minnesota.  On Friday, April 8th, the governor released a report containing steps he hopes will improve the area's job picture. State Representative Jeff Hayden and University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds appeared on TPT's Almanac that evening to discuss the Summit.

In United States v. Tohono O’odham Nation, decided on April 26, 2011, the United States Supreme Court turned to the treatise written by University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Gregory Sisk.  Sisk, who is being invested as the Pio Cardinal Laghi Distinguished Chair in Law, is one of the nation’s leading experts on civil suits against the United States government and its officers.  He has written both a treatise and a casebook on “Litigation With the Federal Government,” as well as numerous articles on federal sovereign immunity, money claims against the federal government, and the specialized Court of Federal Claims.

On April 14, The University of St. Thomas School of Law hosted “The Trial of Jesus,” featuring Professor Mark Osler of the University of St. Thomas and Jeanne Bishop, assistant public defender in the Office of the Cook County Public Defender in Illinois and adjunct professor at Northwestern School of Law in the trial advocacy program.

Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds spoke at the Black Economic Summit held in North Minneapolis on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 and attended by Governor Mark Dayton.

The Shakopee law firm of Brekke, Clyborne & Ribich, L.L.C. received the Alumni Living the Mission Award at the University of St. Thomas School of Law’s annual Mission Awards luncheon held on Thursday, April 7th, 2011.

The UST-MJF Public Interest Fellowship Selection Committee is pleased to announce that first year law students Kali Gardner and Stephanie Bates are this year's recipients of the 2011 UST-MJF Public Interest Law Fellowships.  Gardner and Bates will work full-time this summer for their sponsoring agencies, the St. Paul City Attorney's Office and Tubman Center. 

Professor Rob Vischer was featured in the March 2011 issue of the National Jurist in an article on top law professors in the country. 

On Thursday, April 7th, the University of St. Thomas School of Law held the annual Mission Awards luncheon, where members of the community were recognized for their contributions to furthering the mission of the law school.

Civil rights attorney Alvin J. Bronstein, Esq. will be the featured guest at two upcoming events at the University of St. Thomas.

Professor Teresa Collett recently testified before the Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee in favor of a fetal pain bill that recognizes that unborn babies feel pain at 20 weeks and would prohibit abortions after 5 months (20 weeks) unless necessary to save the life or health of the mother. 

Jeremiah Pilon, Christina Pilon, and Kreg Wagner represented the University of St. Thomas School of Law on the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition Team at the regional competition in Boston on March 10th through 12th.  UST's team won their first 4 matches, besting teams from Miami, Northeastern, and Syracuse (twice) in the preliminary rounds to advance to the regional finals.  There they lost to Indiana on a 3-1 balloting by the judges, who were all so complimentary of both teams that one of them suggested that the advocates send him resumes so they could help him in his own practice.  

The University of St. Thomas School of Law Jessup International Moot Court Team was a semifinalist in the recent Super Regional Competition in Denver, CO.  The team includes Ryan Else, Oliver Kiefer, Aaron Knoll, and Courtney Sekevitch.  The team was coached by Mark Hastie and Frank Aba-Onu, and was assisted by Faculty Advisor Professor Robert Delahunty.

Minnesota Lawyer announced its 2011 Up & Coming Attorneys.  Each year Minnesota Lawyer recognizes attorneys for their professional accomplishments and their leadership service to the community and the profession.  Among the 28 attorneys recognized this year are UST School of Law graduates Bryan Feldhaus (’06), who works for Lommen Abdo Cole King & Stageberg, P.A., and Laura Hammargren (’08), who works for Dorsey & Whitney. Congratulations, Bryan and Laura!

Bryan and Laura will be recognized on May 11 during an awards luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Minneapolis. To learn more, visit Minnesota Lawyer.

The annual U.S. News rankings of law schools were released this week, and the University of St. Thomas School of Law tied for 135.  This is the first time that the University of St. Thomas School of Law has been numerically ranked, reflecting a change in U.S. News and World Report policy.

