ISSUE: FALL 2007
Headlines:
Alumni Christmas Party Dec. 11
School of Law hosts former Supreme Court
Mortgage Fraud forum to be held
Murphy Institute event explores meaning of "I do"
Alumni Lenten retreat scheduled
Alumni in the News
Introducing the St. Thomas Lawyer Magazine, new format for Alumni Notes
Want to be leader? Apply for the Law Alumni Board
Law Alumni Association Approves Association Goals
Alumni Christmas Party December 11:
The School of Law invites all alumni to the 2007 Alumni Christmas Party Tuesday on Dec. 11 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the University of St. Thomas Schulze Grand Atrium. Celebrate the season with classmates, faculty and staff. Rekindle friendships with other alums while enjoying holiday food and drink. R.S.V.P. by Dec. 3 to lawrsvp@stthomas.edu or call 651-962-4873.
School of Law hosts former Minnesota Supreme Court Justices for “The Minnesota Supreme Court: Reflections on its Past, Present, and Future”
Four former Supreme Court justices will give law students and the legal community insight into the workings of the high court on Nov. 1 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Schulze Grand Atrium of the University of St. Thomas School of Law in downtown Minneapolis. The panel will include:
- Former Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz
- Former Chief Justice and former Lieutenant Governor A.M. (Sandy) Keith
- Former Associate Justice Esther Tomljanovich
- Former Associate Justice John Simonett
Marianne D. Short, managing partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP will moderate the event.
The panel discussion is sponsored by the Thomas E. Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions, the Law Mentor Externship Program, and the University of St. Thomas School of Law. CLE Credits have been applied for and students will receive mentor credit for attending.
R.S.V.P.s are requested for the event and can be sent to lawrsvp@stthomas.edu or call 651-962-4873.
Mortgage Fraud Victims the focus of the next Holloran Center Forum
The Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions and Center for Ethical Business Cultures will hold a public forum, “Mortgage Fraud: Its Victims, Consequences, and Remedies” on Nov. 8 in the Schulze Grand Atrium in the School of Law. The forum will take place from 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. with a brief reception to follow.
The event will focus on what members of the legal community, including alumni, can do to help individuals affected by mortgage fraud. Several victims will also share their stories.
This free event is sponsored by the Holloran Center, the Center for Ethical Business Cultures, and the School of Law and is part of the Medtronic Business and Law Roundtable series. CLE credit will be applied for.
For more information please contact Valerie Munson at 651-962-4842. R.S.V.P. 's are requested for the event and can be sent to lawrsvp@stthomas.edu . Complete details, including a schedule, can be found at the Holloran Center website .
Meaning of “I do” the focus of a Murphy Institute Atrium Forum on Marriage and Family
“Marriage and Family: Law, Religion and the Meaning of ‘I Do' ” is the title of a forum by three of the nation's leading scholars on marriage and family law Nov. 14 at the University of St. Thomas.
The forum, free and to the public, will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Schulze Grand Atrium of the university's School of Law, located at 11th Street and Harmon Place. A brief reception will follow.
Speakers will include professors from three law schools: Margaret Brinig of the University of Notre Dame Law School, Linda McClain from Boston University School of Law and John Witte Jr. of Emory University School of Law. They will discuss the difference between marriage and other intimate partnership relationships, the idea of “covenant Marriage” recently adopted in Louisiana, and the future of marriage and “family values” in America.
The event is part of the Atrium Forum Series hosted by the Terrence J. Murphy Institute for Catholic thought, Law and Public Policy at St. Thomas.
Those who expect to attend are asked to respond to lawrsvp@stthomas.edu . For more information, call Valerie Munson, (651) 962-4842.
School of Law again recognized by Princeton Review for Quality of Life
Princeton Review again has lauded the University of St. Thomas School of Law in its annual survey of law schools.
Princeton Review's 2008 publication of The Best 170 Law Schools includes rankings based on student surveys and on institutional data it obtained from the schools. The New York-based educational services company surveyed 18,000 law school students, asking them to rate their schools on several topics and report about their experiences at them.
This year, St. Thomas ranks No. 2 in the nation for "Best Quality of Life" among students, according to the Princeton Review. The 2008 ranking follows back-to-back No. 1 rankings in the same category for the past two years.
