Professor Benjamin McMichael was recently featured in a Yahoo! News Article titled Abortion Battle Emerges in Congress Over New Veterans Affairs Rule. Read the full article here.
Professor Luke Herrine interviewed with several major news outlets regarding student debt relief. His commentary is highlighted in The New York Times, CNN, and Business Insider, along with several additional outlets.
In 2019, David (’00) and Laura Drinkard Hodge (’00) made a generous donation to the Law School Foundation to create the Class Composite Preservation Project Fund. The goal of this fund is to digitize and preserve the composite photos from graduating classes throughout the years, making them accessible for future generations to view.
As time passes, the composites are at risk of fading out, getting damaged, or even being lost due to natural disasters. While most of the composites are in good shape, the School of Law is taking preventive actions by digitizing them to ensure that these pieces of history are preserved and that our students and alumni are not forgotten.
“Our law school’s composites date back to 1886,” said David Durham, curator of archival collections at Alabama Law. “Early examples were handmade, with each image carefully pasted with the corresponding name hand lettered onto the matting. It underscores that these are not only windows into our law school’s history, but also works of art in their own right. These composites are unique, one-of-a-kind representations of an important part of our school’s history, many of which are considered high risk and in need of continued preservation efforts.”
The composite photos hold a special place in many of the hearts of alumni and their families. It isn’t uncommon to see a former student bringing their loved ones, co-workers, and friends to show them photo from their time in law school.
“I can remember going to Homecoming with my parents when I was growing up. It was always fun to look for the composites on the wall and find [my father] and then find my grandfather,” said Laura Drinkard Hodge (‘00), a third-generation Alabama Law alumna. “It was neat because my grandfather’s composite hung in one of the classrooms that I had class in while I was in school. I always enjoyed finding that connection.”
David Hodge (’00) expressed his love for history and an interest in being able to view the archive of images of Alabama Law alumni from over the years. “You can see what prominent alumni looked like while they were in law school. That’s something that always interested me as a student, and I think it is important to preserve that.”
The Class Composite Preservation Project is ongoing. Earlier this year, Alabama Law completed the digitization of the earliest and most vulnerable composites, ranging from 1886-1936. Preservation of the composites from 1937-1952 is currently in progress.
This story is a part of The 50 | 150 Anniversaries—a celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the School of Law’s founding and the 50th Anniversary of the graduation of the first class of African American students at Alabama Law. Though we have a rich history, many of the greatest stories have not yet been shared. If you have any memories or photos you would like to share, send our way for the chance to have them featured on our Anniversary website or other social platforms.
Story compiled by: Callie Jackson & Josh Bird
Professor Fredrick Vars published an opinion piece titled Dangerous and Discriminatory: Mental Health Questions on Bar Applications in Jurist Legal News and Commentary. Read the full article here.
He was also quoted in the article The Voluntary Gun Law Preventing Suicides in reasons to be cheerful. You can read the full piece here.
This past summer, Alabama Law students Katie Hill, Meghan McLeroy, Kelsey Marie Perine, and Maya Stevenson were selected as fellows in The Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship Program. This program provides financial support to law students who choose to spend their summers in unpaid legal public interest internships.
Alabama Law students Katie Hill, Meghan McLeroy, Kelsey Marie Perine, and Maya Stevenson pose with Glory McLaughlin (Assistant Dean for Public Interest Law) and Gary Sullivan (Chair of the Public Interest Committee).
This was the first year Alabama Law was selected to participate in the Stevens Fellowship Program. The program began in 1997 in honor of the United States Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, who believed that a successful justice system depends on lawyers who are dedicated to public interest work. Over time, the foundation has grown to include 38 law schools across the country—Alabama Law being among the eight additional law schools invited to join the 2022 class. Selections were chosen based on financial need and commitment to public interest law. This year, four Alabama Law students were awarded Stevens Fellowships, which included a monetary award of $6,000 per student in support of their public interest work this summer.
