Alumni E-News
April 2010


In This Issue:

Message from Deans Mengler and Berg   

Dear Alumni,


In recent days, there has been some confusion about the implementation of UST Law’s new Tommie Law Early Admission Program and its goals.  These were highlighted again Wednesday when the Minneapolis Star Tribune ran a story, titled “Law schools struggle to attract minorities,” that mentioned the Early Admission Program in a misleading way. 


The primary sources of confusion involve two topics: the requirements regarding the LSAT, and program’s role in helping us attract a diverse student body.

On the first:  The Early Admission Program will create a limited number of places in each entering class for University of St. Thomas undergraduate students to gain admission without taking the LSAT.  Complete details of the program can be found at:  http://www.stthomas.edu/law/admissions/tommielaw/  It is similar to programs adopted at the law schools at Michigan, Georgetown, Illinois, and Northwestern.  Applications will be evaluated by multiple criteria, including undergraduate performance, ACT scores, letters of recommendation, leadership skills, mission fit, commitment to service, diversity of personal characteristics and backgrounds, and an interview process.  To be permitted by the ABA, the program had to go through a process showing statistically that reliance on ACT rather than LSAT scores would not adversely impact the academic quality of the group admitted.  In fact, by filling some entering-class places without reliance on the LSAT, we expect then to have greater ability to be academically selective in the entering class overall.  Moreover, we will also have flexibility in the Early Admission Program itself to consider other measures of academic promise (such as undergraduate record) and other admissions qualifications (mission fit and diversity of various kinds) without affecting the average LSAT figure.  In short, this program will help in strengthening UST Law’s national academic profile, a goal to which we continue to be fully committed.

On the issue of diversity:  As the criteria above indicate, the Early Admission Program is not limited to minority students.  It is designed for all University of St. Thomas undergraduate students considering law school.  The Star Tribune, whose story suggested the program was for minority students only, has acknowledged its error and run a correction.  We are confident that the program will help us in recruiting highly qualified minority students, but it is not limited to them.

Although we wish the article had been more accurate and provided more detail, it does highlight two things we can be proud of: innovation and diversity.  As a law school, we will continue to try new things and innovate in ways that benefit all law students.  We are proud of the fact that our admission office was recently awarded the Diversity Leadership Award at UST in recognition of the office’s work to bring diverse students to the law school.  We are also proud that diversity enrollment continues to climb at the law school.


If you have further questions or concerns please contact Cari Haaland, Director of Admissions, at 651-962-4872 or clhaaland@stthomas.edu.
 
Deans Mengler and Berg 

 

Law Alumni Making the News & Publications   

  • Victoria Jacobson Brenner ('04) and Thomas Kettleson ('06) were 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.
  • David Griggs ('07) joins Team Madore as Campaign Manager.
  • Brian Gruber ('09) was endorsed as the Republican candidate to run in District 60A for the Minnesota House of Representatives according to Politics in Minnesota.

Alumni and School of Law Calendar    
Upcoming Events & CLE Opportunities

April 12 - Islamic Law and Constitutional Liberty

The Law Journal invites you to attend the Spring Symposium. More information is available here.

 

April 13 - What Diversity Can Teach Us About the Changing Relationship Between Companies and Law Firms

This event, featuring David Wilkins, Lester Kissel Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, will be hosted by the Holloran Center Center for Ethical Leadership in Professions.  More information is available here.

 

May 6 - Just the Essentials for New Lawyers

Join the Minnesota State Bar Association Sections and Committees for a half day CLE program and reception. This affordable program is tailored to cover the essentials for new lawyers. More information is available here.
 

May 15 - Class of 2005 Five Year Reunion

Members of the Class of 2005, are invited to come celebrate five years!  More information is available here.

 

From the Office of Career & Professional Development   

Click here for a message from CPD Director Alanna Moravetz, including resources for you in your career and alumni job postings.

 

Send in Your Updates   

We know that our graduates have life updates and we want to know about it!   Tell us what's going on in your life (or a classmate's), either personal or professional experiences.  

  

We gather updates year round. Please send your updates to your Class Notes Editor (below) for inclusion in upcoming issues of the St. Thomas Lawyer magazine. 

To update your mailing address, preferred e-mail or telephone number, please send an e-mail to lawalumni@stthomas.edu

 

Become a Facebook Fan   

The University of St. Thomas School of Law has launched a facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/USTSchoolofLaw .  The page is updated regularly with news headlines from the School of Law, postings to School of Law blogs and more.   Become a fan to stay informed.

Nicole Fredricks Jackson
Office of Alumni Relations, School of Law
651-962-4863
lawalumni@stthomas.edu
http://www.stthomas.edu/mc/law/AlumniEnews/ENews2010March/default.html

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