/law/dean en dlogan@law.rwu.edu Copyright 2009 2009-11-20T13:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/law_review_reception/ /law/law_review_reception/#When:14:00:00Z For the fifth consecutive year, a leading Rhode Island law firm hosted a cocktail reception for members of the RWU Law Review and our Honors Program.  Past hosts were Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, LLP, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, and Brown Rudnick.  This year the setting was special: a warm fall night, with the crowd spilling out onto the patio adjoining the offices of Shectman Halpern Savage, LLP.  The firm, one of the fastest growing in the state, renovated an old industrial building and turned it into a stunning work space, complete with a terrific art collection. Below are some pictures from the fun event. Dean Bastone and Joseph A. Camillo, Jr., Partner Dean David A. Logan, Arthur DeFelice (3L),David Leveille (2L), and Kate Early Greg Rosenfeld (2L), Heather O’Connor (2L), and Erin Wright Stephen J. Shechtman, Partner Jonathan N. Savage, Partner 2009-11-20T14:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/moot_court_09/ /law/moot_court_09/#When:18:00:00Z One of the highlights of fall semesters at RWU Law is the annual visit of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.  The Court comes to campus to preside over the final round of our flagship internal Moot Court Competition, named after a deeply respected member of our faculty, the late Esther Clark. The case involved a sweeping youth curfew in a hypothetical town, which was challenged on the grounds that it violated both substantive due process (the right to travel) and the equal protection clause (unduly burdening a suspect class—minors).  The finalists were 2Ls Amy Broderick and John Meara, and it was a spirited set of arguments, with the respondent’s lawyer, John, carrying the day.  Here are some pictures from the event. 2009-11-16T18:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/liberian_asylum_case/ /law/liberian_asylum_case/#When:15:30:00Z Our fledgling Immigration Law Clinic has hit the ground running, winning the freedom of a 27-year old Liberian college student who suffered the horrors of the Liberian civil wars, who came to the U.S. as a refugee, then became a permanent resident.  The Department of Homeland Security sought to deport him because of two offenses in RI for which he received no jail time (a receipt of stolen property and assault).  He had spent 10 months in jail before the RWUSOL Immigration Clinic got involved in his case. 3Ls Jessica Grimes and Ashley Ham Pong represented the client in his application for withholding of removal, in which they had to prove to the immigration judge in Boston that it was more likely than not that he would suffer persecution in Liberia because of his ethnicity.  They successfully conducted a trial on the merits and argued that he would face such persecution, and the judge agreed.  The government waived appeal, and the client was released the next day.  And here is the final—happy—chapter of the story: because of the hard work and skill of two Roger Williams law students (and their supervisor Professor Mary Holper) he can celebrate the holidays with his girlfriend and daughter, who was born while he was in detention. Jessica Grimes, Mary Holper, and Ashley Ham Pong 2009-11-13T15:30:00-05:00 /law/dean/ri_bar_exam_09/ /law/ri_bar_exam_09/#When:14:00:00Z The results from the July bar exam in our home state have come in, and the news is very good. RWU grads beat the pass rate of all takers (RWU grads:83%; all takers:82%) and tied the rate for first-time takers (85%). Especially impressive is the rate racked up by the folks who graduated in May: 87%! This success is not accidental: our strong student body gets a rigorous education in a personalized setting, so they are well-prepared for the challenges of both the bar exam and practice.  2009-11-09T14:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/rwu_law_review_sets_ambitious_agenda/ /law/rwu_law_review_sets_ambitious_agenda/#When:14:00:00Z Top honors for a law student is the chance to work on the law review.  Such student-edited academic journals have been around for more than a century, and they continue to be the place where most legal academics publish the fruits of their scholarly endeavors. (And the RWU Law faculty is very good at this, ranking #5 in New England in a recent survey.) Volume 15 of the Roger Williams Law Review will have three issues.  Economy in Transition, a national-focus issue, is scheduled for an April publication.  Contributing authors include Professor Dan Friedson from the University of Pittsburgh, Fidelma Fitzpatrick from the leading law firm of Motley-Rice, Professor Russell Engler from the New England School of Law, Elizabeth Alvarez from the Central Dallas Ministries Law Office, and Roger Williams’ own Professors William Delaney and George Nnona.  The issue will address the legal and related social impacts of the recent, and in many regards, continuing economic crisis.  Scheduled for a May publication, Volume 15, No. 2 will focus on legal developments in Rhode Island.  As done annually, the Rhode Island issue will present a compendium of surveys with commentary of recent RI Supreme Court decisions.  Cognizant of national discourse, this year’s Rhode Island edition puts a special focus on health care.  Article contributors include Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts, Associate Judge Laureen A. D’Ambra of the RI Family Court, Patricia Sullivan from Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, Gerry Goulet from Hinkley Allen & Snyder, and RWU Adjunct Professor John Cogan, Counsel for the RI Health Insurance Commissioner.  Volume 15, No. 3 will report upon the upcoming symposium on Judicial Selection coordinated by Professor Michael Yelnosky.  The edition will publish the four presenter articles (John Marion, the Executive Director of Common Cause of Rhode Island; Professor Rachel Caufield from Drake University; Empirical Research Associate Mirya Holman from Duke University School of Law; and Professor Yelnosky).  In a first for the law review, transcribed and edited response commentaries to the symposium presenters will be included within the publication.  Finally, the law review is already at work preparing for publication of the first issue of Volume 16, which will provide coverage of the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Comparative Law, held at RWU in October and organized by RWU Professor Ed Eberle.  