The Community Justice Project at the University of St. Thomas School of Law was recently featured in a StarTribune article about Brotherhood Inc., a joint project to help at-risk youths learn work and life skills

Charles Edward Heaton II "Roscoe" was recently honored by the American Bar Association, Law Student Division for his work and participation as the American Bar Association, Law Student Division (ABA-LSD) Representative for the University of St. Thomas School of Law. 

The Terrence J. Murphy Institute for Catholic Thought, Law, and Public Policy will host Jim Towey on March 30th at 7:30pm in the University of St. Thomas OEC Auditorium.  Towey, friend and  legal counsel for Mother Teresa will share insights into Mother Teresa’s intense trial of faith and how her teachings will impact the 21st century.  Free and open to the public.

The University of St. Thomas School of Law’s Community Justice Project will host “How Are the Children? Part IV: A Symposium Exploring the Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children.”

Dean Thomas Mengler has announced two new staff appointments for the School of Law - Dave Bateson, previous Director of Mentor Externship, as Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Artika Tyner as Interim Director of Diversity.  

The MSBA's Criminal and Tax Law Sections in collaboration with the University of St. Thomas School of Law Present "Uncle Al Capone: The Untold Story of Chicago's #1 Gangster from his Niece's Perspective - Legal and Ethical Lessons from the 1931 and 1991 Capone Trials".  The program will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 23 in the Schulze Grand Atrium at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Downtown Minneapolis.

Dr. John Jackson, President of the Schott Foundation, will be providing a keynote address on the future of public education and its impact on the academic achievement of Black males. Dr. Jackson will provide an overview of Minnesota’s statistics on racial disparities in public education and offer practical solutions for educational reform on Monday, February 28, 2011 from 6:00PM to 7:30PM at the University of St. Thomas School of Law (Schulze Grand Atrium).
 

On March 3, 2010, the Law Alumni Relations Office will host a daylong CLE on starting a solo or small practice law firm.

Where: UST School of Law, Moot Court Room
Cost: $20 (no charge for current UST Law students)
CLE Credits:  1.0 hour of ethics, 4.0 hours of law office management, and 1.5 hours of professional development credits applied for.
Registration & Deadline: Lunch will be provided for those that register by February 25, 2011; space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.  To register, click here.
Questions?  Contact Monica Anderson, Coordinator for External Relations, 651-962-4979

2005 UST Law Alumnus, Mike Hanson, who lost his sight at birth, spent seven months hiking the Appalachian Trail last year.  Hanson was able to navigate his way through the trail by following precise voice instructions over his cell phone, programmed from a hand-held GPS unit. Upon his return to St. Louis Park, MN, he now faces his next challenge - becoming a CEO.

On Thursday, February 17, 2011, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., attorneys Chris Messerly and Philip Sieff from Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi will discuss the strategies and emotions in the case resulting from the greatest man-made catastrophe in Minnesota history, the 35W Bridge Collapse.  Lunch will be provided by Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi.  Please RSVP by February 10.  More..

Stewart’s lecture is based on his most recent book, Tangled Webs: How False Statements Are Undermining America: From Martha Stewart to Bernie Madoff.

Epilawg, a collaborative blog by started by 4 lawyers, including 2008 law graduate Maggie Green, was named by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a top blog in “The Top 25 Minnesota Blawgs, 2010 Edition.”  The MSBA called Epilawg, an estate planning blog, one of its “favorite team blogs." 

Professor Mark Osler’s  latest editorial published by the Huffington Post “The Death Penalty and Why the Arizona Murders Should Trouble Christians" reflects on his ongoing work on death penalty issues.  Osler is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post religion page.

UST School of Law graduate Ken Connelly (’07), an attorney with Dorsey & Whitney, clerked from 2007 to 2009 for Chief Judge John Roll, U.S. District Court Arizona, who was killed during the tragic shootings in Tucson, Ariz. last week. Connelly speaks about his time clerking for Judge Roll in the January 13, 2011, Minnesota Lawyer article “A humble and decent guy” available at http://minnlawyer.com/minnlawyerblog/.

