Please help us welcome the first-year class by participating in their Community Service Day. 

The Student Bar Association has come up with an incredible list of service projects for the first years’ Community Service Day, an optional activity scheduled as part of Orientation.  All students, not just first years, are invited and encouraged to participate.  Faculty and Staff will also be participating.

For a complete list of projects, click here.
 

On Saturday, May 9, members of the law school's Class of 2009 were awarded their Juris Doctor degrees at a ceremony that was held at the Brown Theater in Louisville, KY. Senator Mitch McConnell delivered the convocation address.

On the previous evening, Friday, May 8, members of the law school's graduating class came together with family and friends to be recognized for their work in law school and to celebrate the completion of this phase in their education.

The law school has a rich history of both academic excellence and service to the community. Our graduates exemplify these characteristics. We are proud to honor them at the close of their education.

Programs & Photo Galleries

• 2009 Graduation Ceremony
• Black Law Students Association Convocation
• Graduation Reception
• Graduates' Awards Program

 

On May 26, Rob Shetterly presented his portrait of Louis D. Brandeis at both Central High School and the law school. This recent addition to the Maine artist’s collection of “Americans Who Tell the Truth” was suggested by Laura Rothstein who became inspired after having attended a reception and display of his collection at the Louisville Visual Art Association last year. The portraits are of Americans whose words and works demonstrate the importance of the First Amendment in American life.

The quote on the portrait reads:

Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher.  Crime is contagious.  If government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for the law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.

 Photo credits: Leslie Friesen and Michael Ben-Avraham | Click on each photograph to view a larger image.

Rob Shetterly with his portrait of Justice Brandeis.
Rob Shetterly shares images from his collection "Americans Who Tell the Truth".			Rob Shetterly answers questions from the audience; looking on are Provost Shirley Willihnganz and Professor Laura Rothstein.
Rob Shetterly signs a copy of his book, "Americans Who Tell the Truth" for Brandeis Law School professor Cedric Merlin Powell and his son, Coleman.			Rob Shetterly talks to television reporter; audience members Doug Farnsley, Owsley Brown (who with his wife, Christy, provided underwriting for the event), and Carl Bensinger (Brandeis Law School alum).

The Law School is delighted to announce that Kimberly K. Ballard will return to her alma mater as director of academic support. Kimberly will design and implement an academic support program to help students develop the skills necessary for success in law school, on the bar exam, and in practice. She will begin work on June 1.

Kimberly graduated magna cum laude from the Law School in 2004. She also holds a B.S. in biology from the University of Louisville. She joins the Law School after having served as an associate in the law firm of Stites & Harbison. As a member of that firm's torts and insurance service group, Kimberly has represented product manufacturers in mass tort litigation and physicians and hospitals in medical malpractice litigation. She has regularly served as a judge for oral advocacy competitions at the Law School. In addition, she coaches the University of Louisville's mock trial team, which won the regional competition in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2006.

On May 6, 2009, students, staff, faculty, and community members gathered at the Ali Center to recognize students and members of Central High School's Law and Government Magnet Partnership with the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Please refer to the attached program for more details.

Click on each photo to view a larger image.

 

Reception in the Muhammad Ali Center's lobby.
Bryant Smith with Central High School Students			Souvenir Mugs
Alumna Robyn Smith and Bryant Smith		UofL Law Students and Staff		Professor Powell Presents the Awards
Professor Tony Arnold and Law School Alumna Liz Edmondson			Harlan Scholar and Law School Alumna, Angela Buckler, and Professor Sam Marcosson
Victor Revill and Noelle Rao			Bryant Smith and Don Rodgers
Amy Jay, Colleen Clemons and Heather Stone			Charles Booker and Forrest Kuhn
Awards Presentation Begins			Ralph Fitzpatrick and Dan Hall from the University Office of Community Engagement
Student Presents Award to Colleen Clemons			Street Law Students Present Awards
Street Law Students Present Awards
Street Law Students Present Awards
Harlan Scholar, Osiah Graham		Co-Valedictorian, Wei Jie (Jack) Chen		Street Law Students are Awarded
Street Law Students are Awarded
Street Law Students are Awarded
Street Law Students are Awarded
Proud Students Pose with their Awards

Simone Beach, the law school's Events Coordinator, is currently featured on the University's homepage. Her unique story is presented in an article by Kevin Hyde, "Living Law School: Full-time Brandeis employee earns her law degree".