Here is a photo of the Executive Board of this year’s RWU Law Review. Left to Right: Julie Moore (Articles Editor), Brian Fielding (Editor-in-Chief), Melissa McGow (Executive Notes and Comments Editor), Matt Watson (Executive Articles Editor), Kelly Noble (Rhode Island Editor), Dana Merkel(Managing Editor), Derek Cournoyer (Articles Editor), Staci Buss (Notes and Comments Editor), Dan Morton-Bentley (Articles Editor), Jessica Schachter (Notes and Comments Editor) 2009-11-06T14:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/lgbt_symposium/ /law/lgbt_symposium/#When:16:30:00Z The School of Law recently hosted an important symposium on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people in Rhode Island.  The program, “A Gay and Lesbian User Guide to Rhode Island”, focused on six key areas facing LGBT citizens – estate planning, marriage, healthcare navigation, eldercare and Medicaid law, anti-discrimination, and formation of families.  The program, co-sponsored by our LGBT Alliance, Lawyers for Equality and Diversity (LEAD), and the National LGBT Bar Association, included 13 expert panelists (including two top members of the RWU Law faculty, Courtney Cahill and Diana Hassel) plus keynote speaker Gary Buseck, Legal Director for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). For the over 80 students, faculty and practicing attorneys in attendance, this event was not just educational, it was life-changing.  Below are the comments from one law student who attended: “The Symposium was an invaluable experience for me both professionally and personally.  The formation of families panel was priceless.  For the past three years, my wife and I have tried to have a baby.  When trying to create a family, there are so many choices you have to make including what reproductive center to go to, what doctor to choose, and even where and what type of sperm to purchase.  Most of these choices may seem trivial because the cost is the same regardless of where you decide to go.  Because we live in Rhode Island, we chose a reproductive center in Massachusetts and decided to buy sperm from a bank in Massachusetts instead of California. Not becoming pregnant during that IVF cycle was disappointing but may have been a blessing in disguise.  Little did we know that had we conceived using the Massachusetts donor’s sperm, we would not have been able to second parent adopt.  We would have had to find the donor and have him sign away his parental rights before there could ever be a second parent adoption. I learned that unlike Massachusetts, California adheres to the Uniform Parentage Act which strips a sperm donor of his parental rights immediately.  It is hard to imagine the time, resources, and emotional energy that would have been required to rectify the situation.  From now on, we will use the California Cryobank and encourage our friends and future clients to do the same.” Photo Caption: (left to right back row) Alliance President Scott Clark ‘11,Bridget Mullaney, Esq., Gary Buseck, Esq., Marguerite McLaughlin,Lise Iwon, Esq, Karen Loewy, Esq., Professor Courtney Cahill, Patrick Smock, Esq. ’06, (front row) A. Larry Berren, Esq., Paul Brule, Esq.,Dean David Logan, James Hardy, Esq. 2009-11-03T16:30:00-05:00 /law/dean/apc_schneider_electric/ /law/apc_schneider_electric/#When:14:00:00Z From time-to-time I highlight employers that hire a significant number of our graduates including past blogs on Adler, Pollock & Sheehan and Shectman, Halperin & Savage.  We are especially proud of the relationship we have built with American Power Conversion (APC), a division of a French conglomerate, Schneider Electric, which has 114,000 employees and $23 billion in revenues last year.  APC is a global leader in computer network infrastructure solutions, protecting electronic, network, communications and industrial equipment of all sizes. The Vice President and General Counsel of Schneider, Peter Wexler, operates out of West Kingston, RI, so the RWU Law grads who work there have a sophisticated corporate practice while enjoying the terrific quality of life available in the Ocean State. Here is a photo from a recent visit to campus by Peter and some of the terrific RWU Law folks who work with him. L-R: Melissa DuBose (’04), Peter Wexler, Steven Lagasse (’98), Lesley Lambert (’03), Mary Kibble (‘08), and Elizabeth Colagiovanni (’10). Not pictured: Antionette Currie (’11) and Paula Steele (‘06). 2009-11-02T14:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/public_interest_law/ /law/public_interest_law/#When:18:08:00Z L-R: RWU President Dr. Roy Nirschel, 2L Rebecca Carey, Mark Mandell, Esq., Dean Logan We are extremely proud of the rich array of public interest programs offered at RWU, and the fact that our program is ranked #2 in New England by National Jurist magazine .  I am delighted to announce a major gift that will ensure the future of one of our important initiatives, our unique Pro Bono Collaborative. Read on... And now this from today’s Providence Journal. 2009-10-27T18:08:00-05:00 /law/dean/comparative_law_scholars/ /law/comparative_law_scholars/#When:15:00:00Z Roger Williams Law recently hosted the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Comparative Law, bringing to campus top scholars and teachers of Comp Law.  In the recent past, the conference was held at Cornell, Cal-Hastings, Tulane, Cal-Davis, Hawaii, and Michigan, and it was brought to RWU because of the good works of two of my RWU colleagues who specialize in Comp Law, Prof. Ed Eberle and Prof. Louise Ellen Teitz.  (Ed’s specialty is Comparative Constitutional Law and Louise Ellen focuses on Comparative Civil Procedure.) The theme for the conference was “Methodological Approaches to Comparative Law,” and among the luminaries who presented were the President of the Society Symeon Symeonides (Willamette), David Clark (Willamette), Vivian Curran (Pitt), Mirjan Damaska (Yale), Nora Demleiter (Hofstra), David Gerber (Chicago-Kent), Amalia Kessler (Stanford), Ilhyung Lee (Missouri-Columbia), Peter Quint (Maryland), and Jim Whitman (Yale). Also on hand were some fast-charging junior faculty like Jayanth Krishnan (Indiana) and Colin Picker (University of Missouri-KC), as the final session was devoted to the challenges and opportunities facing “new/young comparativists.” Here are some photos from this important gathering. Mortimer Sellers, Vivian Curran, Ed Eberle, Amalia Kessler and Jim Whitman Teemu Ruskola, Nora Demleitner, Louise Teitz, Ilyung Lee Chris Okewe, Dominique Costos, Jaynanth Krishhan and Maximo Langer David Gerber, David Clark, James Maxeiner, Peter Quint and Louise Teitz 2009-10-23T15:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/jeopardy_09/ /law/jeopardy_09/#When:16:18:01Z The 2009 version of the annual throw-down between representatives of all 3 classes and the faculty was a nail biter.  It was a raucous crowd of well north of 150, each class with its own color and t-shirts adding to the high energy. Representing the defending champs class of 2010 were Matt Shechtman, Jackson Parmenter, Rebecca Barban, Paul Grocki, Arthur DeFelice, and Stephanie Koopman. For the 2Ls: Ed Stravato, Drew Redman, Jenn Spavins, Marykate Geary, Jenna Hashway, and Clay Arnett.  