Alex Davis and Nancy Vinsel recently took the initiative to do something beneficial for the student body that also demonstrated the skills they've learned here in their first semester of law school. With the help of their classmates in Professor Leibson’s Section 1 Torts class, they embarked upon a clever campaign that raised $1040 for student scholarships.

In exchange for about $10 each and 24 12-ounce cans of Dr. Brown’s Diet Cream Soda, the students acquired David Leibson's golf hat signed by PGA Champion, Byron Nelson, and a presentation of stories from their professor's career.

Alex Davis said that, "This started out as a really small idea, and it was amazing to watch it grow as other students and faculty came up with ideas to make the offer better. We're hoping to challenge future classes to buy the hat from us and raise even more money."

It's not too late to contribute.

Photo credit: Michael Ben-Avraham

Two classes have been added to the spring 2010 schedule.  The final exams for these classes are:

1)  Crim. Pro. 2: Judicial Process (Abramson) - Friday, 4/23/2009 at 1:00 pm

2)  Business Organizations (Blackburn) - Monday, 4/26/2009 at 1:00 pm

In his/her mailbox, every student has received a copy of the complete, new Policy Governing Exams on Computer.  The policy is also posted online at www.law.louisville.edu/it/computer-exam-policy.  The practice test deadline to use Exam4 for Fall 2009 finals is 6:00 PM EST, Friday, November 20th.

The complete Docket announcement about downloading and installing Exam4 and submitting a practice test is posted at www.law.louisville.edu/node/4051.

Exam4 for Fall 2009 final exams is now available to all students.  Hardware and operating system requirements, and download and installation instructions, are posted at www.law.louisville.edu/it/exam-software-download.  Rather than downloading Exam4 directly from our Web site, you must now download it from Extegrity.  Exam4 is available for Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger), 10.5 (Leopard) and 10.6 (Snow Leopard), and Windows XP and Vista.  A Windows 7 version is not yet available, and Windows 7 will not be supported for exams until a certified version of Exam4 becomes available for it.

Any student who wishes to use his/her computer for final exams this semester (including 1Ls who used the previous version for Legal Research and/or Prof. Leibson's Torts I mid-term) must download and install the finals version of Exam4 AND properly take and submit a practice test by 6:00 PM EST, Friday, November 20.  A properly taken and submitted practice test identifies the student by his/her UofL user name (e.g., ldbran01) -- not by one's student ID number, or any other combination of letters or numerals.  To submit a practice test electronically, one must be on campus and connected to the University's wireless network.  The University's firewall prevents off-campus submission.

Any student who wishes to use his/her computer for final exams this semester and cannot comply with the practice test requirement by the deadline must contact the Associate Dean for Student Life before the deadline if he/she wishes to petition for an extension of the practice test deadline or exemption from the practice test requirement.

VERY IMPORTANT:  Any student who takes any exam on computer who: 1. has not properly taken and submitted a practice test, or 2. has not brought a USB flash drive to any exam, will be refused technical assistance by the IT staff, including, but not limited to, submitting a completed exam.

After the practice test deadline has passed, the IT staff will send an e-mail confirmation to each student who has properly and timely submitted a practice test.  In the meantime, you may check whether your practice test was received at www.law.louisville.edu/it/exam-tracker.  Any practice test listed on the Exam Tracker is presumptively o.k.

As a reminder, the last day for classes is Tuesday, 11/24/2009. 

Monday classes will meet on Tuesday, 11/24/2009 - Tuesday classes will not meet on that day.

Use study groups judiciously as you prepare for finals.

• Do not skimp on your personal review time by joining too many group activities.
• Schedule group time when you have reviewed the material enough to gain the most from discussions.
• Alternate who explains concepts or answers questions so everyone has to “work” and get practice.
• Have individual practice question time as well – your group cannot help you during the exam.
• If study group sessions become too frustrating, consider gracefully bowing out to study by yourself or with just one other person.
  

On October 24th and 25th a group of ten students from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law attended the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair in Washington, DC.  Ten students, eight third-years and two second-years ventured to the nation’s capital in order to explore Public Interest opportunities. This was the first time that any of our students attended.

Assistant Dean for Career Services/Public Service, Kathy Urbach, got the ball rolling in September and encouraged students who were interested in attending the conference to meet with her to have their resume reviewed.  There was also an application process to be completed.