The Louisville Bar Association would like to inform members of our law school community about their new Twitter page. Yes, you heard correctly. The LBA is now 'Tweeting' with the goal of improving dialogue between LBA members, law students and other legal professionals in our community.

Also, everyone is invited to attend their press conference scheduled for Monday, April 20 at 10 AM in the Judicial Center (2nd floor Attorneys Room) as they announce the results of this year's Judicial Evaluation of Jefferson Circuit and Family Court judges. Many of whom have sat and ruled on recent highly publicized cases including the Bellarmine student Katie McCoy trial (Judge Susan Shultz Gibson), PRP student Max Gilpin trial (Judge Mitchell Perry) and the recent Eeron Harper murder trial (Judge James Shake).

The conference is open to the public.

 

Left to right: Arbitrators Dr. Prof. Christian Schwartz (Netherlands), Prof. Janet Walker (Canada) and Ziva Filipic (Slovenia), University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law teammates Marshall Casey, Rebecca Simms, UNAM teammates Luis Paz and Angelica Huacuja

The Willem Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot involved 233 teams representing 59 countries and 1,500 students.  Fifty-three United States law schools were represented, although the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law team was the only team representing Kentucky.  There were more than 600 arbitrators from around the world – drawn from law firms and law school faculties – comprised the three-person panels that heard more than 1,000 arbitrations.  

The  University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law team was represented by Marshall Casey and Rebecca Simms. The team acquitted itself extremely well in the first four rounds, receiving very positive comments from the Arbitrators, and actually competed against three teams that went on to the finals.

In the first round the  University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law team went against the top team of three representing the University of Paris, the Sorbonne; in round two they went against the National Autonomous University of Mexico which could be described as the “Harvard of Mexico,” the number one school in the country; they faced Charles University, Czech Republic, in round three, and, finally, the University of Munich, an extremely strong school and one of 24 German (second only to the United States) teams.  As noted, Paris, UNAM and Munich went on to the finals.

Although the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law team did not make the final round of 64 they moved very successfully through the first four rounds, learned a great deal and represented Brandeis in a very important aspect of the gathering, international networking.  It seemed that many participants – from both civil law and common law countries were aware of Louis Brandeis.  There were also opportunities to view the art and history of Vienna. In this the team was aided by alumna, Kristina Huddleston,`97.

Keith Sealing, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

The UofL Law Clinic Open House and Reception showcases the UofL Law Clinic, an initiative that enables the law school to refocus legal education as a primarily (or even exclusively) classroom-based endeavor into an active, hands-on enterprise of learning by doing.

 

We'd like to thank all the members of the Louisville legal community, alumni, faculty, staff and students who shared in this celebration.

