Chicago-Kent College of Law: Alumni E-Brief
Alumni E-Brief
Dean Harold J. Krent

From the Dean

Public Interest Award Recipients

I am pleased to announce this year’s Marovitz Public Interest Law Award recipients, who will be honored at our second annual Public Interest Awards and Networking Reception on Tuesday, April 21.

  • Laura Kay Jelinek '95
    Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
  • Cynthia Goldberg Leos '02
    New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department
  • M. Katherine Roller '97
    Office of the Cook County Public Defender

    These alumnae have demonstrated leadership in their communities as well as a strong commitment to public interest law, often to their financial detriment. They exemplify the character and life of our esteemed alumnus, the Hon. Abraham Lincoln Marovitz ‘25, for whom this award is named.

    This year’s Public Interest Awards night will also honor students in Chicago-Kent’s Public Interest Law Program and will spotlight the Chicago-Kent Chapter of the Student Hurricane Network for their efforts to rebuild the Gulf Coast region. A networking reception will follow the awards ceremony. For details and to RSVP, visit www.kentlaw.edu/alumni/publicinterest.

    Another great law school event coming up this month is our third annual Diversity Networking Event on Monday, April 20. This year, we are hosting a panel discussion moderated by David Mendelsohn ‘91, DLA Piper LLP (US), entitled The Importance of a Diverse Workforce in a Challenging Economy: The Impact on Law Students in 2009. A networking reception, co-sponsored by the Alumni Association and several of our minority student organizations, will follow the panel. Please plan to join us for one of these exciting events showcasing the great talent at Chicago-Kent.

    Sincerely,

    Harold J. Krent
    Dean and Professor of Law

Dean Harold J. Krent signed an agreement to establish a graduate law program in Thailand with Viruch Limbichai, President of the Supreme Court of Thailand (middle), and Phinij Susaoraj, Secretary General of the Office of the Judiciary (right).
Dean Harold J. Krent signed an agreement to establish a graduate law program in Thailand with Viruch Limbichai, President of the Supreme Court of Thailand (middle), and Phinij Susaoraj, Secretary General of the Office of the Judiciary (right).


In This Issue

News and Announcements

Chicago-Kent and the Judiciary of Thailand Establish Graduate Law Program

Chicago-Kent and the Office of the Judiciary of Thailand recently signed an agreement to establish a special graduate study program for Thai judges. The agreement was initialed February 19, 2009 in Chicago by Viruch Limbichai, President of the Supreme Court of Thailand, and Dean Harold J. Krent.

The signing was witnessed by a delegation of prominent Thai officials. Chicago-Kent was represented by Professor Susan J. Adams and Lydia Lazar, assistant dean for international law and policy development.

Chicago-Kent faculty will travel to Thailand to teach a four-course, graduate-level program for judges. The judges will complete their first semester of work in Bangkok and then travel to the U.S. to take an additional semester of course work at Chicago-Kent. Twenty-seven judges have enrolled in the inaugural program, and additional programs are planned for other locations in Thailand.

The agreement with the Office of the Judiciary extends Chicago-Kent’s activities in Thailand. For the past three years, the law school has offered a similar program in collaboration with Sripatum University in Bangkok. In addition, nearly two dozen Chicago-Kent alumni currently live in Thailand.

Chicago-Kent also offers special LL.M. programs and overseas training programs in Prishtina, Kosovo; Beijing and Shanghai, China; Gdansk and Wroclaw, Poland; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

For more information on the law school’s international programs, visit www.kentlaw.edu/international.


Career Services Programs Now Available Online

Did you miss last month’s Career Services Programs on “Why the Downturn May Be the Right Time to Start Your Own Law Firm”? Now you can attend these valuable career programs from your office. The Career Services Office (CSO) is pleased to announce that videos of their programming are now available online.

To watch videos of other programs, visit www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cso/videos.html.

A password is required to view CSO videos. Call the Career Services Office at 312-906-5200 or email kentcso@kentlaw.edu for access.