Funding for travel and lodging came from two sources.  Some of the money used was from the Career Services budget in lieu of other travel expenses.  Victor Revill, Student Bar Association President, obtained funds from University of Louisville’s Student Government Association.  One student even used frequent flyer points to get to the conference.

A meeting was held prior to the conference to provide information about what students could expect, how they should approach the employers at Table Talk, networking, workshops and other related topics.  Also, students outlined plans of action which gave fellow students ideas of how to assist one another.

Some of the students had specific goals.  Jessica Kingley, a third-year student, knew that she wanted to meet with the New York District County Attorney’s Office as well as Public Service people from New York City and turn it into a job.  Guion Johnstone, a second-year student, attended with four actual interviews scheduled.  Rexena Napier and Melissa McHendrix, both third-year students and both interested in animal law, knew that there wouldn’t be any employers dedicated to solely animal law, but viewed the conference as a way to learn about other related opportunities.  Victor Revill, a third-year student and president of the SBA, knew ahead of time that his approximately “five minute introduction speech” needed to be well-rehearsed and fine tuned for each prospective employer. 

All of the students were committed to public service work prior to attending the conference.  Jamie Izlar, a second-year student, worked in a public interest position before attending law school.  Her work involved working with indigent, undocumented immigrants.  Colleen Hagan, a third-year student said that the rewarding part of going to such a big conference with so many attendees is that the students all are like-minded and want to be part of a greater good.  Students felt encouraged to see so many employers who focus on public service.

Besides the career fair and Table Talk sessions, students attended workshops, sessions, discussions and had the privilege of hearing Ralph Nader speak.  Samantha Thomas, a second-year student, attended a government workshop which supplied her with tips (call specific government agencies, keep applying and find a niche).  Jamie Izlar attended a resume building session which she found extremely helpful and also attended several discussions where she learned which employers will pay for law school student loans.  Rexena Napier attended a workshop that gave her a lot of ideas including applying for grants.

All of the students who attended felt it was worthwhile to attend and felt a deeper sense of commitment to public service.  Duffy Trager came away with connections and a lot of business cards that he intends to follow up with.  Samantha Thomas plans to capitalize on what she observed at the conference and use it to shape what she does in law school.  Melissa McHendrix said that the most worthwhile aspect of the conference for her was meeting other students and discussing what organizations are non-profit and in the public sector.

The three second-year students are looking forward to returning to the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair next year.  This is a great experience for our students and an opportunity for them to represent the law school.  The University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law would like for all students interested in attending the conference in 2010 to have the opportunity to do so.

~Debra Reh, Program Assistant for the Office of Career Services

• A companion article by Beth Haendiges will appear in the December 2009 edition of the LBA's Bar Briefs.
• Photo Gallery

Kentucky's Transportation Cabinet will embark upon a three-phase construction project to some of the main thoroughfares on the eastern and southern borders of Belknap Campus. Construction will begin in late August and is expected to be completed by the end of December. Enhancements to the area will include bike lanes, structurally enhanced bridges, increased safety, better signage, and a landscaped median. 

The law school will be most impacted by Phase II that involves a major redesign of the portion of Eastern Parkway nearest Third Street. During that period, access along Eastern Parkway will be restricted. Visitors are encouraged to approach from either Third Street (west) or Cardinal Boulevard (north). Some of the spaces in the red, green, and blue parking lots will be temporarily relocated. TARC bus #29 will be rerouted at Crittenden Drive. The Black Loop will not be impacted.

Update, 11/13: Work on Eastern Parkway has shifted to the lanes closest to Speed School, and they have been closed to local traffic. Crews have opened the previously closed lanes closest to the Natural Sciences Building, Dougherty Hall and the Grawemeyer Hall parking lot for access to the Speed School’s parking lot.

Update, 11/11: The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is posting new exit signs on northbound I-65 at Belknap Campus. The change in the highway exit and Warnock Avenue configuration requires that the Eastern Parkway exits 133 A and B be relabeled. The new numbering system is 132 for Eastern Parkway and Crittenden Drive and 133 for Warnock Street.

Update, 10/19: The stretch of Eastern Pkwy. between Third Street and the Speed School of Engineering has reopened.