"This recognition is a reflection of the kind of community we have created and maintain here," said Thomas Mengler, dean of the school.
The "Best Quality of Life" category of Princeton Review's annual survey is based on student assessments of community, aesthetics, location, social life, classroom facilities and library staff.
The two-page profile of the St. Thomas School of Law in The Best 170 Law Schools describes the law school as "spirited (and spiritual)." Students commented on the encouragement of rigorous debate, freedom of expression and an emphasis on social justice. The profile also noted "an outstanding team of accomplished, accessible, and talented faculty."
Save the Date for the Law Alumni Lenten Retreat: The Lenten Journey of Love
In his message for Lent 2007, Pope Benedict wrote that “Lent is a favorable time to learn to stay with Mary and John, the beloved disciple, close to Him who on the Cross, consummated for all mankind the sacrifice of His life.” During Lent we are invited to be with Jesus in his passion and his death. At the same time, Lent invites us to see how God is with us in our suffering, even when it may be hard to find him.
During this weekend retreat offered for St. Thomas Law Alumni, we will, through group and individual prayer and reflection and spiritual conversation, deepen our experience of Jesus' suffering for our sake and of our God's fidelity and love for us.
The retreat will be led by Professor Susan J. Stabile, who joined St. Thomas this year after serving as an adjunct member of the ministerial staff of St. Ignatius Retreat House in New York, and Associate Dean Jerry Organ, who has been facilitating our vocation retreats for students for the last several years.
The retreat, which will be held at the Benedictine Center of St. Paul Monastery in St. Paul, will begin with dinner on Friday, Feb. 24 and end with lunch on Sunday, Feb. 22. (Mass will be offered at 11:00 on Sunday, immediately prior to lunch.)
Space is limited. The cost for the weekend will be $100. To register email lawrsvp@stthomas.edu and put Alumni Lent in the subject line. You will be added to the list and receive additional information about the retreat.
Alumni in the news:
Pat Schrake 04' was quoted in the October 4 issue of the The Wanderer, a national Catholic weekly in an article titled, “Pro-Life Center moves in closer to Planned Parenthood”. To read the complete article go to thewandererpress.com (registration required)
John Saunders 05' is highlighted in the article “ LEED-accredited attorney is rare in the field ... for now ” in the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal. The article focuses on Saunders as one of the few attorneys in the country who is an accredited professional (AP) in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Mike Hanson 05' is highlighted in the story " Ultrafit: Tapping his way along the Appalachian Trail " in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The article is about Hanson's hike along the Appalachian trail using voice enabled GPS.
New format for Alumni Notes: Watch your mailbox for the St. Thomas Lawyer in January 08'
In January of 2008 the University of St. Thomas School of Law will publish The St. Thomas Lawyer, our new alumni magazine. The mission of the magazine is, “To engage alumni and other constituents about people and programs of the School of Law, emphasizing the vitality of our mission, the excellence of our students, faculty and staff, the breadth and depth of our intellectual activity, and the school's enduring ties to the legal profession and judiciary.”
As part of that effort we will be moving the Alumni Updates from the quarterly e-newsletter to the magazine which will be published two times a year. Your class editors will be in touch soon about any additions to what you have already sent, and those you sent recently will appear in the magazine in January.
Want to be a leader? Apply for the Law Alumni Board
In follow up to the letter from Dean Mengler and Assistant Dean Brabbit, visit the alumni website to view the bylaws and find out more about applying for the 2008 Alumni Board and committee positions.
Law Alumni Association Approves Association Goals
On October 16, the 2007 Law Alumni Board approved the following goals statement for the Law Alumni Assocation:
The University of St. Thomas School of Law Alumni Association will advance the mission of the University of St. Thomas School of Law through the following:
- Advising and informing the Dean, the administration and the faculty in matters important to the School of Law and its community;
- Fostering a spirit of public service within the communities in which its members live and work;
- Recognizing the personal and professional accomplishments of the members of the School of Law community;
- Promoting and participating in the activities and academic programs of the School of Law;
- Maintaining and supporting relationships among alumni;
- Contributing to the long-term financial success of the School of Law;
- Recruiting and supporting the candidacies of excellent prospective students, faculty and staff for the School of Law;
- Assisting the School of Law alumni and students with career opportunities and development; and
- Promoting the highest aspirations for the profession and the practice of law.