University of Louisville Law Clinic students, from left: Dustin Thacker, Becca O'Neill, Chad Reid, Christopher McDavid, Caroline Pieroni, Amy Jay. Photo credit: Robert Pieroni
Professor Lars Smith, Dean Jim Chen and the incoming Clinic Director Shelley Santry enjoy the reception.
Becca O'Neill and her classmates present gifts to their instructors Stewart Pope, Legal Aid Advocacy Director, and Lars Smith, University of Louisville Professor and Samuel J. Stallings Chair in Law.
Guests enjoy the conversation and live music, compliments of Middleton Reutlinger and Stites & Harbison.
Law Clinic Reception Guests	Law students, Cheri Jones and Simone Beach
Wine, beer, and soft drinks were provided by Middleton Reutlinger and Stites & Harbison.	Bourbon tasting provided by Woodford Reserve.
Hors d'oeuvres provided by Carrabba's Italian Grill.	Vickie Tencer (Unit Business Manager), Kathy Urbach (Assistant Dean for Career Services and Public Service) and Jina Scinta (Program Assistant)
Professor Susan Duncan, Justice Elisabeth Hughes Abramson, Judge Paula Sherlock, Professor Laura Rothstein, and Maria Fernandez, '89	Third year student and Law Clinic member Caroline Pieroni and family, from left: Jennifer Lynch Nickel, Mark Nickel, David Lynch, Julia Lynch, Caroline Lynch Pieroni, Robert Pieroni
Law student, Amy Jay	University of Louisville Law Students

Volunteers pose outside the law school prior to departing for their service projects. Scroll down for more photographs.

 

Nearly fifty volunteers gathered at the law school on a beautiful spring day to donate their time to three worthy causes. Among the participants were Harlan Scholars, alums, students, staff, faculty and their friends & families. Several of them had volunteered last year as well.

Many thanks to the following people for making the 2nd Annual Louisville Law Community Service Day such a success!

PROJECT COORDINATORS

Rexéna Napier (Student Animal Legal Defense Fund) – Animal Care Society

Jenna Johnston (Women’s Law Caucus) – Family Scholar House

Adam Watson (Enivronmental Law & Land Use Society) – Olmsted Parks Conservancy

PLANNING PARTICIPANTS & FACILITATORS

Students: Lauren Bean, Brian Bennett, Matt Birkhoffer, Kevin Graves, Jamie Izlar, Jenna Johnston, Melissa McHendrix, Rexéna Napier, Brian Pollock, Victor Revill, Luke Vance, and Adam Watson

Faculty & Staff: Nancy Baker, Jodi Duce, Ariana Levinson, Debra Reh, Jina Scinta, Keith Sealing, Virginia Smith, Barbara Thompson, and Kathy Urbach

VOLUNTEERS

Sierra Ashby, Lauren Bean, Justin Brewer, Daniel Jay Cameron, Scott Campbell & Beth Nahinsky, Ashley Crabtree, Bridget Coraz, Matthew Dutcher, Brian Fayman, Kevin & Lindsay Graves, Bartley Hagerman, Nick Hart, Ebert Haegele, Jamie Izlar, Guion Johnstone, Jenna Johnston, Jared Kelly, Courtney King, Forrest Kuhn, Arianna Levinson, Ashley Morden, Christopher McDavid, Melissa McHendrix, Rexéna Napier, Marilyn Osborn, Kaitlyn Patrick, Emily Peeler, Brian Pollock, Katie Reisz, Victor Revill, Laura Rothstein, Ben Silver, Virginia Smith, Victoria Steinbach, Nicole Tarrence, Vickie Tencer, Paige Thompson, Katherine Toms, Adam & Jenn Watson, Rebecca Weis, Becky Wimberg, and Boris Yelin

DONORS

The Law School ● Law Library ● LexisNexis ● Westlaw ● Kathy Bean ●  Scott Campbell ● Robin Harris ● Ariana Levinson ● Christopher McDavid  ● Kurt Metzmeier ● Jerome Neukirch ● Laura Rothstein  ● Virginia Smith ● Anonymous Donors

 

Volunteers work with the Olmsted Parks Convervancy to clean up debris from the winter ice storm in Iroquois Park.
Project Coordinator, Jenna Johnston	Family Scholar House Volunteers
Volunteers assemble gift bags for the Family Scholar House.
Project Coordinator, Rexéna Napier (center)	Animal Care Society Volunteers
Friendships blossom at the Animal Care Society.
Volunteers assist at the Animal Care Society.

More photos are publicly viewable at our Facebook group. Search for "University of Louisville Law School Annual Community Service Day Project".