Congratulations to Professor Trucios-Haynes for receiving a 2012 Richard and Constance Lewis Fellowship. She will conduct research on "Formal and Informal Migrant Networks:  Post 9/11 Connections Between Guanajuato and the United States."  Professor Trucios-Haynes will present her project in April at the 2013 Latin American and Latino Studies Showcase.

Beginning in 2012-2013, first year law students will experience an updated curriculum reducing their contact hours from 31 to 29 hours. This change provides students the opportunity to adjust to the challenges of law school and the demands of the legal profession.

Fall Semester:

Basic Legal Skills

Legal Research

Torts I

Contracts I

Criminal Law

Civil Procedure (starting approximately September 24th)

Spring Semester:

Basic Legal Skills

Torts II

Contracts II

Property

Civil Procedure II

The following faculty members will participate in our international exchange program in 2012:

Tracey Roberts at University of Mainz

Judy Fischer at University of Montpellier

Ariana Levinson at University of Leeds

Russ Weaver at University of Kwa-Zulu Natal

JoAnne Sweeny at University of Turku

The Brandeis School of Law is pleased to announce the hiring of two new professors for the next academic year.  The law school welcomes Jamie Abrams and Laura McNeal.  Jamie is currently a visiting assistant professor at Hofstra University.  Laura is currently a Harvard Law School Fellow at the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute.  Both Jamie and Laura will meet various curricular needs and enrich our faculty's already impressive record of scholarship.

 

Learn more about Jamie and Laura.

This holiday season be an Angel! You have probably noticed the large Angel tree in the Law Library for the Salvation Army, sponsored by the Sports Entertainment Law Society.

Heres some info: 

• You can pick one or more angels, sign it/them out and grab the corresponding blue bag.
• The Salvation Army asks for a minimum donation of one outfit/coat and one toy per angel, but feel free to do more.
• Do not wrap gifts, just put them in the bag for the angel.
• All bags must be returned to the Angel tree no later than December 9. 

 Help those less fortunate this holiday season! If you have any questions contact Brad Corbin. 

The 2011 Brandeis School of Law Alumni Awards were given out on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, during a reception dinner at the Brown Hotel in Louisville. Read more about this years winners.

Download a copy of the program from this years awards.

To view photos of the evening be sure to visit our Flickr page.

This year's award winners:

Creighton Mershon, Sr.

Lawrence Grauman Award

Donald Vish

Distinguished Alumnus Award

John Tate

Distinguished Alumnus Award

Nancy Niederman

Distinguished Alumna Award

Mary Jo Gleason

Distinguished Alumna Award

Tori Murden McClure

Distinguished Alumna Award

Karen Paulin

Recent Alumna Award

Lowry Watkins, Jr.

Dean’s Service Award

Linda Sorenson Ewald

Excellence in Teaching Award

Howard Fineman

2010 University of Louisville Alumni Fellow

Program Assistant Nancy Baker and Library Assistant Janissa Moore were honored at UofL's annual Staff Recognition Luncheon on October 28 at the Brown & Williamson Club at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Each year, administration – from the president and provost, to deans and vice presidents – recognize staff who have served the university for 10 years or more. The honor comes first at 10 years and then on every succeeding five-year anniversary, and it includes the luncheon and a gift each employee gets to choose.

This year saw 399 staff members honored. They have a combined service of 7,490 years. Barbara Thompson, the law school's Director of Student Records, was also recognized for 40 years of service.


Full story: "Event honors 399 staff for 7,490 years of service" (UofL Today, October 28)

November 13 is the birthday of Justice Louis Brandeis, for whom our law school is named.  On Monday, November 14, Professor Laura Rothstein will give a one-hour power point presentation about Louis Brandeis.  Prizes will be given at the end for those answering the most questions correctly about Louis Brandeis. 

All students, faculty, and staff members are invited and welcome to attend.  Doughnuts, one of Brandeis’s favorite foods will be provided for the event.

LOUIS D. BRANDEIS (born November 13, 1856) * 1856-1941 *

Long before Louis Brandeis made his mark as a United States Supreme Court Justice, he had a brilliant career as an advocate for social justice issues. Brandeis’s commitment to using the law to promote social justice was a major reason some members of the Senate opposed his confirmation to the Court.  Justice Brandeis was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and chose the law school at the University of Louisville as his final resting place.  In 1997, the law school was renamed the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.  Inspired by his commitment to public service, the Brandeis School of Law requires all law students to perform at least 30 hours of public service to graduate.  Brandeis’s personal papers are housed at the law school, and can be accessed at www.law.louisville.edu/library/collections/brandeis.

-- from Robert Shetterly’s “Americans Who Tell the Truth” website.

Photo Gallery

Drum roll please... Lawlapalooza 2011: I Rocked the Law yielded over $4,181.25 from ticket sales, t-shirt sales, and band tips! This tally does not include band registrations and sponsors. The funds will be used to support the Ellen B. Ewing Fund. 

Battle of the Bands Winners:

• 1st Place: Skinny and Small
• 2nd Place: Sam I Amicus
• 3rd Place: Raisin Brandies

Karaoke Winner:

• 1st Place: Doug Kiel & Tyler Korus

Freakin' Sweet

WARNING: Freakin' Sweet is not for the faint of heart.

Representing Borowitz & Goldsmith, Freakin' Sweet features Greg Curry, lead guitar, shredder, strategist and chairman of the Freakin' Sweet endowment; Mike Pantoja, lead vocals, bass guitar, talent scout, compliance director and director of social networking; Tom Mock pounding the drums, cowbell, and various other objects within arms' reach, supporting/lead vocals, IT support and systems integration; and John Sheryak, lead vocals, rhythm guitar, ship's captain and resident J.D.

FREAKIN' SWEET performed in the 2007 LAWLAPALOOZA as The VelvetKings...after deciding that "The VelvetKings" was way too dorky of a name for these cool guys, they promptly changed it. John is a 5 year veteran of Lawlapalooza, having performed with "She's With Me" in 2005 and the frightful calamity of their 2006 "performance." In 2007, Ed Skees and John dropped the total losers they had played with in the past, trashed the multi-million dollar pyrotechnics, lasers, spinning drumcages and swore to never again perform near open flames. Next, they hijacked Greg and Mike, who were discussing generally accepted accounting principles and asset diversification. They all four felt the magic and decided to form an 80's/90's alternative rock cover band. It worked...Freakin' Sweet instantly became established as one of the loudest, edgiest and fastest bands on the Lawlapalooza circuit.

In the spring of 2010, citing his inability to party, rock, and "hang"with the rest of the band, founding member and drummer Ed Skees called it quits, Dispelling wild rumors that he was going to become a monk or have back-alley sex change surgery, Ed promptly filed a pettion in the Floyd County Distrct Court to change his name to Hugh G. Weiner. Ed was quickly replaced with ex-death-metal head drummer Tom Mock. Not much is known about Tom, except that he is from Minnesota, talks like those people in the movie "Fargo," is a genious in his chosen field of IT, and has new kid. Oh yeah! The FREAK LIVES ON!!!!!

Freakin' Sweet is planning something special for LAWLAPALOOZA 2011. At this time, the details cannot be revealed, but lets just say that PHT should be prepared for midgets, clowns and strippers!