For Percy Dillon, the June 17 Supreme Court opinion that closed the door to reducing his sentence has opened a new legal window. UST School of Law Professor Mark Osler, who served as pro bono counsel to the Washington Legal Foundation for the amicus brief in U.S. v. Dillon, has signed on to help prepare a petition of commutation for Dillon. Osler commented as he was working on the commutation, “The way I envision my work is that when there is no play for mercy, even when it is most warranted, that is where people of faith should inject themselves.”

Several UST Law graduates were recognized for their contributions to and and work with The Advocates for Human Rights, including Loddy Elizabeth Tolzmann ('05), Kathleen Lomhar Exel ('05), Jenny Zanner ('08), Sarah McGuire ('07), and Sharon Roberg-Perez ('05).   

To help spread holiday cheer, the Law Alumni Program Committee collected nonperishable food items during the 2010 Alumni Christmas Party on December 10, 2010.  The committee collected 96 pounds of food for Second Harvest Heartland during the Christmas Party. 

The Law Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2011 Law Alumni Advisory Board.

2009 UST Law alumna Katharine Tinucci has been appointed Press Secretary for Governor-elect Mark Dayton. Tinucci currently serves as Communications Director for the Transition, and served as Deputy Campaign Manager of Dayton’s campaign. She is an attorney, a graduate of Loyola University Chicago and a 2009 graduate of the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

The Minnesota Bar Board of Examiners has announced the results for the July 2010 Bar.  This year, University of St. Thomas School of Law test takers were second in the first-time test taker category behind the University of Minnesota and ahead of Hamline in third and William Mitchell in fourth.

   Professor Susan Stabile has announced the dates for her annual Advent Retreat in Daily Living.   This annual event is open to faculty, staff, and students and has become an important part of the season for many as they reflect on the meaning of the advent.     

In its 10th year of operation, the School of Law will remain on the list of law schools approved by the ABA for the next seven years.

Osler examines President Obama's denial of petitions and pardon requests over the past two years.

As employers look to hire grads with real-world experience, the School of Law is praised for its Mentor Externship program.

Advocates and adversaries directly involved in the Tom Petters cases candidly discuss their experiences with the third-largest Ponzi scheme in history.

Tuesday's Star Tribune featured Osler's article on 4 hard truths about the ignored drug problem in the United States.

Alumni at the University of St. Thomas School of Law do amazing things. This week's Alumni Success Stories include highlights about what Christian Peterson ('06), Monica Geyen ('09), and John Wehrly ('10) are doing in the communities that they serve.

The Federalist Society and the American Constitution Society invite the University of St. Thomas community to a forum tomorrow to commemorate Constitution Day. Featured speakers will comment on significant Supreme Court cases from previous and future terms.

Shauna Faye Kieffer ('08) co-authored the article Padilla Motions: Effective Assistance of Counsel Where Pleas Mandate Deportation, with the Hon. John L. Holahan.  The article was published in Bench & Bar of Minnesota, August 2010. Great work, Shauna!

Maggie Green ('08) & Graham Martin ('07) each featured guest posts on Lawyerist in August 2010. 

On August 17, 2010, Maggie Green's featured a guest post was titled Solo Practice: Three Tips for Getting Started.  Maggie is a solo practitioner in Minneapolis, MN. Her legal practice focuses on estate planning and probate services.

On August 23, 2010, Graham Martin's featured guest post was titled Marketing Monday. Graham is a solo practitiononer in Minneapolis, MN.  His legal practice focuses on general civil litigation and family law.

The Second Annual Law Alumni Golf Outing venue has been changed from Minnesota Valley Country Club to Bluff Creek Golf Course.  The event will be held on Monday, September 20, 2010, at 1:00 p.m.  The cost is $70.  Alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students are encouraged to join us for this fun event. Registration closes on Monday, September 13, 2010. More details available.

