BLSA invites the law school community to, "Indulge in Caffeine, Cakes, and Cookies...for the Community" on Tuesday, April 12th between the hours of 9 AM - 12:30 PM and 3-5 PM. We will be selling coffee, tea, and baked goods and a portion of our proceeds will be donated to the Louisville Urban League.

The Law School is participating in the University’s new "single stream" recycling program and garbage reduction initiative.

On June 3, 2010, Aaron Boggs of Physical Plant, met with members of our staff and faculty to provide an overview of the program and to answer questions. The program has already been implemented in 35 buildings and within the past quarter, the campus has contributed 50 tons of recycled material. Mr. Boggs mentioned he’s received very few complaints and none pertaining to an increase in insects or clogged drains.

By now, each employee has received a small green receptacle for their personal garbage waste. It’s the employee’s responsibility to empty that container into a larger garbage can in their shared workspace. Our existing office garbage cans will be stripped of their plastic liners, affixed with a label and converted to recycling bins, which will be emptied frequently by the custodial staff. Recycling and garbage bins will be placed in each of the law school’s restrooms, kitchens, classrooms, and common areas. Recycling bins will also be placed near each of the copy machines.

Recyclable Materials

• Paper products: anything that can be torn, i.e. office paper, newspaper (including inserts), envelopes, folders and spiral notebooks, paperback books, magazines, catalogs and telephone books
• Cardboard, soda boxes, pizza boxes, and brown bags
• Plastic: food containers, milk and juice bottles, buckets, PVC narrow neck containers (e.g. spray bottles), and bottle caps
• Aluminum cans, trays and foil, steel cans and tins

Exceptions: light weight plastic items (e.g. Kroger and Subway bags) should be bundled together, as well as light weight paper items (e.g. sugar packets, envelopes) so that they don’t fly off the sorting machine. Shredded paper should be placed in a plastic bag then tossed into a recycling bin for collection. Currently, only paper back books are recyclable, but the law library is investigating options for recycling hard bound books.

Non-recyclable Materials

• Human soiled products (e.g. tissues, toilet paper)
• Food products (e.g. coffee grinds, chicken bones, apple cores)
• Styrofoam containers
• Motor oil, insecticide, herbicide or hazardous chemical containers

All containers must be emptied, but they do not need to be rinsed. Nor do the labels need to be removed.

Download this guide for a complete list of everything that’s covered by “Commercial Single Stream Recycling.”

Full Story: "Single-stream recycling program keeps extra 12 tons of materials out of landfill so far" (UofL Today, May 21, 2010)

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The University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law is proud to send its first Law School intramural softball team to the University of Virginia’s Law School Softball Tournament. The team departs for the tournament on Friday morning, April 1. The tournament is hosted every spring by the North Grounds Softball League (NGSL) on UVA’s grounds.  Each year, over 115 softball teams from over 50 different law schools participate. The NGSL donates the majority of its proceeds from the Invitational to a local charity, Children Youth and Family Services of Charlottesville. NGSL also contributes substantial amounts of money to UVA Law's Public Interest Law Association every year. 

The Bottom 90 group was started by Gulam Kuli-Zade, Sean Reed, Danny Schoenbaechler, and Greg Thompson early in their 2L year. "One day we were talking about the ridiculousnessof the arbitrary stress that law school and law students deal with. Our group started originally just on the common ground we all shared of sports. We all played intramurals beginning in our 1L year together, and have remained teammates throughout. That bond has lead to what will be lifelong friendships for over a dozen of us, and our teamwork mentality has helped us get over the ‘hard curve, cut throat, every man for himself’ mentality that most law students seemed to have." The group as a whole has always been more than willing to share outlines, study guides, and has become a study group in and of itself. They are always there for one another whenever one of B90s needs anything, be it help explaining a legal concept, or something outside of law school entirely.

Essentially, the group strives to be like regular people, and less like the typical law student, and they take pride in being down to earth in that regard. "This has helped us through law school in countless ways - just having people that you can relate to, and people that are in the same boat that care about your success as much as you care about their success. There is no selfishness involved." Says Thompson.
 