Update, 9/30: Eastern Parkway will remain closed at Third Street for another week because of additional construction work needed in and around the tunnels leading to Speed School of Engineering. Eastern Parkway will remain blocked at Third Street until Monday, Oct. 12. Access to the Speed School parking lot will remain open at Brook Street. Parking officials note that some spaces still are available in the Engineering Graphics lot off Third Street just south of Eastern Parkway.

Additional Resources:

• Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Road Work Fact Sheet
• State Road Work Updates, Aug. 17-Dec. 31 (UofL updates)
• Local access closed lanes shifted on Eastern Parkway (UofL, November 12)
• TARC announces route changes (Courier-Journal, August 18)
  
• Road work near UofL to begin (Courier-Journal, August 17)
• Road work to start Aug. 17 (UofL, August 10)
• Rider Alerts: Rt. #29 Eastern Parkway Detour Throughout 2009 (TARC, August 6)
• State road projects to affect Belknap Campus fall semester (UofL, July 29)
• Stretch of Eastern Parkway Going On 'Road Diet' (Broken Sidewalk, July 27)
  

It's that time in the semester when stress begins to escalate to new levels of intensity.  However, now is also the time when you need to use your best stress resilience skills.  Stress that is out of control can lead to illness, anxiety, lessened concentration, lack of sleep, and many other problems.  Below are a few more tips on managing your stress for the remainder of the semester.

• Remember to look at the pieces and not the whole.  Focus on one small task at a time.  List all of the topics that you need to review for each exam course.  List all of the research, writing, and editing tasks that you need to complete for a paper.  Then focus on one small task at a time until that small task is complete.  Cross it off the list and move on to the next small task.  Step by step you can do it all. 
• Ask for help if you are feeling overwhelmed.  Talk to your professors about areas of the course that are confusing you.  Talk to a counselor at the Student Counseling Center.  Talk to a physician if you are having physical problems.  Talk to your family.  
• Sleep at least 8 hours a night.  You will be more productive when you study.  You will be able to focus on the essentials.  You will be able to make wiser decisions about your priorities for studying.  You will feel less helpless and hopeless.  You will be less likely to burst into tears or yell at everyone around you.  You will go into exams well-rested and alert. 
• Add exercise to your schedule if you have let it go.  Exercise is one of the best stress busters you can use.  Try to get a minimum of three 30-minute workouts a week.  Consider where a study break can include an exercise break.  Even walking around the building or the campus can be a boon to your brain cells for memory and your body for sleeping better.

The U.S. Postal Service and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law will honor the city’s native son, Louis D. Brandeis, on what would have been his 153rd birthday.

Brandeis is featured on a new set of commemorative stamps, which also includes U.S. Supreme Court associate justices Joseph Story, Felix Frankfurter and William J. Brennan Jr. Nationally-known graphic designer Ethel Kessler worked with Lisa Catalone-Castro and Rodolfo Castro on the inspired design of the souvenir sheet that incorporates images of the Supreme Court building and a detail from the first page of the United States Constitution.

The presentation will be held at 10 AM on Friday, November 13. Prior to the event, Professor and Distinguished University Scholar Laura Rothstein will be giving an overview of Brandeis with an emphasis on property issues, his distinguished career and his connection to Louisville. The lecture begins at 9 AM and the public is welcome.  In addition to Rothstein, Congressman John Yarmuth, Louisville Postmaster Richard Curtsinger, and Dean Chen will present.

• Birthday Party Photo Gallery

“Louisville can be proud that Justice Brandeis is so connected to our community and that the values he is known for had their roots here,” said Rothstein.
 
“The principles and philosophies Brandeis is known for – including rights to privacy, free speech, curtailing big government and big business, balancing regulation with free enterprise – are timely today,” she added. “It is appropriate that his enormous contributions are recognized on this set of commemorative stamps.”

To mark the event, 153 commemorative envelopes with a special postmark — both designed by artist Leslie Friesen — will be available for sale. The envelope features a photo of the Brandeis School of Law as well as one of Brandeis’ famous quotes, “Knowledge is essential to understanding & understanding should precede judging.” The cancellation features a Corinthian capital and the numerals 153 to mark his 153rd birthday. It also features the Louis D. Brandeis commemorative stamp. Each envelope is numbered by the artist. The artist will also be on hand to sign the limited edition artwork. The envelopes are $5.