For the rookies (1Ls): Lawrence Almango, Kristin Fitzharris, Eden Sears, Timothy Grimes, John Whaley, and Matt McClure. The old-timers (i.e., the faculty) were represented by Profs. Courtney Cahill, Emily Sack, Jonathan Gutoff, Kathy Thompson, and Richard Rose; for the first time a slot was reserved for an alum, this year it was Adam Ramos (’06). The first round (Jeopardy) categories were: Animals; Massachusetts; Potpourri; International Booze; Sports; and Single Name Starz.  For Double Jeopardy: Countries; TV; Brand Names; Hair; US Presidents; and Michael Jackson. All 4 teams were in the hunt going into Final Jeopardy. It was a relatively easy category and answer (“The oldest of the theme parks at Disney World”).  All teams nailed the right question (“What is the Magic Kingdom?”) but pinpoint wagering carried the day, with the faculty team edging the upstart 1Ls by a mere dollar.  Many thanks to the Sports and Entertainment Law Society for their invaluable logistical work and for James Brown for his technical support.  Here are some pics from that fun evening. 1Ls 2Ls 3Ls Faculty with hardware SPENT Volunteers Jeopardy theme sound bite  Jeopardy! sound bites 2009-10-19T16:18:01-05:00 /law/dean/heritage_pride/ /law/heritage_pride/#When:12:41:00Z Last week, the School of Law had its Heritage Pride Celebration.  Here is a recap from Lydia Hanhardt, our Director of Diversity and Outreach: Thursday, October 8 was not an ordinary night at the law school.  When I walked down to the lower level of the building I could feel the activity and energy in the room.  The Multicultural Law Students Association (MCLSA) was hosting its third annual Heritage Pride Celebration.  I remember the first celebration two years ago; there were about 30 students and staff members all wearing our “MCLSA Celebrates _(fill in your)_ Culture” t-shirts.  We shared cookies and soda and listened to then MCLSA President Majessire Smith talk about the importance of celebrating all the diversity in our law school.  It was a moment of bringing our community together and the beginning of a wonderful tradition that has grown significantly.  And Thursday night was amazing!  About 75 students, professors and staff members gathered for food and performances from around the world, including a Chinese Lion Dance group, a Native American drumming circle and dancers, Korean Drummers, and traditional Filipino dancers (who were the aunt and uncle of 2L student Jen Coliflores)!  The drums boomed and energized everyone in the room.  At one point some students, including MCLSA President Justin Pruett, even danced with the Native American dancers.  And as Professor Colleen Murphy shared with us stories of her own cultural heritage I was reminded of the tremendous diversity that exists in our small school and our little State of Rhode Island. Brown University Hansori Korean Drummers Fracel and Bill Solar of the Philippine Dance Company of Boston Professor Colleen Murphy shares stories about her own heritage MCLA President Justin Pruett with Rhode Island Indian Council drummers Rhode Island Indian Council dancers 2009-10-14T12:41:00-05:00 /law/dean/fall_programs/ /law/fall_programs/#When:12:43:00Z The new academic year brings with it a chance for students and faculty to hear from experts on the most pressing issues of the day, and fall 2009 is no exception. Professor Michael Gerhardt offered “An Insider’s View on the Sotomayor Confirmation.” Mike was my colleague at Wake Forest and is now the Ashe Professor of Constitutional Law and Director of the Center for Law and Government at the University of North Carolina School of Law.  He served as Special Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee for the Senate’s consideration of President Obama’s nomination Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.  (Mike also advised the Clinton White House for the nomination of Judge Stephen Breyer, the last time the Democrats had to fill a spot on the High Court.) In his formal comments, Prof. Gerhardt identified a number of “myths” about the process, including that widely-held notion that the nomination of Robert Bork was what made modern nominations highly partisan: emphasized the role of politics in both the selection of nominees and the Senate’s confirmation process, and that there were many tough battles fought well back in our history (like the Senate refusing 8 straight nominations put forward by President John Tyler).  In the lively Q&A session afterwards, he addressed a related point, the statement Justice Scalia made in his 2007 visit to RWU Law (“The process is so partisan now that I would never have been confirmed by a unanimous vote.”) In Mike’s opinion, the fact that Scalia sailed through the process was based upon a strategic decision on the part of Democrats to use their political capital to oppose the concurrent nomination of Associate Justice William Rehnquist to the position of Chief Justice. Here are some pictures from Mike’s visit to RWU Law. Prof. Gerhardt meeting with students before his formal remarks Prof. Gerhardt with Prof. Margulies duuring his visit Later that day, Mike participated in a panel on “Judicial Selection” sponsored by the United States District Court, where he was joined by two other experts, Prof. Michael Yelnosky of the RWU Law faculty and Alan Rudlin from the leading firm Hunton & Williams (Richmond, Va.).  Here is some press coverage of that panel. The other fall highlight so far was a program jointly organized by the RWU Law Federalist Society and American Constitution Society, a debate between two experts on gun control, our own Professor Carl Bogus and attorney Alan Gura, who led the legal team that successfully challenged DC’s gun ban in the landmark case D.C. v. Heller. Carl has written extensively on the Second Amendment, including his book The Second Amendment in Law and History: Historians and Constitutional Scholars on the Right to Bear Arms. One hundred and thirty students came to see witness the throw-down, revisiting the debate held previously at Columbia Law School.  Professor Bogus conceded early that the conservative majority on the SCOTUS means that Second Amendment is going to be incorporated, and the debate quickly shifted to whether or not the Second Amendment was meant to enshrine a right to arms among members of the general public. Professor Bogus challenged Alan’s view that Americans have historically held the right to bear arms to be a fundamental one. After forty minutes of spirited debate, students were invited to ask questions and both speakers were eager to address their opponent’s arguments, each having their own statistics and historical studies to draw from their debate arsenal.  