Beginning September 13th, Professor Susan Stabile will lead a five-part prayer series designed to introduce or deepen participants’ experiences with different types of prayer.

The Office of Alumni Relations is now accepting applications for the 2011 Law Alumni Board.  

On September 23, 2010, the Alumni Reflections series will present UST Law Alumnus Christopher Wheaton ('03, '08 J.D.), to discuss how he integrates faith, service and reason in building his practice and how he relies on each during his daily work as an attorney.  The presentation is from 12:30-1:15 p.m. in MSL 244, following noon Mass.

The Alumni Reflections series presents St. Thomas alumni who discuss how they integrate faith, reason and service into their personal and professional lives.  Students, alumni, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend.  Lunch is provided by Dean Thomas Mengler.  This speaker series is offered jointly with the University of St. Thomas Alumni Association.

This September 10th CLE brings together local public defenders and immigration attorneys, as well as several nationally recognized immigration scholars and practitioners to discuss the practical implications of the Padilla decision.  The CLE will focus on the mutual and sometimes conflicting obligations immigration and criminal defense attorneys have towards their clients, criminal law’s impact upon a client’s immigration case, and ways to mitigate harm to the client.

The Alumni Association will host the Alumni Christmas Party on Thursday, December 9, 2010, from 5:00-7:30 p.m. at the School of Law.   We look forward to seeing our law alumni, faculty and staff, as well as their family members, at this annual celebration.

University of St. Thomas School of Law Associate Professor Elizabeth Schiltz was recently featured on Fox News’ coverage of a new federal law that changes how banks handle overdraft charges and the recent ruling for Wells Fargo to pay customers over $200 million for manipulating bank fees. 

Nationally known advocates for and against Arizona’s response will debate the legal and ethical boundaries for dealing with immigration.

Cari Haaland, Director of Admissions at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, is a panelist during the webcast CLE titled "Diversity in the Legal Profession: The Role of Law Schools." Director Haaland, along with representatives from the University of Minnesota School of Law, William Mitchell College of Law, and Hamline Law School, will talk about what the law schools are doing to enhance diversity in the profession in Minnesota. The CLE, for which 1.0 elimination of bias credit has been applied, will be held on Monday, August 16, 2010, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. (central time). The CLE is hosted by Minnesota CLE.

2010 alumnus Joe Fricke's run for the Minnesota Senate is featured in a July 9, 2010 article in Politics in Minnesota.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation recognized law alumni Ryan Green (’07) and Alex DeMarco (’06) as up-and-coming young professionals during the Twin Cities 25 Finest event on July 22, 2010.  As honorees at the event, they were recognized for their work in the community.  Congratulations, Ryan and Alex!

Many students may be gone for the summer, but Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and St. Ives Professor of Law Thomas Berg has been busy.  He has appeared on WCCO radio and in Christianity Today and the National Catholic Register speaking on issues concerning the U.S. Supreme Court, including the nomination of Elena Kagan and the fact that (after Justice Stevens’s resignation) the Court for the first time ever has no Protestants on it.  Additionally, building on his work in the area of “pro-life progressivism,” Berg has a memo on the Democrats for Life of America website defending the new health-care law and arguing that it is not likely to increase abortion funding.  This month he will also be filing his second U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief of the year in a religious freedom case, this one involving an Arizona school-choice program.

     University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds was featured in the July 20 edition of Finance and Commerce.  The magazine highlighted Levy-Pounds ongoing work on civil rights issues in the Twin Cities.  The article can be found at the Finance and Commerce website.

The Second Annual Alumni Golf Outing will be held on September 20, 2010, at the Minnesota Valley Country Club.  Early bird registration deadline is August 15. Law alumni, students, faculty, and guests are welcome!

On August 20-22, 2010, join Professors Susan Stabile and Jennifer Wright, other students and alumni in a retreat experience designed to help you reflect on how God might be calling you to use your gifts and talents to serve others in the study and practice of law.

Learn more about law alumnus Mike Hanson's ('05) hike on the Appalachian Trail.

