Commencement
Commencement for the Class of 2014 was held May 3, at 5:00 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum. The commencement address was given by UA Law Dean Emeritus Kenneth C. Randall. Dean Randall now is the President and CEO of iLawVentures, a consortium that provides management solutions, new educational programs and pioneering technology driven course delivery to law schools and higher education institutions.
Degree candidates were hooded by Kimberly Boone, Director of Legal Writing Program and Legal Writing Lecturer; Bryan Fair, Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law; and Pamela Pierson, Bainbridge-Mims Professor of Law.
A reception honoring the 163 graduating students was held immediately following the ceremony on the Camille Wright Cook Plaza in front of the Law School.
If you missed the ceremony, click here to watch the 2014 Alabama Law Commencement.
Public Interest Institute Award Ceremony
The Public Interest Institute held its annual awards ceremony Friday, April 18. Alabama Possible Executive Director Kristina Scott served as the keynote speaker. Scott spoke to a group of aspiring public interest lawyers about following their passion in pursuing careers that allow them to make a positive impact on others. Scott was awarded an honorary Order of the Samaritan medal, the highest public service award bestowed by the Law School, in recognition of her dedication to working for social justice in Alabama.
During the ceremony, 19 Alabama law students were also named to the Order of the Samaritan, while 29 students received the Dean’s Community Service Award for their volunteer work. Additionally, 17 third-year students were recognized for completing the requirements for the Law School’s Certificate in Public Interest Law.
Looking to hire?
Registration is now open for Fall On-Campus Interviews. The Career Services Office is happy to help you locate 2Ls for summer positions or 3Ls and alumni for post-graduation employment. If you are interested in hiring an Alabama law student for summer or permanent employment, please contact the Assistant Dean for Career Services, Tom Ksobiech (tksobiech@law.ua.edu). The CSO can arrange an on campus interview, collect resumes, or post a position on its electronic job board. All CSO services are free of charge.
The Best Thing for Your Resume Since Spellcheck:
LL.M. Concentrations in Taxation and Business Transactions Offered Online
The Law School’s Graduate Department offers two exceptional LL.M. programs through live, interactive Internet technologies. Students receive skills-based instruction taught by respected professors and practitioners throughout the country without having to leave their offices.
The tax program permits students to focus on courses in estate planning or business tax. The course of study for the business program is interdisciplinary in fields of law and business – including tax, finance, intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and traditional corporate classes. For more information, or to apply to either concentration, visit www.alabamallm.com or contact Assistant Dean for Graduate Law Programs Daniel Powell.
Alumni News
| Judson E. Crump (’09) established Judson E. Crump, PC, a foreclosure defense and consumer credit practice in Mobile.Wes Gilchrist (’05) was named a partner at Lightfoot, Franklin & White, LLC in Birmingham. Julie Hussey (’99) joined the Perkins Coie LLP San Diego Office as a Partner. | Sam David Knight (’97) joined Badham & Buck, LLC as a partner.James P. Pewitt (’90) opened his own law office, James P. Pewitt, LLC. |
UA Law in the News
Center for Progressive Reform Blog: “Waters of the United States: Myths and Facts Surrounding the New Proposed Rule from EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers”
AL.com: “If prayer is OK for town meetings, what about schools?”
SCOTUS Blog: “Symposium: Thoughts on Town of Greece – if the kilt fits”
Lawyers of Color: “50 Under 50: Recognizing law professors who are making relevant contributions to the legal profession”
The University of Alabama School of Law:
ABC 33/40: “Alabama State Bar to Host Free Legal Clinic in Tuscaloosa”
Faculty Notes
Professor Tanya Asim Cooper presented her scholarly work-in-progress at the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Clinical Conference in Chicago. She was also invited to join the planning committee for a conference scheduled for next fall at Pepperdine Law School discussing Domestic Violence on Campus and Higher Education’s Response.
Professor Richard Delgado’s article, “Four Observations about Hate Speech,” co-authored by Professor Jean Stefancic, was published in the Wake Forest Law Review, and was listed on a second SSRN Top Ten download for AARN: Race & Ethnicity. To read the article click here.
Professor William Henning attended a meeting in New York City with Working Group VI of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). UNCITRAL is developing a model law on secured transactions for developing nations. Professor Henning serves as a member of the U.S. Delegation.
Professor Henning is also chair and serves as reporter for a working group that is developing legislation to deal with the problem of fraudulent UCC Article 9 filings. The working group consists of members of the Uniform Law Commission, the American Law Institute, and the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Professor Henning was appointed a member of a new Uniform Law Commission study committee dealing with problems associated with mobile and alternative payment systems, e.g., Bitcoin. He also attended the Spring 2014 Meeting of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section in Los Angeles.
Professor Julie Hill’s article “When Bank Examiners Get It Wrong: Financial Institution Appeals of Material Supervisory Determinations,” was accepted for publication in the Washington University Law Review.
Professor Pam Pierson spoke to the Alabama State Bar’s 2013-2014 Leadership Class about a new program, The Business of Being a Lawyer, taught at The University of Alabama School of Law. Her book, by the same title, is in page proofs and will be published by West Academic in June 2014 and will also be available on Amazon.
Professor Ken Rosen was elected co-chair of the Teaching International Law Interest Group of the American Society of International Law. His article, “Financial Intermediaries as Principals and Agents” was published by the Wake Forest Law Review. He was also a contributor for the World Bank and International Finance Corporation’s report, “Doing Business 2014, Understanding Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises.” Having been chosen as the United States Reporter on Company Law and the Law of Succession, he will be traveling to Vienna, Austria this summer for the Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law. He was also selected to participate in The University of Alabama’s Cuba program. As a part of the program, he joined a delegation of scholars in Havana, where he met with lawyers and scholars to discuss the nature of legal education, the legal profession, and business law in the country. Professor Rosen participated in a workshop on public choice economics at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and travelled to Washington, D.C. for the joint meeting of the American Society of International Law and the International Law Association. While in Washington, he met with UA Law alumni working in a variety of settings in D.C. Closer to home at the Law School, he hosted a panel of alumni from Alabama, Texas, and Washington, D.C. to discuss the practice of business law in the private and public sectors.
Professor Jean Stefancic’s article, “Four Observations about Hate Speech,” co-authored by Professor Richard Delgado, was published in the Wake Forest Law Review, and was listed on a second SSRN Top Ten download for AARN: Race & Ethnicity. To read the article click here.
Professor Fredrick Vars wrote a feature article for the Capstone Lawyer. He also delivered a talk on guns and mental illness at a Law and Economics Society event for Alabama law students.
CLE Alabama Training Opportunities
August 21 – 22: 2014 ECAPI – Montgomery
September 12: iPad/iPhone Foundations – Tuscaloosa
September 12: iPad Productivity and Law Apps – Tuscaloosa
October 10: Business Law – Birmingham
October 17: Real Estate Law – Location TBA
October 31 – November 1: 21st Annual Family Law Retreat to the Beach – Orange Beach
November 7: Healthcare Law – Birmingham
November 14: Bankruptcy Law Update – Birmingham
November 21: Estate Planning – Birmingham
December 11: Tort Law Update – Birmingham
December 12: Taking and Defending Depositions – Birmingham
December 17: Employment Law – Birmingham
December 18: Alabama Update – Birmingham – Birmingham