Here are some pics from that exciting event Members of the RWU Law Federalist Society and American Constitution Society with Prof. Bogus and Mr. Gura NB: Shortly after the debate, the Court announced that it had granted cert to hear the appeal of a case refusing to incorporate the Second Amendment to strike down Chicago’s 27-year old handgun ban, so once again, Mr. Gura will be on the front lines of legal history.  Read more... 2009-10-06T12:43:00-05:00 /law/dean/twitter_reporter_privileges/ /law/twitter_reporter_privileges/#When:16:28:00Z The hectic life of a law dean leaves little time for scholarly reflection.  Nevertheless, when I was asked to participate in a First Amendment workshop sponsored by the Southeast Association of Law Schools this summer, I agreed because for some time I have been interested in how the law adapts to changes in how news is disseminated.  (I wrote an essay on the “24-hour news cycle” that appeared in a symposium on the impact of technology on Media Law while I was still on the faculty at Wake Forest: 2009-09-30T16:28:00-05:00 /law/dean/immigration_law_clinic/ /law/immigration_law_clinic/#When:15:53:00Z One of the most pressing social justice issues in the United States is the fate of the millions of people who are swept up by the immigration system.  And while the issue of undocumented workers is typically associated with states that share a border with Mexico, the burgeoning immigrant population in Southeastern New England has raised similar concerns in our area. In fact, within the last year there have been major raids of undocumented workers in nearby New Bedford, Massachusetts and at all of the state courthouses in Rhode Island.  In addition to these high-profile events, there are many day-to-day issues facing local immigrants, so the fact that there is no right to appointed counsel and the relative dearth of practitioners who handle such cases, means that there is a profound need for competent legal representation.  I am very proud to announce that Roger Williams University School of Law has just this semester opened an Immigration Law Clinic to help make a dent in this unmet need. The clinic is directed by a terrific new member of our tenure-track faculty, Prof. Mary Holper.  (Most law schools staff their clinics with lower-paid contract lawyers.) Besides bringing stellar academic credentials (Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Illinois, magna cum laude graduate of Boston College Law), Mary has been able to hit the ground running because she ran a similar clinic at BC for the last several years. A law school clinic cannot just be about helping indigent clients, though; as a part of our curriculum, a clinic is also a teaching laboratory, where a faculty member closely supervises the work of a small group of students in their final year of law school, and not only provides guidance on the complexities of the relevant law (and Immigration Law is without a doubt a complex area), but also helps the students learn how to interact with clients, research the facts (which for a range of reasons do not always come from the client in the most reliable way, a problem exacerbated by the language barriers often presented by clients with poor English skills), and when necessary, provide advocacy. The Immigration Law Clinic is an important addition to our existing clinics, in Criminal Defense and Mediation (taught by deeply experienced members of our tenured faculty), and expands the range of experiential learning opportunities at RWU. Read my earlier blog about experiential learning at RWU Law. The clinic opening was covered in a Providence Journal release, Boston.com, and O Jornal.com Here are some pictures from the public event announcing the new clinic, held at our downtown Providence offices this week, and which reflect both the great enthusiasm the community has about this initiative, as well as the deep support the RWU School of Law has in the bench and bar. Dean Logan with Chief Justice Paul Suttell, Justice William Robinson, and Professor Holper Carl Krueger, Staff Attorney for the International Institute of RI RWU Law students Angela Corso, Elvira Arias, Rishmil Patel, and Alejandro Vera 2009-09-25T15:53:00-05:00 /law/dean/marine_coastal_law_projects/ /law/marine_coastal_law_projects/#When:14:01:00Z In partnership with the Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program, the RWU Marine Affairs Institute hires law students as Sea Grant Law Fellows to conduct legal research and analysis for government agencies, industry and non-profit organizations like local governments. Fellows work on timely legal issues, honing their legal research and writing skills while acquiring hands-on application of classroom knowledge. Constituents benefit from receiving balanced, neutral research while also providing students with real world experience.  Below are summaries of summer, 2009 Law Fellow projects: Kirby Aarsheim, 3L Kirby worked with the Quonset Development Corporation’s Port Director, in Davisville, Rhode Island, reviewing and analyzing the permitting process for marine construction and dredging projects.  Kirby stated:  “While reviewing and analyzing agency documents, I learned how difficult it can be for a business to engage in marine construction and dredging projects. There are many factors to consider and agencies to seek approval from before putting a shovel into the ground.” Chris Connolly, 2L Chris’s summer as a Law Fellow for Pacific Energy Ventures, LLC, a consulting firm based in Portland, Oregon., introduced him to offshore energy projects.  His research on offshore wave and tidal energy projects along the eastern seaboard contributed to a forthcoming publication entitled “Siting Methodologies Handbook for Advanced Water Power Projects.” Chris stated: “The knowledge gained about the individual states’ approaches to the Coastal Zone Management Act and their respective coastal zone management programs will have a lasting impact on my career. The Marine Affairs Institute’s professional network enabled me to work with key players involved in the future management of our shores and submerged lands.” Pamela Cunningham, 2L Pam worked with the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension, University of Rhode Island Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials, and Save the Bay’s legal counsel to complete “A Local Official’s Guide to Regulating Land Use in Wetland Buffers and High Water Tables to Protect Water Quality.” Pam’s research contributed to a publication that will enable local zoning board officials make decisions regarding land use to protect wetland resources and drinking water quality.  She said, “It was a rewarding experience to speak with town planners and scientists regarding the legal issues their towns face and to provide viable solutions to help them protect their water resources.  