Law alumna Lisa Fink's ('05) work with the Legal Services Advocacy Project. is highlighted in the 2009 Legal Aid Annual Report.

The University of St. Thomas School of Law’s Community Justice Project, in partnership with the St. Paul chapter of the NAACP, has received the 2010 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Award for Campus-Community Collaboration.

Join the Law Alumni Program Committee at Project Homeless Connect on June 14

Congratulations to Andrea Pavelka ('08), who is one of the 2010 Service to MWL Award recipients. 

Three students receive a 2010 UST-MJF Public Interest Law Fellowship.

Adam Brown (’06) and Bryan Feldhaus (’06), coached the UST School of Law Moot Court Team, comprised of third year law student Mikiesha Terrell and second  year law students Amy Lanser and Sean Cahill.  In March, the students competed in the interscholastic appellate McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court competition at the University of Minnesota. The students, competing against 34 teams, took second place in the competition. We are grateful to our alumni who dedicate their time and service to the School of Law.  Congratulations to the students and the coaches on a job well done!  

The University of St. Thomas School of Law, as a Catholic law school, is dedicated to integrating faith and reason in the search for truth through a focus on morality and social justice.  Each year the school recognizes graduates who exemplify "living the mission" through his or her professional and civic activities.  This year, Victoria Jacobson Brenner (’04) and Brooke Swenson (’07) were awarded the 2010 Living the Mission – Alumni Award. Other nominees included Andrea Specht (’06), Bryan Feldhaus (’06), and Christopher Nelson (’07).  

The work of several faculty, staff, and students has been recognized by the media in the spring 2010 semester. 

In March, the University of St. Thomas held its annual Faculty and Staff Recognition Awards.   Given annually, these awards are part of the University’s efforts to “engage employees to do great things.” The admissions team at the UST School of Law was honored by the University with the “Diversity Leadership Award” for demonstrating “an active role participating in diversity and inclusion efforts” and for helping “create a campus climate that values, respects and affirms members of diverse groups.”  As part of the award ceremony, a video highlighting the work of the admissions department was made. (See video.) 

A former federal prosecutor known for his work in the field of criminal sentencing, Osler will join the St. Thomas School of Law this fall.

The annual U.S. News rankings of law schools were released this week, and St. Thomas again ranked in the third tier – a rare feat for a new law school.  Dean Thomas Mengler indicated that no one at St. Thomas is satisfied with the third tier, however, and that the school needs to work harder to spread the word about the top-flight scholarship being done by the St. Thomas faculty.

The work of several faculty, staff, and students has been recognized by the media in the spring 2010 semester. 

The work of several faculty, staff, and students has been recognized by the media in the spring 2010 semester. 

Law Alum Brian Gruber ('09) endorsed to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives.

David Griggs ('07) joins Team Madore as Campaign Manager

Congratulations to law alumna Victoria Jacobson Brenner ('04), an associate at Collins, Buckley Sauntry, & Haugh, PLLP, and law alumnus Thomas Kettleson ('06), an associate at Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd., for being named as 2010 Up & Coming Attorneys by Minnesota Lawyer.  Victoria and Thomas will be 2 of the 25 honorees featured in a special section of the Minnesota Lawyer and during an awards luncheon on May 13, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Minneapolis.

The spring St. Thomas Law Journal Symposium will be held in the School of Law’s Schulze Grand Atrium. Practicing lawyers, legal scholars and the public are welcome to register for the event.  For more information and registration information contact Bethany Moeller at (651) 962-4830 or RSVP at www.stthomas.edu/law/rsvp .

Four Minnesota white-collar offenders who have served time in federal prisons will met the prosecuting attorneys and judges who put them there, but this time it was at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, and Twin Cities Public Television was there to capture it.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas visited the University of St. Thomas School of Law on Wednesday, March 10, responding to the request of some students who had met him on the University of Minnesota campus last year.   For nearly two hours the Justice engaged the standing-room-only crowd with insights on his career and what it is like to be a member of the Court, and many personal observations on being a lawyer.