Participants had the option to work anywhere in the country for their internship, but each of the Alabama Law Stevens Fellows decided to complete their internships in the South. Maya Stevenson worked with the Capital Appeals Project, a nonprofit law office in New Orleans, which helps to provide justice for those on death row. Kelsey Marie Perine served as a Summer Law Clerk with The Law Office of the Shelby County Public Defender in Tennessee. Katie Hill and Meghan McLeroy both completed their internship locally in Birmingham. Katie worked with the Jefferson County Public Defender’s Office and Meghan worked with the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, helping to fight systemic racism in laws and policies.
Professor John Acevedo recently published an article titled Law’s Gaze in volume 25 of The Journal of Gender, Race and Justice. You can read the full piece here.
This year, the University of Alabama School of Law hosted its first-ever Summer Scholars program—a unique opportunity that introduces the study of law to students who come from backgrounds that have historically been underrepresented within the legal profession. Made possible through the generous support of the University of Alabama System’s McMahon-Pleiad Prize, the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, and Derrick (’03) and Tamesha Mills, 25 undergraduate students from universities and colleges across Alabama and surrounding states participated in the four-week program. Students were provided free housing, a $500 meal stipend, and a $1,000 cash stipend to make up for the loss of potential summer employment.
Throughout the month of June, the program participants engaged in several activities designed to help prepare them to apply to law school and better understand the many career options connected to pursuing a law degree. They went on excursions to meet legal professionals, defended a case in a mock trial event, and heard lectures from numerous professors, alumni, lawyers, and judges.
Experiential Learning
While much of the Summer Scholars program was hosted at the Law School, students also had several opportunities to visit law firms, tour historical locations, and learn from practicing lawyers and judges. They traveled to the Tuscaloosa Federal Building and Courthouse to engage in a panel discussion hosted by federal bankruptcy Judges Sims Crawford and Jennifer Henderson (’04). Additionally, the students took an excursion to visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and met with the firm Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher & Goldfarb for a roundtable discussion with several attorneys—including Alabama Law alumna Jenny Smith (’00). While there, the Summer Scholars learned how attorneys deal with tough cases. Attorney Dennis Pantazis shared his experiences working to obtain justice for families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, and attorney Jon Goldfarb spoke about his work on Lilly Ledbetter’s case. On a trip to Montgomery, students toured the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum, visited the historic federal courthouse for the Middle District of Alabama, and heard a lecture from Senior United States District Judge Myron H. Thompson. Judge Thompson explained the history of what has often been described as “America’s Courtroom” and the legacy of Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. (‘43) in relation to the Civil Rights Movement. Students also met with United States Magistrate Judge Jerusha Adams, Chief United States District Judge Emily Marks (‘98), and term and career law clerks for the Middle District who discussed the importance of finding mentors and applying for clerkships.
Mock Trial
Held in the Bedsole Moot Court Room at Alabama Law, students were split into two teams and given time to prepare, plead, and defend a case in front of Circuit Court Judge Sam Junkin (’00). This all-day mock trial event was a highlight for Autumn Pernell, who currently studies Psychology at The University of Alabama.
“My favorite memory from Summer Scholars was the Mock Trial,” said Pernell. “Getting to do the preparation and research necessary to get ready for a trial really opened my eyes to the work that litigators have to do for their cases. And getting to argue the case in front of Judge Samuel Junkin made me feel like a real attorney and cemented my desire to attend law school.”
Guest Lectures
Additionally, the students heard from approximately 60 guest speakers over the course of the program, including Al Vance (’00), Chenelle Jones (’21), Charles Fry (’99), Raul Gonzalez (’19), Jilisa Milton (’19) and Bridget Harris (’17), who offered advice and helped the participants explore their passions and inspired them to chase their goals. To help kick off the program, former US District Judge U.W. Clemon inspired the students with a keynote address about their roles in shaping the future of law. Judge Clemon’s former law clerk and program sponsor, Derrick Mills (’03) also talked with the students about the importance of building relationships with the people around you. Participants were introduced to the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program by Shandra Monterastelli (’18) and James Tucker (’86), and they learned about law and athletics with Tiffini Grimes. AccessLex’s Teria Thornton helped explain the costs of law school, and Nathan Smart (’14), Assistant Director for the Alabama Law Career Services office, gave students tips on writing résumés and cover letters.
