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.
 

The law library has implemented a new mechanism for keeping you abreast of the new books we add to the collection. Using a proprietary computer process, we are now listing the titles of new books directly on the law library's web page. Titles for the five most recent books added to the library's collection will be listed there. Click on the "More" link to see even more titles. They will also be posted to our Twitter account @lawlibnewbooks.

 

 

The law school sponsored four Central High School Law and Government magnet students to attend the Summer Law Institute from June 15-20, an annual program for high school students interested in the law and legal profession. Tia Coleman, co-valedictorian of her graduating class, was among them. Ms. Coleman won the Justice McAnulty Essay contest for seniors and was also the overall winner. She plans to attend UofL in the fall.

The program, which is sponsored by the LBA, Brandeis School of Law, and Bellarmine University, provides students an opportunity to meet and interact with local attorneys, judges, and law professors. During the week-long camp, they learned the fundamentals of trial procedure, discussed important legal and social issues, and studied how the law affects their lives. They also participated in workshops, took trips to the Jefferson County Judicial Center and Bellarmine, and prepared and presented a mock trial.

Photo provided by Cynthia M. Robinson, LBA Public Service Director | (from left to right): Jazmine Hudson, Jasmine Thornton, Tia Coleman, A'shia Blake

For a limited time, Kaplan PMBR is offering a comprehensive MPRE prep course for free to students registered for the August 7, 2009 MPRE.  The MPRE course features online course flexibility, a full-length practice exam, two online workshops, a substantive outline book, and an online MPRE quiz bank.  For more information, please visit the Kaplan PMBR website http://www.kaplanpmbr.com/Bar_Review/MPRE/mpre-online.html.

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".

Friday, May 8, 2009

Graduates’ Reception

6:30-7:30 p.m.
Law School Student Commons (first floor, classroom wing)

All graduates and guests are invited.  Hors d'oeuvres will be served, and a cash bar will be available.  Please RSVP to Simone Beach with your total number of guests by Monday, May 4.

Graduates’ Awards Program

7:30-8:30 p.m.
Law School Room 275

All graduates and guests are invited.

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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Saturday, May 9.  There’s a full and exciting agenda planned!

President's Reception and University Commencement

The day starts with the President’s Reception at 11:00 a.m., North Wing Atrium of the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center, followed by the University Commencement.  Please meet in the North Wing by 12:30 for a 1:00 p.m. procession, as law students will carry the School of Law banner into Freedom Hall. 

Law School Convocation

The Law School's Convocation will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the W.L. Lyons Brown Theater (315 West Broadway), and it normally lasts about 90 minutes.  You may bring as many guests as you wish; guests do not need tickets or announcements.  Graduates need to arrive at the Brown Theater by 3:30 p.m.  Hooding will be part of your ceremony, but law school staff will bring the hoods to the Convocation. 

If you will have a disabled guest, please notify Rita Siegwald by April 30.  More graduation instructions (line-up, etc.) will be available at the end of the exam period.

The Honorable Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving U.S. Senator in Kentucky’s history, will be this year’s Convocation speaker.  He currently serves as a senior member of the Appropriations, Agriculture and Rules Committees, and he is the Senate Republican Leader in the 111th Congress.  Elected to that position unanimously by his colleagues, Senator McConnell is only the second Kentuckian to lead his party in the Senate.  He previously served as the Republican Leader in the 110th Congress and the Majority Whip in the 108th and 109th Congresses.

For a discounted rate of $119 at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel, call (502) 585-3200 and ask for the U of L rate.

For a discounted rate of $129 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, reservations must be made by April 24.  To make reservations for the event, call (800) 533-0127 and ask for the University of Louisville Law School Graduation Block. 

Congratulations, Class of 2009!