When questioned about jobs, Thompson responded, "B90 isn't exactly doing a whole lot of on campus interviews. I think we all got summer jobs, and most of us have jobs already lined up simply because we are all down to earth, good, and honest people. The genuine nature of all of our people shines through in so much as a short conversation, so I would chalk up the job market success to a less stressed, less type a, less pushy in networking,attitude." The group has not only beaten UK's law school in basketball, they also recently won the entire U of L intramural championship in basketball, and will be traveling to the NGSL Invitational (National Law School Softball Tournament) in Charlottesville, VA on April 1.

"B90 is a reminder that regardless of your GPA in law school, the average student at Brandeis School of Law is a hardworking, decorated, skilled teammate that you can depend on to always have your back." ~Alex White

"A law school fails anytime a student chooses not to help a classmate, in an effort to achieve a better grade for themselves." ~Danny Schoenbachler

"I think the really special thing about B90 is how it is a group of guys who found eachother and truly exemplify the collegial and collaborative nature the legal profession should strive to have.  All members work very hard toward their goals in the practice of law, and the law school to the best of theirabilities.  This includes going above and beyond just academics. Members of B90 bring a well rounded perspective to the school, as most participate heavily in sports, student organizations, work, community service,and social opportunities." ~Ryan Goode

"Anyone who shares our outlook on law school and life is welcome, even if their grades are in the top ten percent! There is always room for genuinely kind and sincere people who want togo through law school with a support network, good friends, and future allies in the practice of law." ~Sean Reed

"B90 is about aspiring to be a well rounded attorney. Your experiences outside the classroom should dictate the way you approach the law, not just the books you read." ~Fernando Valdizan

This year’s U of L Law School softball team members include: Phil Lawson, Sean Reed, Greg Thompson, Ryan Goode, Zach Springer, Kyle Samons, Tyler Korus, Gulam Kuli-Zade, Danny Schoenbachler, Jared Wilkie, Chris Ballentine, Fernando Valdizan, Ryan Polczynski, Peyton Sands, and Kevin Rich. 

Team sponsors include Louisville Slugger, Papa John’s International, Bob Hook Chevrolet, The Clarkson Group, Shively Sporting Goods, Kroger and Westlaw.   Support was also provided by donors Steve Lyverse (’83), Harry Rothgerber (‘74), Gregory Thompson (’11) Angie McDonald-Hackett, and Wendy Helterbran.  It is not too late to support the team!  

I bet you're already aware that the Dean enjoys college sports, but did you know he also enjoys skiing? Do you know the names and breeds of his canine clan? Read all about it and more in his "In Person" profile at UofL Today.

President. Provost, vice president, dean, professor, manager, director.

As much as these titles describe and apply to the work that happens at the University of Louisville, they don’t get to the essence of what makes UofL unique — its people.

Once or twice a month, UofL Today profiles people who help to make the university what it is.

Name: Jim Chen

Title: dean and professor of law

At UofL since: Jan. 2, 2007. My first official day on the job took place at the Orange Bowl. I proudly claim to be the first fan in my section to spot the trick play that yielded a touchdown pass from Patrick Carter to Anthony Allen. I defy you to find another law school dean in America who can better explain the triple option or the cover 2.

Hometown: When native Louisvillians ask me where I went to school, I oblige and answer, with my best deadpan, “Clarkston High School, DeKalb County, Ga.” My wife, Heather, does make Louisville seem more like home every day.

First job and what I learned from it: My paternal grandmother lived with my nuclear family when I was in grade school. She liked to sell jewelry. She spoke only Taiwanese; for my services as translator, I got a little spending money. I learned that everyone, deep down, wants to work and to feel a sense of accomplishment. I also learned that talent, patience and hard work all have their rewards.

The thing I like most about what I do: Getting to work closely with lawyers, judges and business professionals. Every legal professional’s journey of a lifetime begins with a thousand days in law school. Being dean gives me an unusually good view of what our graduates make of their careers, and I like what I see.

I am: happiest when I am in motion with lots of open space on all sides. Hiking trails and ski slopes are best. I like the adrenaline rush.

I never: treat myself to anything. The idea of “retail therapy” repulses me. If you see me wearing or carrying something nice and new, chances are that Heather bought it for me and ordered me to donate whatever that nice thing replaced.

Guilty pleasure: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that anyone bored by “Pride and Prejudice” in high school or college was a straight man who had not yet come to appreciate all the mysteries of dating and mating. I have since come to appreciate the virtues of romance novels and chick flicks. What I really need to know in life, I can learn from “Clueless,” “Legally Blonde” and “Sex and the City.”