Building Relationships
Reflecting on her experience with the Summer Scholar’s program, Gracie Sears, a Spanish and International Studies student at UAB, shared how the program not only prepared her to study of law, but it introduced her to new perspectives and lifelong friends.
“I would one hundred percent recommend this program to any student,” said Sears. “Not only have I had the ability to get a sampling of what law school is like, but I have learned how to carry myself with confidence around really important people, and about how empowering legal knowledge is. This program is filled with the best of the best, and the relationships that I have built with professors and students alike have allowed me to learn so much about other cultures, practices, and people. Being around like-minded people has been enriching, empowering, and fun. I will take the skills I have learned and friendships that I have built to law school and to my future career.”
To learn more about the Summer Scholars program, please contact program assistant, Dana Waid: dwaid@law.ua.edu.
Article written & edited by: Callie Jackson, Josh Bird, & Anil Mujumdar
Professor Shalini Bhargava Ray’s essay, Immigration Enforcement Priorities and Presidential Duty, was recently published in Lawfare. You can read the full piece here.
Three new professors—Clare Ryan, Luke Herrine, and Stacey Bergstrom—have joined the faculty at Alabama Law this year. Learn about their education, areas of expertise, and backgrounds below.
Clare Ryan, Assistant Professor of Law
Professor Ryan holds a J.D. and Ph.D. in Law from Yale Law School. She writes and teaches in the areas of family law and international human rights, with a particular emphasis on children’s rights. Her recent publications can be found in the UCLA Law Review, the Washington University Law Review, and the journal Law and Contemporary Problems. Prior to joining the Alabama Law faculty, she served as an Assistant Professor of Law at the LSU Law Center. Professor Ryan has also served as a Human Rights Fellow at the European Court of Human Rights and as a law clerk to the Hon. M. Margaret McKeown on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Luke Herrine, Assistant Professor of Law
Professor Herrine earned his Ph.D. from Yale Law School and his J.D. from New York University School of Law. He studies the law and political economy of consumer markets. He has recently published on the theories of consumer protection, the relevance of economic theory to antitrust, and the political history of the FTC’s unfairness authority. His earlier work on the legal bases for student debt cancellation laid the foundation for the ongoing class-based cancellation of defrauded students’ debt and for the current debate on broad-based executive action to cancel student debt.
Stacey Bergstrom, Assistant Professor of Legal Writing
Professor Bergstrom took her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and, upon graduation, began a career in criminal prosecution with the Hanover County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in Virginia, where she focused on domestic violence and child abuse investigations. She has also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Virginia Attorney General’s Office in the Computer Crime Section and Investigative Counsel for the New York State Inspector General. Most recently, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, where she prosecuted white-collar and child exploitation offenses. From 2016 to 2018, she also taught Legal Research and Writing as an adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law School.
As a new school year begins, Alabama Law is proud to welcome the Class of 2025. This year’s new incoming group consists of 149 students—drawn from a competitive pool of over 1,700 applicants.
Students from this class represent 24 states and 65 different colleges and universities. Nearly half of the new 1L students are women and 26% of the class members identify as members of a racial or ethnic minority. In total, this class speaks 11 different languages and dialects from around the world, and despite the limitations on travel in recent years due to the global pandemic, these students have studied, lived, or worked in 30 countries outside of the United States.
“Individually and collectively, you are impressive. . . Many of you have done remarkable things already in your lives, [and] I am confident that each and all of you will achieve great things during your time in law school,” said Dean Mark E. Brandon to the new 1L class during his welcome speech at orientation.
Classes began on Monday, August 15 and the semester will run through December 16. For more information, view the University of Alabama School of Law academic calendar online.
