Remember to continue visiting the writing competitions page on the Law School website to learn about new contests.  http://www.law.louisville.edu/node/7044  The page is updated regularly and now includes information regarding the IADC 2013 Legal Writing Contest.

Sponsor: Int'l Association of Defense Counsel

General criteria: Entries must be the original work of a single author, not previously published, and must cover the fields of tort law, insurance law, civil procedure, evidence, or other areas of practical concern to lawyers engaged in the defense or management of the defense of civil litigation.

Deadline: May 17, 2013

Amount of award: $2,000 for first place; $1,000 for second place; and $500 for third place.

Submission information: http://www.iadclaw.org/publications/contest.aspx

 

Seasonal flu cases are increasing rapidly in Louisville and throughout Kentucky.  Don't be sidelined by the flu.  Campus Health is still giving free flu shots to UofL students. No appointment is required.  For additional information, call 852-6479.  Campus Health is located at Cardinal Station, 215 Central Avenue.

Attention Second-Year Law Students (graduating in December 2013, May 2014, or August 2014):
 
On Tuesday, February 5, at 12:15 p.m., the Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions, with a member of the Character and Fitness Committee, will present a mandatory bar program for second year law students. The Board of Bar Examiners’ Character and Fitness Committee must certify graduating law students before they are allowed to sit for the bar.  One fact the committee members look at closely is the applicant’s record of financial responsibility.

Judge Gary Payne, Character and Fitness Committee member, and Beth Feamster, Director and General Counsel, will discuss financial responsibility in the context of professionalism and a lawyer’s obligation to uphold the values of the profession.  Judge Payne will discuss how financial debt can evidence a lack of responsibility and further, how debt can lead to financial pressures and interfere with a lawyer’s duties to his or her clients.  

Attendance at the February 5 program is a requirement for graduation.  Please mark your calendar.  If you anticipate a work conflict, please make arrangements now to ensure your attendance at the mandatory program.

Selma Moidel Smith Law Student Writing Competition

Sponsor: National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL)

General criteria: Entrants should submit a paper on an issue concerning women’s rights or the status of women in the law.   The most recent winning paper was “All Things Being Equal, Women Lose. Investigating the Lack of Diversity Among the Recent Appointments to the Iowa Supreme Court” written by Abigail Rury, Michigan State University School of Law.  Essays will be accepted from students enrolled at any law school during the 2012-13 school year. The essays must be the law student author’s own work and must not have been submitted for publication elsewhere.  Papers written by students for coursework or independent study during the Summer, Fall or Spring semesters are eligible for submission.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, students may incorporate professorial feedback as part of a course requirement or supervised writing project.

Deadline: May 1, 2013

Amount of Award: The author of the winning essay will receive a cash prize of $500. NAWL will also publish the winning essay in NAWL’s Women Lawyers Journal in the summer of 2013.

Submission information: See flyer.  Questions regarding this competition should be addressed to the chair of the Writing Competition, Professor Jennifer Martin at jmartin@stu.edu.

 

Environmental Justice Essay Competition

Sponsor:  Environmental Justice Committee and the Brooklyn Law Review

Criteria:  The competition is open to currently enrolled law students and recent graduates.  Only original, non-published essays will be considered.  Papers submitted for course requirements are eligible for entry.  The ABA invites thoughtful essays on the evolution and future of environmental justice lawyering. 

Deadline: May 3, 2013

Amount of Award: The winning entry will receive an offer of publication in the Brooklyn Law Review as well as a prize of $1,000.

Submission information:  See flyer.

 

2013 Tannenwald Writing Competition

Sponsor: Theodore Tannenwald, Jr. Foundation for Excellence in Tax Scholarship and The American College of Tax Counsel

Criteria:  Open to all full- or part-time law school students.  Papers on any federal or state tax-related topic may be submitted.

Deadline: July 1, 2013

Amount of award: Cash prizes of $5,000, $2,500, and $1,500 for the top three papers.