And when I’m not mining this peculiar corner of popular culture, I draw great pleasure from being the assistant commissioner and official statistician (aka StatBoy) of the Ruth Adams Fantasy Football League.

Favorite books: In no particular order: “All the King’s Men.” The U.S.A. trilogy. “Look Homeward, Angel.” “Giants in the Earth.” “Ethan Frome.” The books that most move me are those about America, having come of age (in the human lifespan connecting the end of the Civil War with the beginning of the Second World War), and those typically dealing with immigrants, their immediate descendants and/or the deep South dealing with the awful responsibility of Time.

Favorite TV show: I generally haven’t the patience to watch anything on television except live sports events. I did follow “Lost” and was disappointed when it ended. Because I’m also a sucker for epics on good and evil involving outer space, I gave “V” a shot last season.

Favorite quote: I love the beauty and the power of this line from Dante’s Divine Comedy (Inferno, canto 2, line 72): “amor mi mosse, che mi fa parlare.” As love has moved me, so have I spoken.

These animals share my world: Heather and I have a blended canine family. She brought her soft-coated wheaten terrier, Finnegan, into the family. I added two pugs, Sophie and Savannah. There is never a dull or quiet moment in our house.

My day begins: I check news and messages that collected overnight. Heather and I talk while eating breakfast and ushering our dogs to and from the yard. I have a knack for starting a complicated topic of conversation just as she is headed out the door. Knowing that I have one shot at redeeming myself and making her happy when she gets home, I make the bed before I leave.

I wish I had more time to: pursue any of the objects of my life as Walter Mitty. To wit: Write the Great American Novel. Know the history of Earth and that of its living things, all the way down. Learn a few dozen foreign languages, and be content to master one or two of those. Crack the code on something deeply quantitative. Physics would be most profound. Finance would be the most materially rewarding. Music would be the most beautiful.

When I’m not cheering for the Cards, I’m cheering for: the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Falcons and the University of Georgia Bulldogs.

Most Friday nights you’ll find me: at home or on a date with Heather. Really now. If you were married to the most wonderful woman in the world, would you be anywhere else?

If my life were a movie: Heather thinks my movie would be “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” I would like to think that my movie would be “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” or at least “The Gods Must Be Crazy.” Truth be told, though, it’s probably “Mean Girls.”

What else the UofL community should know: I am as old as the Super Bowl. Heather is a century younger than the Kentucky Derby. But the most significant annual event in our household may be the State of the University Address.

 

Reprinted from UofL Today (March 23, 2011).

 

Physical Plant is in the process of installing automatic light sensors throughout the building, including each classroom. You may have already noticed them in the common areas and the library's restrooms, computer labs, and study rooms. We hope this sheds a little light on the situation. If you have concerns or require additional information, contact Vickie Tencer.

Shelley Santry

UofL Law Clinic Director
Professor of Law
University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law

Shelley Santry, UofL Law Clinic Director and Assistant Professor of Law has been named a 2011 Woman of Distinction by the Center for Women and Families.

Each year The Center for Women and Families nominates a select group of women whose contributions work in unison to improve opportunity, education and quality of life for women and children in Kentuckiana.

"I am thrilled to be a 2011 Woman of Distinction not only because it isa honor involving my passion, to advocate against domestic violence, butalso because it is given by such an amazing organization as the Centerfor Women and Families. In looking at the list of previous recipients,I am truly honored to be a member of a group of truly awesome women."

All students are invited to an information session Thursday, Feb. 24, to learn about the Moot Court Board and the opportunity to participate in extramural advocacy and skills competitions.  Brandeis students participate in internal School of Law competitions, in state-wide competitions, in national competitions, and in international competitions.  The Moot Court Board will provide information about how to become a member of the board or a member of one of its extramural advocacy and skills teams.  The session will be at 12:10 p.m. in Room 075.  Questions?  Contact Dean Bean.

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The Student Bar Foundation raised $6,000 at their 14th Annual Charity Auction on February 10! The money will be used to fund student fellowships or travel stipends for law-related public service work.

Another informal silent auction will be held February 28-March 1 for a few remaining unsold items.

The Student Bar Foundation will begin accepting applications for summer grants in early April. More information to follow.