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Alumni E-news
September 2012

Welcome 1Ls

The University of St. Thomas School of Law welcomed 145 members of the class of 2015 on Monday, August 20. “It is a strong class with improved credentials, better gender balance, and wide geographical diversity,” Cari Haaland, Assistant Dean of Admissions said.  

The 2012 admissions statistics on many of the law schools in the region demonstrate the strength of the incoming class.  After the University of Minnesota (ranked 19th), University of Wisconsin (ranked 35th), and the University Iowa (ranked 29th), the fall 2012 profile is the strongest in the five state region ahead of Hamline (unranked), William Mitchell (ranked 127th), Drake (ranked 106th), Marquette (ranked 96th), Creighton (ranked 135th), and the Dakotas (unranked). 

The class of 2015 shows improvement on all three GPA numbers (3.13/3.40/3.67), a solid LSAT median of 156 (152/156/160), improved gender balance, and solid mission indicators.

  • UST 1030 Apps, 3.13/3.40/3.67 and 152/155/160 with 145 students. We are 49% female and 13% minority.
  • Creighton, 902 apps, 2.92/3.24/3.55 and 150/152/156 with 132 students. Class is smaller by 2.2
  • William Mitchell, 1048 Apps (FT and PT), 3.11/3.38/3.58 and 150/155/158 with 260 students. Class is smaller by 15.8%
  • Hamline, 978 apps (FT and PT), 3.08/3.38/3.61 and 148/153/156 with 126 students. Class is smaller by 38.54%
  • Drake, 872 Apps, 3.06/3.30/3.59 and 152/155/159 with 128 students. Class is smaller by 9.86%
  • Marquette, 1723 apps, 3.14/3.40/3.56 and 152/155/158 with 226 students. Class is larger by 6.1%
  • University of Wisconsin, 2,166 apps, 3.32/3.60/3.71 and 157/162/164 with 220 students. Class is smaller 9.09%
  • University of Nebraska College of Law, 791 apps,3.32/3.64/3.86 and 155/158/161 with 136 students. Class is larger by 6.25%
  • University of Minnesota, 3,225 apps, 3.36/3.8/3.89 and 158/167/168 with 205 students. Class is smaller by 16.66%
  • University of Iowa, 3.51/3.64/3.81 and 158/162/164 with 155 students. Class is smaller by 13.89%  

Deanship Finalist Candidates Welcomed to Campus

The dean search committee is very pleased to announce four distinguished finalist candidates for the UST Law deanship.  The candidates will interview on the St. Thomas on the dates indicated.

  • September 10-11: Patrick J. Borchers, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, Creighton University (former Dean, Creighton Law School)
  • September 13-14: Robert K. Vischer, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, University of St. Thomas School of Law (Minnesota)
  • September 20-21: Ruth Okediji, William L. Prosser Professor of Law, University of Minnesota (director and founder, Intellectual Property and Development Program)

Each candidate will make a presentation to the law school community from 5-6 p.m. on the first day of his/her visit in Schulze Hall Auditorium, across 11th Street by skyway from the School of Law building.  Alumni are warmly invited to attend any of these presentations.
 
The new dean will be appointed by Dr. Susan Huber, the university’s Executive Vice President/Chief Academic Officer, in consultation with President Dennis Dease, the search committee, the law faculty, and other groups in the School of Law and university community.

Professor David Caudill, the candidate originally scheduled to interview for the deanship September 24-25, is withdrawing from consideration. 

Sisk Study of Scholarly Productivity Ranks UST Law 30th Among all ABA Law Schools

In keeping with the founders’ vision of a national law school that pursues “scholarly engagement and societal reform” at the highest levels, the UST Law faculty is now ranked 30th in the country in scholarly impact in terms of citations of the faculty’s work by other scholars. The faculty’s scholarly impact is greater than other strong schools such as Notre Dame (38th), Iowa (47th), Boston College (52nd) and Wisconsin (64th).  Professor Greg Sisk and a team of research librarians recently published an updated version of the Scholarly Impact Study, which is modeled after a methodology initially developed by University of Chicago Law Professor Brian Leiter. Sisk and UST Law research librarians Valerie Aggerbeck, Mary Wells and Debby Hackerson, with Leiter’s permission, applied his methodology to expand that list to the top 70 law schools.  More.