David Wilkins, the Lester Kissel Professor of Law at Harvard Law School will present, “What Diversity Can Teach Us About the Changing Relationship Between Companies and Law Firms” on April 13 at 4 p.m. in the Schulze Grand Atrium at the University of St. Thomas School of law in Downtown Minneapolis.  The event is sponsored by the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions with cosponsorship from Twin Cities Diversity in Practice.

     Monday, April 12 the University of St. Thomas School of Law will host the spring University of St. Thomas Law Journal Symposium.  Held in the Schulze Grand Atrium at the School of Law in downtown Minneapolis, the symposium will discuss the intersection of constitutional liberty and Islamic law. Panelists will discuss a range of topics related to two broad themes: First, what challenges and opportunities face democracies in Muslim-majority nations as they seek to integrate Islamic law with the rights typically accorded in constitutional democracies? Second, what tensions exist between adherence to Islamic law and the norms of liberal democracies in nations with growing Muslim minorities? Within this framework, participants will discuss Islam and religious liberties; privatization of law issues, such as those being considered in Canada; and notions of patriotism, assimilation, and pluralism as they pertain to Islam. They will also explore the unique features of Islamic law and its integration into modern legal systems.

 Law alumnus Joseph Trojack's article "Getting Your Appellate Ducks in a Row: Preserving Issues Subsequent to Trial" was published in the January 2010 Issue of Bench & Bar of Minnesota.

The Mission Awards Committee is seeking nominations from the alumni community of an alumnus/alumna for the 2010 Living the Mission - Alumni Award.

2005 Law Alumnus, Mike Hanson, who lost his sight at birth, will begin a seven-month hike of the Appalachian Trail on Monday.  His story is featured in the Star Tribune 2/26/2010 article, "Blind since birth, a St. Louis Park man is hitting the Appalachian Trail with GPS technology and a shot at making history."

The University of St. Thomas School of Law Magazines, St. Thomas Lawyer, is online.  The Winter 2010 issue features stories on Professor Joel Nichol’s recent work in Kenya, Professor Robert Delahunty discussing the United Nations, and the interesting work that alumnae Mary O’Leary is doing at the Hague in Netherlands.

Third year University of St. Thomas School of Law student Peter Williams had just welcomed home his fiancé from her deployment overseas when his soon-to-be father in-law left for his deployment. Witnessing other families welcoming their loved ones home and wishing them well as they left struck a chord with Williams and he knew he had to do something.

On Tuesday, March 9 the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions will host “Prosecuting War Crimes: Revisiting the Siege of Sarajevo.”  The event will take place in Terrence Murphy Hall’s Thorton Auditorium from 4 to 6 p.m.

Associate Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds will be the keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration sponsored by the office of Gov. Tim Pawlenty on January 18 at 11 a.m. at Concordia University’s Gangelhoff Center.

On February 5 the Journal of Law and Public will host “The Armenian Genocide Within the Framework of National and International Law” from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Schulze Grand Atrium at the School of Law.  The symposium is jointly organized by and Sponsored by the Journal of Law and Public Policy and The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) in Conjunction with the Cafesjian Family Foundation and the Minneapolis Foundation.

The Law Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2010 Law Alumni Advisory Board.

Each spring over the last three years the Community Justice Project of the Interprofessional Center at the Univeristy of St. Thomas has brought together community leaders to discuss juvenile justice.  This year's symposium will be held on March 24 at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in downtown Minneapolis.  The focus of this year’s symposium is discovering solutions for dismantling the pipeline to prison through the exploration of preventative measures, early intervention strategies and rehabilitation techniques

Weekly Media Coverage of UST Law

Congratulations to the eight UST Law alumni named as 2010 Minnesota Rising Stars

Weekly Media coverage of UST Law

Weekly Media coverage of UST Law

Alumni Board applications are due November 30th

The concept of “Christian realism” has influenced world leaders from Pope Benedict XVI to President Obama (who called Christian realist theologian Reinhold Niebuhr one of his favorite philosophers). The impulse for Christians’ public theology to be realistic – based on a clear-headed assessment of facts about God, humanity and the world – is common to Catholics and Protestants alike. But their themes and definitions of realism differ, and that’s the topic of a November conference at the University of St. Thomas.