Please note: Most events are available on video within two days of the original program date and will remain available for viewing for three weeks, due to limited server space. Archived program videotapes from the last several years are also available in the Career Services Office.


The Honorable Warren D. Wolfson is founder and director of Chicago-Kent's award-winning Trial Advocacy Program.
Justice Warren D. Wolfson
Justice Warren D. Wolfson Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Illinois Appellate Court Justice Warren D. Wolfson has received a lifetime achievement award from the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Stetson University College of Law. The award was presented March 5, 2009 at Stetson's second national advocacy conference in Gulfport, Florida. Justice Wolfson is founder and director of the award-winning Trial Advocacy Program at Chicago-Kent College of Law and a member of Chicago-Kent’s Board of Overseers.

“Stetson University College of Law's lifetime achievement award is presented to a deserving member of the legal community to recognize excellence in all facets of advocacy, from teaching others to representing clients," said Professor Charles H. Rose III, director of Stetson’s Center for Excellence in Advocacy. "Justice Warren Wolfson exemplifies the legal profession’s commitment to furthering the art, science and skill of advocacy instruction."

Justice Wolfson established Chicago-Kent's Trial Advocacy Program in 1971 and has served as director since inception. He developed the program's core curriculum, which comprises three courses: Trial Advocacy 1, Trial Advocacy 2 and Litigation Technology. Twice a year, the program also offers an eight-day intensive trial advocacy course.

What Defines a Great Law School?

A Chicago native, Justice Wolfson received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. In 1975, after 18 years of criminal defense practice, he was appointed to the Circuit Court of Cook County. Justice Wolfson was elected to that position the following year, where he served until his appointment to the Illinois Appellate Court in 1994.

Justice Wolfson is co-author of Trial Evidence, 4th ed. (2009), and Materials in Trial Advocacy, 6th ed. (2007), both by Aspen Publishers. He also taught trial advocacy at the University of Chicago Law School from 1985 to 2000 and has taught and lectured for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.


Help Make a Difference: Support the Chicago-Kent Annual Fund by May 31

The Annual Fund, through the generous support of alumni and friends, provides scholarship assistance, research and faculty development. All gifts make an important difference to the law school. We hope we can count on you by May 31, the end of our fiscal year.

Give online at: www.kentlaw.edu/give.

Get Your Kentlaw Email Forwarding Address!

We are pleased to offer alumni of Chicago-Kent an email-forwarding service. Email forwarding allows you to choose a username to create an @alumni.kentlaw.edu address that, when email is sent to the address, is then forwarded to a personal email account that you specify (e.g. gmail or yahoo).

Give this @alumni.kentlaw.edu forwarding address to friends and colleagues and you’ll no longer have to notify everyone in your address book of a new or discontinued e-mail address; you can simply update the email account to which the email forwarding address sends to by logging into the Online Community.

Visit www.alumni.kentlaw.edu. Click on “My Account” and choose the “email forwarding” tab to set up your account today!

Not yet a part of the community?
Request your login information.

Save the Date

Social Events - Chicago

Kent Justice Foundation Spring Auction
Thursday, April 2, 2009
4:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

The Kent Justice Foundation (KJF) is a Chicago-Kent student organization that promotes public interest law, encourages volunteerism and supports pro-bono work. Each year, an auction is held to support KJF and their summer fellowship program for students in public interest positions. Auction items include a lunch with Richard Rodriguez '97, CTA President, dinner with Michael Demetrio '79, partner at Corboy & Demetrio, and lunch with U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, Hon. Ilana Diamond Rovner '66 in her chambers. Click here to view a complete list of auction packages. Please join us to support this worthy cause!

Tickets are $15 at the door and include an open bar and hors d’oeuvres. Direct questions to kjf@kentlaw.edu.