Submission information: www.tannenwald.org

 

Thank you to everyone who attended the first yoga session on Wednesday at the Law School.  The class was wonderful and it was a great stress reducer!  Congratulations to raffle winner # 944483!  You have won a prize pack from Student Life.  Please stop by Dean Ballard's office this week to pick up your prizes.

The next yoga class is on Wednesday, January 16, at noon, in the Washer Lounge.  No experience is required; mats are provided; and no matter what your level of fitness, yoga will help you feel better physically and mentally. 

The regular application filing deadline for the July 2013 KY Bar Exam is February 1. Please refer to the bar exam folder that you received on November 13 during the candor program for instructions on how to complete the application.  Please see Ms. Wolford (room 212) or Dean Ballard (room 216) if you have any questions.  To request a copy of your law school application, you may sign-up on the clipboard outside office 214.

1. For students graduating in May 2013, your cumulative grade point average after the Fall 2012 semester is used for the commencement program and honor cords. Questions?  Please see Barbara Thompson in Student Records.
2. Unless explicitly authorized by the Assistant Dean for Student Life, no full-time student is permitted to register for more than 16 credit hours per semester and no part-time student is permitted to register for more than 12 credit hours per semester.  With permission, a full-time student may register for a maximum of 18 credit hours and a part-time student may register for a maximum of 13 credit hours.  “Credit hours” includes all classes the student takes at the University of Louisville, regardless of whether the credit will be applied toward the student’s degree. Skills competitions and journal credit also count as hours in this calculation.
3. Students may take no more than two seminars in any semester.
4. Students may apply no more than four (4) credit hours of independent studies toward graduation.
5. The last day to add a class is Friday, January 11.
   

Start the New Year off right by joining your fellow law students in stress-reducing, energizing and FREE yoga classes this semester! The classes will be held in the Washer Lounge and begin on Wednesday, January 9, from 12-12:45. In January, yoga will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays (please note--no class on Jan. 14). Depending upon demand, a Thursday session may be offered in February.

Before the workload and stress of the semester begin to wear you down,establish a healthy habit for your mind and your body by joining the yoga class. You don't need to bring anything to participate--we have mats available and a certified instructor to lead us. All you need is an open mind! 

We hope you had a restful break.  The spring semester is only 14 weeks long, and is packed with informative programs and fun events.  Be sure to check the Law School's calendar for dates and times of upcoming programs.  http://www.law.louisville.edu/event  Remember - there are some mandatory programs for first- and second-year students, so you will want to note those on your calendar. 

We are delighted to offer yoga classes at the law school again this semester.  Start the New Year off right by joining your fellow law students in stress-reducing, energizing and FREE yoga!  The classes will be held in the Washer Lounge and begin on Wednesday, January 9, at noon.  The classes will be 45 minutes, giving you plenty of time to take a break before your next class.  We provide the mats ... all you need is comfortable clothing (a t-shirt and sweats or shorts).

Several Information Sessions will be offered again this semester for students interested in learning more about study abroad opportunities; the Law School's three journals; the Moot Court Board and opportunities to tryout for extramural advocacy competitions; the Kentucky Innocence Project Externship; Dual Degree Programs; and summer 2013 and fall 2013 externship and clinic opportunities.  The first information session on January 24 will focus on study abroad opportunities with the Law School's exchange partner institutions.  More details will be provided as the date approaches.

We will have a "Welcome Back" treat for students in the Mosaic Lobby today.  Please enjoy some coffee and snacks from 10:00 a.m. to noon.  We wish you a successful semester!

There is still a placement available for a new participant in the Immigration Law Externship with Kentucky Refugee Ministries.  As an extern, you would be supervised by two experienced immigration attorneys who are alums of the law school: Becca O'Neill and Emi Ramirez.  If you are interested in learning more about immigration law and the diverse immigrant community in Louisville, please contact Professor Trucios-Haynes, ethaynes@louisville.edu.