I was able to utilize all the skills that I had mastered in my first year of law school and apply them to real problems.” Alastair Deans, 2L Alastair conducted research for The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition to analyze a more coordinated licensing process for offshore renewable energy projects using memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between governmental agencies.  Alastair stated:  “I realized that MOUs fit perfectly into the development scheme, and that MOUs build strong cooperative relationships within government, at times stronger than contracts.” 2009-09-22T14:01:00-05:00 /law/dean/public_interest_summer/ /law/public_interest_summer/#When:15:00:00Z As you may remember from a previous blog (“Experiential Learning,” June 23, 2009), twenty-eight RWU Law students were awarded Feinstein Institute Summer Stipends (ranging from $2500 to $3500) to enable them to work in the public sector, and eight more received grants from the Equal Justice Works Summer Corps.  I am confident that they all had great experiences, implementing the lessons of the classroom, but three received prestigious awards that deserve special mention. Jennifer Coliflores (’11) was chosen for Providence Mayor David Cicilline’s summer fellowship program. (The Mayor has served as a member of our Adjunct Faculty.) Jen worked in the Providence Law Department for City Solicitor Joseph M. Fernandez (also a terrific supporter of RWU Law over the years).  Jennifer said:  “While working in the Solicitor’s Office, I had a wide variety of experience in the many different areas of municipal law. In addition to responding to the assigning attorneys, I did a substantial amount of drafting, specifically complaints, easements, leases, and motions.  I also observed and did trial preparation for a tort case in the United States District Court.  One of the highlights of the internship was participating in the 77th Annual Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors, which was held for the first time in Providence.” A 2006 graduate of Colby College, Jennifer had several internships with politicians in both Boston and Maine before enrolling at RWU Law.  This year, Jennifer is the 2L representative to the Student Bar Association and the co-chair of the Public Interest Auction, and in her spare time, she is also the Co-Executive Director of the Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering youth leadership. Working for the ACLU Voting Rights Project in Atlanta, Sarah Mazzochi (’10) was one of only two recipients nationwide of the “Ms. JD Public Interest Summer Scholarship.” Ms. JD chose Sarah for her commitment to public interest law based on her work, academic record, and life story.  Sarah’s winning essay is posted on the Ms. JD website.  In Sarah’s words, “Working for the ACLU Voting Rights Project was an amazing experience.  I learned what it really meant to bring constitutional challenges to court.  Being in an office that regularly has cases before the United States Supreme Court made me feel like, although I was only there one summer, that I was part of something much bigger.” Sarah, who graduated from Brown in 2006, is president of our Law Students for Reproductive Justice, the Executive Articles Editor of the Ashburn Institute Transnational Law Journal, and a member of Jessup International Law Moot Court Team.  She is also the co-chair and co-author of the ACLU Rhode Island Prisoners’ Rights Handbook for ’08-09. Not only did Heather O’Connor (’11) receive a Massachusetts Bar Foundation Fellowship, but she was selected as one of nine students from a pool of 400 across the country to receive a Summer Corps Standout Award. Heather worked at South Coastal Counties Legal Services in Fall River, MA, in the Homelessness Prevention Project.  Heather’s experiences are detailed in a post on the Equal Justice Works Blog.  Her work was also featured in the Fall River paper, which included a video on their website.  After an eight-year career as a professional figure skater, Heather, a mother of three children, graduated 1st in her class at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, is in our Honors Program and was recently selected for the Law Review. Congratulations to all of the public interest stars! 2009-09-15T15:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/facebook/ /law/facebook/#When:15:00:00Z The School of Law is always striving to use technology to reach the broadest audience with news about our terrific faculty, staff, students, alums, and programs.  In the last few years, our Admissions Office has used Facebook to communicate with our incoming class with much success.  Now the School of Law has launched a fan page on Facebook.  Our fan page will channel all the latest developments at the School of Law directly into your newsfeed.  When faculty members are quoted in the national media, a new blog is posted, or an exciting program is on tap, you will be among the first to know.  If you are already on Facebook consider becoming a fan of Roger Williams University School of Law and spread the word to anyone you know who is considering an RWU Law education in the future.  Click here to get started! 2009-09-11T15:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/alumni_golf_tournament/ /law/alumni_golf_tournament/#When:21:00:00Z The Law Alumni Association’s 10th Annual Golf Tournament at Cranston Country Club is in the books and it was another terrific event.  The heat and humidity did not stop alumni, faculty, staff, and friends from taking part in a fun day that included golf, (way too much) great food and drink, prizes, a raffle, and a silent auction.  The winners of the “best ball” competition were P.K. Palmer ‘02, Greg Calat, and Mike Marciano.  Among the other notable teams was a foursome featuring three of the most popular teachers on our Adjunct Faculty: United States District Judge Will Smith, Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court Daniel Procaccini, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Rose, joined by our irrepressible Dean of Career Services Tony Bastone.  Among the other highlights: Linn Foster Freedman, a partner at Nixon Peabody (and member of the RWU SOL Board of Directors) won the prize for the longest drive by a woman and another foursome was anchored by Prof. Jorge Elorza, who hit the links with students.  Many thanks for the generous support from our tournament sponsor, Morowitz & Barry, and the many students, staff, and alums (a special shout out to tournament co-chairs Anthony Leone ‘97 and Kim Tracy ‘07!) who helped to make the day such a success.  All proceeds from the tournament go into the Law Alumni Association Scholarship Fund that provides deserving law students financial assistance with their legal education expenses.  