The Institute for Law & the Humanities Presents a Concert by the Lincoln Trio
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Reception: 5:30 p.m. ~ Concert: 6:30 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Auditorium, Chicago, IL 60661

The Chicago-Kent Institute for Law and the Humanities and the Alumni Association present the renowned Lincoln Trio, under the auspices of the Ravinia Festival, to perform a historic chamber music program in celebration of the Lincoln bicentennial. The program includes original music as well as works by Mendelssohn and Brahms. Guests are also invited to attend a pre-concert cocktail reception in the Chicago-Kent lobby beginning at 5:30.

RSVP to alums@kentlaw.edu or (312) 906-5240 by Friday, April 3.


Society of Women in Law Networking Reception
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Lobby, Chicago, IL 60661

Please join us for a Society of Women in Law networking reception bringing together current female Chicago-Kent students and Chicago-Kent alumnae. Earlier this year, current law students were matched up with alumnae mentors in the legal community. This event also celebrates the culmination of that program while allowing current students and Chicago-Kent alumnae network and socialize. 

RSVP to wil@kentlaw.edu by Monday, April 13.

David Mendelsohn ‘91, DLA Piper LLP (US) will moderate a panel discussion on diversity.
David Mendelsohn ‘91, DLA Piper LLP (US) will moderate a panel discussion on diversity.


Third Annual Diversity Networking Event
Monday, April 20, 2009
Panel:
5:00 p.m., Marovitz Courtroom
Networking Reception: 6:00 p.m., 10th Floor
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

David Mendelsohn ‘91, DLA Piper LLP (US) will moderate a panel discussion of The Importance of a Diverse Workforce in a Challenging Economy: The Impact on Law Students in 2009. Panelists will include Jason Brown, PepsiAmericas, Inc., Paul Chadha, Accenture LLP, and Christina L. Martini, DLA Piper LLP (US). Following the panel, network with fellow alumni, friends and current students at a cocktail reception.

Click here to RSVP or call (312) 906-5240 by Thursday, April 16. Alumni are welcome to attend both the panel and reception or just the reception. This event is co-sponsored by the Alumni Association, the Asian-Pacific American Law Students, the Black Law Students, the Chicago-Kent Lambdas, the Hispanic-Latino Law Students, and the South Asian Law Students Associations.


2009 Public Interest Awards and Networking Reception
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
5:00 p.m. Awards, Networking reception follows
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Ogilvie Auditorium, Chicago, IL 60661

Please join us as we present the 2009 Marovitz Public Interest Award to Laura Kay Jelinek ’95, Cynthia Goldberg Leos ’02, and M. Katherine Roller ‘97. Student Public Interest awards will also be presented, along with a spotlight on the Chicago-Kent Chapter of the Student Hurricane Network. A networking reception for alumni working in the public interest and government sectors will follow.

Click Here to RSVP by Friday, April 17.  For more information, visit www.kentlaw.edu/alumni/publicinterest.


White Sox Logo
Chicago-Kent's Night with the White Sox
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
7:11 p.m.
U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W 35th St, Chicago, IL 60616

Watch the White Sox vs. Twins at U.S. Cellular Field. On this special night, the White Sox are offering specially priced tickets to all Chicago-Kent alumni, students, faculty, staff, and their family and friends. Tickets regularly priced at $38 and $19 are available for $19 and $9.50.

To order tickets, click here to complete the payment form and submit to the Chicago White Sox by Friday, April 24.  Please note that tickets are subject to availability and due to high demand, we encourage you to register as soon as possible.


Michael Scodro
IL Solicitor General, Michael Scodro, will speak at the D.C. Alumni Dinner in April.
Social Events - Regional

Washington D.C. Alumni Dinner
Sunday, April 5, 2009
6:00 p.m. Cocktails ~ 7:00 p.m. Dinner
The University Club of Washington, D.C., 1135 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-4885

Please join Dean Harold J. Krent for an alumni dinner in Washington D.C. at the University Club, featuring special guest, Michael Scodro, Illinois Solicitor General and Chicago-Kent Professor. Professor Scodro will speak about his experiences clerking for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.  