Research Shows Growth in Moral Reasoning and Ethical Professional Identity Among UST Law Students

Professor Jerry Organ knows the University of St. Thomas School of Law is a great school. Now he has results from the 2012 Law School Survey on Student Engagement (LSSSE) to prove it.

The data from the student survey indicates students are more than satisfied with the quality of academic, personal, social, and career support available at the School of Law.  Furthermore, students indicated a greater degree of self-understanding and a stronger professional ethical identity than their peers experienced at other law schools. Students also demonstrated a stronger commitment to community service than peers at other schools.  More. 

Charles Reid on Huffington Post

Professor Charles Reid has been again featured on the Huffington Post Blog with his articles “Paul Ryan’s Libertarianism and Catholic Social Thought" and "God is Missing from the Republican Platform."

Jerry Organ joins Legal Whiteboard as a new Contributor

Professor Jerry Organ has been selected as a new contributor ot the legal education blog, "Legal Whiteboard" 

Join LawyerSearch

UST’s Lawyer Search is an innovative program for both law alumni and the public.  Law alumni can market their services to each other and to the community; the public can search for a UST Law lawyer to meet community and legal needs.  All users can search the following categories:  name, practice area, location, class and employer.  To participate, visit www.stthomas.edu/law/lawyersearch. 

Career & Professional Development News & Resources

Click here to learn more about the career resources and job opportunities available for graduates.

Flag Football Tournament

The UST Law Social Committee is planning a Flag Football tournament for Saturday September 29 at noon on the St. Paul campus. If you are interested in being part of the alumni team for the tournament contact Salena Tumini, by email at sbtumini@stthomas.edu, or by phone at 651-962-4863.

Fall Reflection Series: Learning to Forgive

On September 11, 18, 25 and October 2 and 10 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Holloran Center will host a five-week reflection series aimed at helping individuals learn to forgive more easily.   Read More

Diversity Office Volunteering at "100 Strong Who Care"

On Wednesday, September 19 and Friday, September 21 the Office of Diversity is coordinating volunteers for "100 Strong Who Care.”  The organization connects students with members of diverse professional communities who want to positively impact their lives. Over a two-hour period, volunteers visit with students and discuss higher education, career options, goal setting and achievement. Serve as an inspirational model for the Minneapolis Public School students!

  • September 19th (Wednesday) 10:00 a.m. – 12:00, at Andersen United Community School (1098 Andersen Lane Minneapolis, MN 55407)
  • September 21st (Friday) 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 at Pratt Community School (66 SE Malcolm St. Minneapolis, MN 55414)

Please contact Artika Tyner at artyner@stthomas.edu to get involved. 

Law Journal and Holloran Center Team Up for Symposium on “Empirical Professional Ethics”

Eleven faculty representing seven different law schools and academic research institutions from around the country will gather Saturday, Sept. 22 at the University of St. Thomas School of Law from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to share their empirical research concerning professionalism, ethical professional identity, law firm or department ethical culture, rules compliance, preventive law and risk management, and the nature of competition and cooperation in legal education.   Read More

Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services 10th Anniversary Celebration 

You are invited to join the Interprofessional Center for the 10th Anniversary Celebration in the Center’s  new location on Monday, September 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Read More

Hot Topics: Cool Talk “Vatican II’s Declaration on Religious Freedom: The View from Europe”

Join the Murphy Institute on Wednesday, September 26, at 8 p.m for a special evening lecture with Bishop Charles Morerod.  Read More