Below are some photos from that fun day. 2009-09-08T21:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/talented_class/ /law/talented_class/#When:21:00:00Z The Class of 2012 has arrived at RWU Law, and it is the largest, and has the best credentials, in our history.  This is not surprising because we were swamped with applications (up 21% over last year).  I want to share with you some information about this talented group of future attorneys as described by our terrific Assistant Dean for Admissions, Michael Boylen, in his welcome address. I would like to welcome you to Roger Williams University School of Law.  We, in the Admissions Office, have had the distinct privilege of getting to know you over the last year.  Thank you for sharing your stories with us.  The Class of 2012 is dynamic and talented and I am here today to tell you all a little bit about the folks you will be calling your classmates. You represent more than a 100 undergraduate institutions including Georgetown, Harvard, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Wellesley, Brown, Villanova, Vassar, Tufts, NYU, UC-Santa Cruz, GW, Haverford, Grinnell, Colby, William & Mary, Clemson, Boston College, Georgia, Kansas, Auburn, UNLV, Tulane, Wesleyan, Iowa, and Chicago. Some of you have earned your bachelor’s degree internationally, at such places as the University of Dublin, the University of New Delhi, McGill (Canada), and St. Andrews (Scotland). The top five feeder schools for your class are Boston University, UMASS-Amherst, and Roger Williams--all tied for fourth.  Providence College is third, Rhode Island College second, and our largest feeder school is University of Rhode Island. In your class you will find a realtor, the assistant manager of the Goat Island marina, a pharmacist, a TV reporter from LA, a US embassy staffer in Burkina Faso, a Del’s Lemonade Truck Driver, a nurse, an opera singer, a social worker, a staffer for U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the vice president of a bank, the Captain of the Fire Island Water Taxi, a Mary Kay beauty consultant, an investigator at the RI Commission against Discrimination, a farmer, a standup comic, a professor of Constitutional History and LGBT studies, a campus anti-war organizer, the sales manager for an international sea food company, a sous chef, a deckhand on a schooner, a staffer with the Kucinich campaign, the director of a community alcohol abuse program, a professional glassblower, and even Dom Deluise’s personal assistant. Members of your class have led the charge against legalized prostitution here in Rhode Island, canvassed for Greenpeace, helped mobilize Latino voters, and demonstrated for gay rights.  One has worked at Mother Theresa’s orphanage, and others assisted the blind in India and worked with disadvantaged kids in Cape Town, South Africa.  Someone in your class has fought in Iraq.  Many of you have helped rebuild New Orleans after Katrina, and two of you actually survived the hurricane. You have been involved in many co-curricular activities during college.  A number of you have worked with Habitat for Humanity.  We have the co-president of a multicultural dorm, a singer in a glee club, and a jazz musician.  Many of you played sports – with an unusual number of rugby players. There is a president of the College Republicans and a president of the College Democrats.  Someone spent last fall working for John McCain while someone else was with the Barack Obama campaign.  Three quarters of your class comes from somewhere other than Rhode Island:  34% from the other New England States, 22% from Northeastern states outside of New England, 8% from the South, 5% from the West, and 6% from the Central US. Nine % of your class comes from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in the legal profession. The average age of the class is 25, with 7% over the age of 30.  A number of you are married and some have children. And, yes, this is the strongest class in Roger Williams University School of Law history. It is now time for you to meet this very interesting class of 2012.  We invite you to join your classmates, Chief Justice Suttell, and other distinguished guests, for a reception in the atrium. And, on behalf of all of us at RWU Law, welcome to law school. Chief Justice Paul Suttell addresses the incoming class Chief Justice Suttell administers the oath of professionalism Dean Logan addresses the class Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell speaks with students at the reception Victoria Almeida, President, Rhode Island Bar Association with a new 1L Professor Bruce Kogan with students Assistant Dean of Admissions Michael Boylen with Arthur DeFelice ‘10, SBA President, and new 1L’s 2009-09-01T21:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/summer_jobs/ /law/summer_jobs/#When:18:00:00Z As students return to RWU for the beginning of fall classes, I thought I would provide snapshots of a couple of rising 3Ls who had unique summer experiences…. Jay Resmini Jay Resmini spent his summer in Los Angeles, working in the Worldwide TV Distribution Legal Department of MGM studios.  He was immersed in entertainment law, with projects changing almost daily. The highlight: a project for the Vice President involving a 64 picture agreement with French television. Jay: “I had to regularly communicate with the many players involved.  At first I was a bit intimidated, especially because of the language barrier, but I ended up with significant responsibility for a project worth tens of millions of dollars.” Jay researched and wrote memos, communicated with opposing counsel, and even had a hand in drafting the contracts.  “The skill set that Professor John Chung provided, as well as the training I received from the legal drafting professors, gave me what I needed to hit the ground running on day one.  I found that the ‘gap’ between law school and practice wasn’t all that wide and I attribute that to the amazing faculty at RWU Law.” Gavin Black Gavin Black, one of our many strong Marine Affairs students, was at the International Maritime Organization in London. Gavin conducted research on issues related to international port safety and security, and got to participate in IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee meetings, where the focus was on the implementation of the Long-Range Identification and Tracking system, the development of goal-based standards for new ship construction, and the adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.  The hottest topic though was, unsurprisingly, piracy, and the attendees considered best practices in cases where seafarers, fishermen, and other mariners are kidnapped or held hostage for ransom.  