Tickets are $50/person. Click here to RSVP online by Thursday, April 2. Please note: business attire is required (no denim or athletic shoes please).

Lectures & Conferences

IP Lecturer: Professor Lisa Ramsey
IP Speaker: Professor Lisa Ramsey
Chicago IP Colloquium Speaker: Professor Lisa Ramsey
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
4:00 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St. Room 305, Chicago, IL 60661

Professor Lisa Ramsey, University of San Diego School of Law, will speak on her paper, “Free Speech and International Obligations to Protect Trademarks.”

This event is free and open to the public. The Chicago IP Colloquium is cosponsored by Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Please visit the Colloquium’s website for more information on the speaker series.


Practicing Law in China v. Practicing Law in the US: A Panel Discussion
Thursday, April 9, 2009
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Ogilvie Auditorium, Chicago, IL 60661

The Chicago-Kent Chinese and American Society for Legal & Cultural Exchange will host a panel of American attorneys who have practiced in China and Chinese attorneys who have practiced law in the U.S. for a comparative discussion.. Panelists include Ruth Guo ’06, Associate, Mayer Brown, LLP; Thomas R. Stiebel, Jr., Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP; Douglas J. Tucker, Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP and Chicago-Kent Adjunct Professor; and Annie Wu, Of Counsel, Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

This event is free and open to the public. Alumni currently living in China will have a chance to watch the panel on video after the event. Please visit the Alumni Online Community to view the video after Monday, April 13.

Free Speech and Human Dignity by Steven J. Heyman


Lecture: Free Speech and Human Dignity, Professor Steven J. Heyman
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Room 170, Chicago, IL 60661

In recent years, liberals and progressives have been sharply divided between strong advocates of free speech and those who would regulate speech to protect human dignity and equality. In his latest book, Free Speech and Human Dignity, Chicago-Kent Professor Steven J. Heyman seeks to reconcile these opposing views by developing a liberal humanist theory of the First Amendment. He will speak on how he applies this theory to a wide range of controversies, from hate speech and pornography to anti-abortion demonstrations and picketing at military funerals.

This event is free and open the public. Contact jellis@kentlaw.edu with questions. Sponsored by the American Constitution Society, Chicago-Kent chapter.


Adolfo Laurenti, Denior Economist at Mesirow Financial will speak on the Financial Crisis.
Adolfo Laurenti, Senior Economist at Mesirow Financial will speak on the Financial Crisis.
Corporate Law Society Lecture and Reception: The Financial Crisis
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Lecture:
4:30 p.m., Room C50
Networking Reception: 5:30 p.m., 10th Floor
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

The Chicago-Kent Corporate Law Society will host a two-part lecture featuring Adolfo Laurenti, Senior Economist at Mesirow Financial and J. Paul Forrester ‘85, Partner, Mayer Brown LLP, speaking on the current financial crisis. Topics will include credit risk, compensation, corporate governance and the rating agencies' performance. 

An alumni and student networking reception will follow the lecture.

RSVP to ChicagoKentCLS@gmail.com by Tuesday, April 14. This event is the third and final lecture in a speaker series hosted by the Corporate Law Society. Please click here for information on other CLS lectures.


Career Services Workshop: Dealing with a Bad Economy
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Noon - 1:50 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Room 270, Chicago, IL 60661

Facing a job search can be very difficult in an economic downturn. Figuring out how to live on a lower-than-expected salary, or no salary at all, can be difficult, particularly when loan payments are looming, and all of this can take an emotional toll. This program is designed to help young alumni and job-seekers tackle all of these challenges in a productive and healthy way.

To RSVP, please go to your Symplicity Career Management System account and click on the “Events” tab. If you do not have a Symplicity username and password, please e-mail kentcso@kentlaw.edu to obtain access.

CLE Opportunities

Morris Lecturer: Catherine Kessedjian
Morris Lecturer: Catherine Kessedjian
19th Annual Henry Morris Lecture: Uniformity v. Diversity in Law in a Global World
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Ogilvie Auditorium, Chicago, IL 60661

Catherine Kessedjian, Professor, University of Paris II, France, will speak on “Uniformity v. Diversity in Law in a Global World: Examples in Commercial & Procedural Law."