Media coverage of unique reunion between white collar criminals and judge who convicted them

    The Minnesota Bar Board of Examiners has announced the results for the July 2009 Bar.  The University of St. Thomas School of law posted an overall bar passage rate of 88.7 percent and a first-time bar passage rate of 90.74 percent.  The overall bar passage rate was 88.93 percent for all takers.

Valerie Aggerbeck, University of St. Thomas School of Law Research Librarian has a special interest in the upcoming Opus Prize Awards ceremony on Nov. 4.   Aggerbeck was part of the team that visited Morocco.  Her thoughts from the trip are below.

Four Minnesota white-collar offenders who have served time in federal prisons will meet the prosecuting attorneys and judges who put them there, but this time it won't be in a court room.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Princeton Review's annual survey of law schools has lauded the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

The University of St. Thomas School of Law will hold its annual Multicultural Bar Reception on Wednesday, October 28 from 6-8 p.m. in the Schulze Grand Atrium.  The theme for this year’s reception is, “Pursuing Happiness: Work and Life in Today's Legal Economic Climate.”

The Office for Marriage, Family and Life, part of the St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese have awarded Professor Teresa Collett and students in her International Law and Catholic Social Teaching course with the Champions for Life Award.

The Journal of Law and Public Policy, published at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, will host a fall symposium, “Intelligent Design and the Constitution,” from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Frey Moot Courtroom of at the School of Law, located on St. Thomas’ downtown Minneapolis campus.

The concept of “Christian realism” has influenced world leaders from Pope Benedict XVI to President Obama (who called Christian realist theologian Reinhold Niebuhr one of his favorite philosophers). The impulse for Christians’ public theology to be realistic – based on a clear-headed assessment of facts about God, humanity and the world – is common to Catholics and Protestants alike. But their themes and definitions of realism differ, and that’s the topic of a November conference at the University of St. Thomas.

Professor Susan Stabile will lead the five-part Fall Prayer Series designed to introduce or deepen participants’ experiences with different types of prayer. Each session of the series will include a talk, time for individual reflection or guided meditation and sharing of the prayer experience.

The University of St. Thomas School of Law Journal will host its annual fall symposium on October 1, 2009. From the perspective of the twenty-year anniversary of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, the Law Journal has assembled experts to discuss the role of rights and remedies in the judicial system.

Twenty years after the March 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, the environmental disaster is still teaching legal lessons.The University of St. Thomas will host two events on Thursday, Oct. 1, featuring experts on the spill and its many repercussions

The University of St. Thomas School of Law has welcomed the class of 2012. The complete profile  can be found in the admissions section at the School of Law website.

This retreat is designed for those beginning to pray in a personal way as well as those who have been praying for years.

Professor Susan Stabile announced she will offer three Student Mid-Day Reflections during the 2009-2010 school year – two during the fall semester and one in the spring. Each session will be held in MSL 242 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will include lunch.

Longtime UCLA law professor Gerald López,  author of Rebellious Lawyering: One Chicano's Vision of Progressive Law Practice (Westview Press, 1992), will speak about his advocacy on behalf of low-income, of-color and immigrant communities at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Frey Moot Courtroom of the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

The University of St. Thomas School of Law Journal will host its annual fall symposium on October 1, 2009. From the perspective of the twenty-year anniversary of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, the Law Journal has assembled experts to discuss the role of rights and remedies in the judicial system.

This week marks the launch of the Mentor Externship Blog and the Social Justice Blog at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.  Both blogs will employ a team of individuals from across the campus and outside to discuss what is happening in these areas at the School of Law.  The purpose of these blogs is not to focus on events, but rather to provide an outlet to highlight good work that is happening, as well as address current issues.