Gavin was responsible for reviewing the latest statistics on piracy and armed robbery against ships, focusing on situations in the Gulf of Aden. 2009-08-27T18:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/trifecta_3_from_rwu_law_help_shape_national_law_school_admissions_policy/ /law/trifecta_3_from_rwu_law_help_shape_national_law_school_admissions_policy/#When:17:20:01Z Over the last 6 years RWU Law has been an active participant in shaping both the present and the future of law school admissions through service to the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC).  While LSAC is best known for administering the LSAT, it is a non-profit organization that governs much of the legal admissions process in the United States, Canada, and Australia (and soon India and China!).  We are proud that LSAC has appointed three of our own to prestigious posts. Michael Boylen, our Assistant Dean of Admissions, has been appointed Chair of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Subcommittee, after serving as a committee member in 2007 and 2008.  During that period the RWU Law LGBT group, the Alliance, had a hand in helping overhaul LSAC’s guide for LGBT applicants to law school.  (In fact, two of our students, Mary Sarigumba ‘10 and Cara Hall ‘09, were profiled in both the Out and In brochure and on LSAC’s web site).  Michael will also be serving as a member of the Diversity Committee, which is charged with developing and nurturing initiatives that broaden the pipeline to law school for underrepresented groups.  Finally, he has been tapped to be a trainer for new admissions personnel at LSAC’s annual Newcomer’s Workshop. After only a year as an admissions professional, Tom Shaffer (our Director of Admissions and RWU Law class of 1998), will join the LSAC Misconduct and Irregularity Subcommittee. In this role, he will review cases where applicants are alleged to have engaged in misconduct during the law school application process. David Logan, Michael Boylen, and Thomas Shaffer ‘98 Finally, I have been asked to serve on the LSAC’s Investment Policy Oversight Group, which oversees LSAC’s rather large investment portfolio.  In 2007 and 2008, I served a member of the Finance and Legal Affairs Committee and before that, I served as a member of the Diversity Committee. 2009-08-24T17:20:01-05:00 /law/dean/justice_suttell/ /law/justice_suttell/#When:14:00:00Z On July 16, 2009, Paul Suttell was sworn in as Rhode Island’s 51st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, with state and federal judges, political leaders, family and friends in attendance.  In spite of the dreary day, the atmosphere was festive, reflecting the remarkably broad array of support (a unanimous vote in the Senate) for the jurist from Little Compton, who has moved from the Family Court (where he served 1990-2003), to Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (2003-09), and now to the pinnacle of the state judiciary as Chief Justice. Dean Bastone and I attended the ceremony, where we spotted popular Adjunct Professor Don Migliori and his law partner Jack McConnell. (from the RWU Board of Trustees and slated to go on the federal bench this fall), plus Susan Rodriguez (’03) and Elizabeth Suever (’07) who served as Chief Justice Suttell’s law clerks, and Sally McDonald (’09) who will be his clerk starting next month.  One good example of what a great experience a Suttell clerkship is for young lawyers is that he asked Susan to testify on his behalf during the confirmation process.  Elizabeth, now practicing with Roberts, Carroll & Feldstein Carroll, summed up her experience:  “Having the opportunity to serve as Justice Suttell’s law clerk was a great honor and learning experience.  As a new law school graduate, I could not have asked for a better mentor to help me hone my legal writing and research skills.  I will always look back fondly on my time in Justice Suttell’s chambers.” Elizabeth Suever ‘07, Chief Justice Suttell and Robert Knychalski ‘07 RWU Law has developed a very close relationship with the Court—every justice typically hires at least one RWU Law grad as a clerk-- and it will only deepen under Chief Justice Suttell’s leadership. (In fact, he will address our incoming class, and administer an oath of professionalism to the new class at the kickoff of Orientation this week.) And we look forward to once again hosting the Court for the championship round of our flagship Clark Moot Court Competition later in the fall.  Congratulations, Chief! 2009-08-17T14:00:00-05:00 /law/dean/tocci_chantal/ /law/tocci_chantal/#When:14:21:00Z The WSJ has profiled Chantal Tocci (’04) and her unique career path.  By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN Two years ago, Chantal Tocci quit a job as a law-school admissions coordinator to escape a difficult boss. As she networked to find her next position, Ms. Tocci told her tai chi instructor—also a production executive for the Fox TV show “America’s Most Wanted”—that she was on the hunt. He said the program had an opening for a production assistant in the hotline department. Ms. Tocci applied for the job and got it. In her second week, she took a call from a tipster that led to an arrest—the show’s 954th capture. Ms. Tocci, 29 years old, has since been promoted to manager of hotline operations. Edited interview excerpts follow: Q: What does your job entail? A: I’m in charge of hiring and managing our hotline staff. The majority has been with us for a long time. On Saturday nights I manage a crew of 15 to 20 operators, and during the week, about 10. I make sure all our tips are getting to where they need to go, such as to law enforcement and our producers. We don’t allow anyone to answer the phones other than our trained operators. There are times when tipsters call and only want to speak to a manager and of course I jump on the line. If a capture is made during the show, I have to let the film crew in the studio and the appropriate one on the road know what’s going on. Sometimes a tipster will say a fugitive is my neighbor and he’s home right now. Fugitives also call in. A fugitive recently turned himself in from a diner in New Jersey. Q: You started out answering calls to the show’s hotline. How did you learn the job? A: I was trained by the person whom I took over for. The best training is to shadow operators by listening in on the calls they take and their standard responses. Most people call in with tips, but some ask how to get their stories on the show or how to deal with a problem like domestic violence, child abuse or legal issues. We refer them to the appropriate resources. Q: What was it like taking the call that led to the capture of a wanted fugitive? A: It was very exciting. It was from a family member telling me that he’s at this address and they were very upset and needed someone to get there right away. Q: What’s the most challenging part of your job? A: Sometimes it’s just the stories that we deal with on a day-to-day basis. We air a lot of tragic stories, which at times can