Attendees are eligible for 1.0 hour of IL MCLE credit. For more information, visit www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cle. This event is free and open to the public.


26th Annual Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation Conference
Thursday, April 23, 2009: 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Friday, April 24, 2009: 8:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

Liability arising out of §1983 presents a continuing challenge for all municipal lawyers, private practitioners, and litigators who try cases in this dynamic area. Keeping up with this ever-changing environment is critical. Presented by eminent legal scholars and leading practitioners for municipal and state attorneys, plaintiffs' attorneys and criminal defense attorneys, you will learn both the fundamentals and more advanced aspects of §1983 practice and trial skills, and analyze the latest judicial decisions.

Attendees are eligible for 11.0 hours of MCLE Credit, including 1.0 hour of ethics credit. For more information and to register, visit www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cle.


28th Annual Federal Tax Institute
Thursday, April 30, 2009: 8:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Friday, May 1, 2009: 8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

Nationally recognized tax advisors provide a comprehensive update at an advanced level of discussion on recent developments and their impact on tax planning, compliance and controversy techniques.

Attendees are eligible for 10.0 hours of MCLE Credit, including 1.5 hours of ethics credit. For more information and to register, visit www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cle.

Past Event Highlights

Click to View More Event Photos
The Hon. Peter Birnbaum ’83, Andrew Booth ’09, Theresa Williams ’09, and Dean Harold J. Krent spoke at the 23rd annual Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon.

Luncheon Recognizes Scholarship Donors

On March 12, 2009, scholarship donors and student award recipients met at the 23rd annual Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon. The luncheon brings Chicago-Kent students together with the donors of their scholarships. 

Students Theresa Williams ’09, O’Reilly Family Scholar, and Andrew Booth ’09, the Burke, Moran and Class of 1975 Scholar, spoke about the impact their scholarships had on their law school experience, while the Hon. Peter Birnbaum ‘83 spoke about his commitment to supporting scholarships at the law school.

More photos from the event are available on the Alumni Online Community at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/scholarship_luncheon09.


Florida Alumni Gather in West Palm Beach and Sarasota

Dean Harold J. Krent hosted an alumni gathering for East Coast Florida alumni on March 19, 2009 at Clematis Social Restaurant in West Palm Beach, FL. Later that week, on March 21, the Dean attended a West Coast Florida Alumni Luncheon hosted by Susan and Roy C. Palmer ’62 at Polo Grill & Bar outside of Sarasota, FL.


Intellectual Property Law Society Honors Professor Graeme B. Dinwoodie and Patrick Burns ‘78
Karina Wong '10, IPLS Alumni Chair, Professor Graeme Dinwoodie, Patrick G. Burns '78, and Adam Wolek '09, IPLS President.
Karina Wong '10, IPLS Alumni Chair, Professor Graeme Dinwoodie, Patrick G. Burns '78, and Adam Wolek '09, IPLS President.

The Chicago-Kent Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) held its annual alumni awards and reception on March 25, 2009. More than 50 alumni, students, and faculty attended the event, which honored Chicago-Kent professor Graeme B. Dinwoodie, Director of the program in Intellectual Property Law, with the Distinguished Faculty Award, and Patrick G. Burns ’78, Partner at Greer, Burns & Crain, Ltd., with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

The Chicago-Kent IPLS was established to create a forum for students interested in the practice of intellectual property law. The society focuses on issues related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition, and antitrust. It also provides students with job search assistance and trains student teams for the annual moot court and trademark competitions.

Chicago-Kent’s Intellectual Property Law Program is consistently ranked as one of the country’s top intellectual property programs, and has, for the last few years, been ranked as the top intellectual property law program in the Midwest. Chicago-Kent is the only American law school offering an LL.M. in International Intellectual Property Law.

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