Managing Mentoring Programs in a Time of Change

October 4 through 6 join bar leaders, law firm leaders, judges and law school faculty from around the country as we discuss how to create, lead, and sustain mentoring programs in the legal profession during challenging times. Read More

Remembering Vatican II

On this, the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, Prof. Susan Stabile and Fr. Dan Griffith will discuss some of the major themes of the council, which lasted three years and resulted in the issuance of a number of important documents on a range of subjects including the theology and role of the Church, liturgy, and the role of the laity. The event is being co-sponsored by the Holloran Center and the St. Thomas More Society on Thursday, October 11 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Read More

Hot Topics: Cool Talk “The Dangers of Anti-Sharia Laws: Catholic and Muslim Perspectives”

On Tuesday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m  Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Rob Vischer, and Abdulwahid Qalinle, Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School and director of its Islamic Law and Human Rights Program, will present the dangerous precedence of Anti-Sharia law from a Catholic and Muslim perspective. Read More

2012 Swearing-In Breakfast

On Friday, October 26,  from 8:45-10:00 a.m recent law graduates and their guests are invited to a breakfast buffet prior to the Ceremony for Admission to the Bar of the State of Minnesota. Read More

Diversity Office Volunteering at "Books for Africa"

On Wednesday, November 7 the Diversity Office is coordinating volunteers for Books For Africa.  Books for Africa collects, sorts, ships, and distributes books to children in Africa. Since starting in 1988, BFA has shipped over 27 million books to 48 different countries in Africa, and needs volunteers to help package and send more off.

The Office of Diversity is scheduled to volunteer on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 (12:30-2:00 p.m.). The warehouse is located at 253 E 4th St. Suite 200 St. Paul, MN 55101. Please contact Artika Tyner at artyner@stthomas.edu  if you are interested in volunteering.

Class of 2010 Alumna Alicia Long published her first book, Capitol Hell, a novel that weaves her experience as a Senate staffer with other tales of misadventures. “Capitol Hell” was  released on September 4th. The book was featured on CNBC, Yahoo News, and more. Check out the Capitol Hell official website here: http://www.capitolhellbook.com/#!get-capitol-hell-now!

Open Gloss – Class of 2008 alum Keith Dixon and his wife Jennica have created a web community for Christian Bible Study, prayer, and discussion. Check out the site at www.opengloss.com 

Class of 2006 alumna Jessica Slattery Karich’s article, “Restoring Balance to Checks and Balances: Checking the Executive’s Power Under the State Secrets Doctrine” was selected for publication in volume 114 of The West Virginia Law Review. Her article takes a close look at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in Mohamed v. Jeppesen Dataplan, Inc.

This month, we are adding a new section to the Alumni Enews called "A Call for Prayers."  Below are specific members of the School of Law community who have asked for prayer support.  Requests can be mailed to lawalumni@stthomas.edu.

Christina Hilleary
Please pray for Christina as she recovers from a first surgery to address a brain aneurysm, and prepares for another surgery in the coming weeks. 

Ricky DeMello
Please pray for Ricky as he fights to recover from  life-threatening injuries he sustained in Rome, Italy. Ricky recently returned to Minnesota and arrived at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital.  He started at UST Law last fall as a 1L. For updates on Ricky’s progress, visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rickydemello.

Elizabeth Bakewicz

Please pray for fewer seizures and more sleep for Elizabeth.  Also pray for her continuing desire to follow God and find the plan that he is currently working out in these medical challenges. 

In Memoriam: Michael D. Harnois

Michael was a native of Washburn, Wisconsin, and had been living in Boston, Massachusetts. He served as a Lutheran pastor for sixteen years before coming to Minneapolis in 2001 to join the first class here at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Michael leaves behind many family members and friends, as well as his two beloved dogs.    More information 
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Salena Tumini
University of St. Thomas School of Law Alumni
651-962-4863
lawalumni@stthomas.edu
www.stthomas.edu/law

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