weigh on your mental well-being. But that’s offset by the fact that we know we’re helping people. Q: What do you do when the show’s not on the air? A: A lot of people think the show is live but it’s not. Except for the stories with reenactments, which are shot weeks in advance, the show is taped earlier in the week. Before each episode airs I’m given a copy to review with our hotline operators. We need to be familiar with the cases being profiled for while the show is airing. About half of the operators you see in the background during the episodes are actually actors. The rest are real operators. After the show airs, I compile a report of all the important tips that came in and distribute it to the entire staff. Q: You started out working in academia. Do you miss working in that field? A: I thought it was going to be my career. During my third year as a student at Roger Williams University School of Law, I became a program coordinator for the undergraduate university. Two years later I went to work in the admissions department at [another law school]. I really wanted to be a school administrator but I didn’t get along well with my boss and left after just six months. Q: What are your career plans going forward? A: I definitely would love to stay with the show as long as they want to keep me here. It offers the right work-life balance for me. My higher-ups are flexible if I have a doctor’s appointment. It’s a casual environment during the week. I’m wearing jeans right now. Q: In general, what does it take to succeed in your current line of work? A: You have to have a good rapport over the phone. You need to have that professionalism and standard in your heart that you want to make each call go as smoothly as possible. How You Can Get Here, Too Best advice: Network and keep an open mind, says Ms. Tocci. You never know where your next job is going to come from. Skills you need: The ability to listen and communicate well. Where to start: Any company that deals with customers or that you would call if you have a problem. Write to Sarah E. Needleman at sarah.needleman@wsj.com 2009-08-12T14:21:00-05:00 /law/dean/visiting_justice_scalia/ /law/visiting_justice_scalia/#When:13:12:01Z One of the highlights of the 2007-08 academic year was the extended visit we had from Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.  While many law schools get a cameo appearance from a Justice, the entire RWU Law family got to spend time with the outspoken jurist: breakfast for leaders in the bench and bar, a lunch with faculty, a public session, a meeting with student leaders, and a Constitutional Law class for all 2Ls.  Previous blogs The “Supreme Semester” Continues:  Justice Scalia’s Day at RWU Part 1 and Part 2 include more detail and photos from that event-filled visit. More recently, I traveled to Washington to present the Justice with an Honorary Degree which the law school Board of Directors had voted to give in recognition of Justice Scalia’s nearly three decades of service as a federal judge, first on the United States Court of Appeals (where one of our top profs, Niki Kuckes was his law clerk) and since 1986 on the United States Supreme Court.  It was an honor to go “behind the curtains” at the Court, in a visit arranged by Ron Cass, a member of the School of Law Board of Directors.  (Years ago, while still in practice, I went to the Court for the oral argument of a civil rights case I worked on, but I had never been to chambers.) At the appointed time, we were ushered in, and we had a relaxed visit.  The Justice graciously accepted his degree, sent along his regards to Prof. Kuckes, and remarked on how much he had enjoyed his visit to RWU Law.  He also traded quips with his long-time friend Ron (in case I wasn’t sure of their friendship, Ron called him by his nickname “Nino”).  Here is a picture from that fascinating visit. 2009-08-06T13:12:01-05:00 /law/dean/loan_forgiveness_grants_2008/ /law/loan_forgiveness_grants_2008/#When:13:30:01Z RWU Law launched its Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Program this summer. Created through the generosity of RWU President Dr. Roy J. Nirschel, and Jack and Sara McConnell, the program provides financial assistance to alumni who represent indigent clients in civil and criminal proceedings. Our first recipients are a terrific group of recent grads who as students took full advantage of our exemplary clinical, externship and public service programs while at RWU Law.  Here are brief descriptions of the important work that the program supports and below that some pics from a summer gathering to thank Jack and Sara. Our first grant awards went to: Kara Henderson A public defender at the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) in Fall River, Mass., Kara first connected with CPCS during the fall of her third year, through our Public Interest Externship Program. Kara also served as a student attorney in our Criminal Defense Clinic, and interned for the Rhode Island Attorney General and the New Hampshire Public Defender – with a public interest summer stipend from RWU Law each summer.  Rebecca Kratz As the first staff attorney at the Freedom from Religion Foundation in Madison, Wis., Rebecca works primarily on First Amendment cases for low income clients. At RWU Law, she served as vice president of the Association for Public Interest Law and was active in the Women’s Law Association.  During law school, Rebecca interned with two Wisconsin DA offices, with the Wisconsin Coalition against Domestic Violence.  Kareem Morgan Also a public defender at the CPCS – in their Brockton, Mass., office – Kareem was a member of the Honors Program at RWU Law, and served as an intern for the Honorable Edward C. Clifton in the Providence Superior Court through our Judicial Externship Program. Kareem also participated in our Community Justice and Legal Assistance Clinic, representing clients incarcerated at Rhode Island’s Adult Correctional Institute on family law cases involving visitation, custody, and child welfare issues. Nina Sá A Bart Gordon Fellow at the Legal Assistance Center of Central Massachusetts in Worcester, Mass., Nina handles both individual and systemic immigration cases, and conducts outreach to underserved immigrant communities. In law school, she was a member of the Honors Program, participated in the Pro Bono Collaborative, served as a public interest extern at the Immigration, Law, Education and Advocacy Project at Catholic Social Services in Fall River, and was a student attorney in our Criminal Defense Clinic.  The Dean, Kara, Nina, Sara, and Jack Jack and me Director of Public Service & Community Partnerships Liz Tobin Tyler with Sara Nina with Laurie Barron, Executive Director of the Feinstein Institute Kara with Suzy Harrington-Steppen, Feinstein Institute Program Coordinator 2009-07-30T13:30:01-05:00