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

From the Dean

Students “LEED” the Way

Even in hard times, there are silver linings. The class of 2009, while facing a rocky job market, made it their goal to help underwrite the first “green” class gift, renovating the Tenth Floor Library Reading Room with new, energy efficient, LEED-certified lighting. Over 120 members of this year’s graduating class donated $6,400 towards the project.

The students were challenged by the class of 1983 who agreed to direct its 25th reunion gift to the project if at least 75 students donated by April 15. The class of 2009 well exceeded that challenge and set a record for class gift participation at Chicago-Kent. I am grateful for the support from the class of 1983 and proud of the graduating class with its message of environmental responsibility, even in this challenging financial climate.

Like many institutions, we are making necessary budget cuts to meet the bottom line while still confronting the competitive law school environment. Your support, especially through the Annual Fund, enables us to help students by restoring some of the funds lost because of diminished endowment returns and a slashed operating budget. I hope you will consider making a gift by May 31, the end of our fiscal year. To give online, visit www.kentlaw.edu/give or contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 312.906.5240.

Finally, I am delighted to share that US News and World Reports ranked our Trial Advocacy and Intellectual Property programs #4 in the country!  I applaud the faculty and alumni volunteers who make these programs so successful. 

Sincerely,

Harold J. Krent
Dean and Professor of Law

Click here to view more photos from the Supreme Court Event >>
(l-r) Tarek Fadel '03, Vanessa Weathersby '90 and Denise Staniec '84 are three of the 35 alumni who were recently sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court Bar by Dean Hal Krent (2nd from right).

In This Issue

News and Announcements

35 Chicago-Kent Alumni Sworn in to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar

Thirty-five Chicago-Kent alumni were admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court on April 6. The induction ceremony was conducted by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., who administered the oath to the group. Associate Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, David Souter, Clarence Thomas and Ruth Bader Ginsburg were also present.  

Inductees, who graduated from Chicago-Kent between 1976 and 2003, came from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Organized by the Chicago-Kent Alumni Association, the swearing-in was the culmination of two days of activities in Washington, D.C. On the day before the ceremony, Dean Harold J. Krent, who served as movant for the inductees and has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, hosted a reception at the University Club for inductees, their families and guests, and Chicago-Kent alumni from the Washington, D.C., area. Chicago-Kent professor and Illinois Solicitor General Michael Scodro, who clerked for now-retired Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, shared his Supreme Court experiences with the group. 

Immediately following the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, Chief Justice Roberts and Associate Justice Ginsburg joined the Chicago-Kent inductees and their guests at a breakfast reception.

Photos from the event at available on the Alumni Online Community at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/supremecourt.

For more information on this event and a full list of alumni newly inducted to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, please click here.


New Issue of the Seventh Circuit Review Available

Volume 4, issue 1, of the Seventh Circuit Review is now available online at www.kentlaw.edu/7cr. Articles include analysis of recent decisions of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in the areas of antitrust law, appellate procedure, bankruptcy law, civil rights law, criminal law and First Amendment law.


New on Your Alumni Online Community: Groups!


Introducing: Online Community Groups
There’s a new way to connect and communicate with your Chicago-Kent friends. Groups have arrived on your Alumni Online Community: www.alumni.kentlaw.edu!

Connect with alumni in your Class Year, who work in your Practice Area, live in your Region, or were involved in the same Student Organizations as you.

In addition to joining existing groups, you can create your own groups and invite your friends to join. It’s quick and easy to share video, photos, links, comments, and event invitations with each other, and it’s simple to receive updates on everyone in your group. Real-time chat lets you connect with group members even faster, and the White Board lets you post your thoughts instantly.

To get started, login to www.alumni.kentlaw.edu and you'll see tabs for "My Groups" and "Suggested Groups" on your home page.

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


Chicago-Kent received a bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln from the ISBA to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth.
Chicago-Kent received a bust of Abraham Lincoln from the ISBA to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth.
Abraham Lincoln Finds a Home in Chicago-Kent’s Library

Chicago-Kent received a replica of a bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. The bust, “Prairie Lawyer, Master of Us All,” rendered by internationally recognized Lincoln sculptor John McClarey, depicts Abraham Lincoln during his years as a practicing member of the Illinois bar.

The bust is a fourteen-inch replica of the original bronze sculpture presented to the Illinois Supreme Court on January 12 of this year during a special session in Springfield. The ISBA commissioned McClarey’s work as a gift to the citizens of Illinois on behalf of its lawyers. The presentation was made April 7 at Chicago-Kent during an evening performance by the Lincoln Trio of classical works and composers who were prominent during Lincoln’s lifetime and new compositions inspired by the sixteenth president’s life and times.   

Dean Harold J. Krent accepted the bust and certificate of authenticity on behalf of the law school from ISBA president Jack C. Carey and John G. Locallo ‘86, ISBA third-vice president and president of the Chicago-Kent Alumni Board of Directors. “Prairie Lawyer,” which portrays a thoughtful Lincoln with his chin resting in his hand, will be displayed in Chicago-Kent’s library.

The law school also has items of Abraham Lincoln memorabilia from the extensive collection of the late U.S. District Court Senior Judge Abraham Lincoln Marovitz ‘25. The artifacts are in the foyer of the Chicago-Kent’s state-of-the-art courtroom that bears his name. “Judge Abe,” as he was affectionately called, died in 2001 at the age of 95.


Chicago-Area Hilton Hotels Offer Discounts for Alumni

Chicago-Area Hilton Hotels, including the Drake Hotel and the Palmer House are offering 20% discounts on rooms for all Chicago-Kent Alumni from now through the end of 2009. Whether you're coming into town for a Chicago-Kent event or business meeting, or just want to spend a romantic evening downtown, we hope you find a way to enjoy this benefit. For more information, visit www.hiltonfamilychicago.com/school/.


Introducing Groups!

There’s a new way to connect and communicate with your Chicago-Kent friends. Groups have arrived on your Alumni Online Community.

Connect with alumni in your Class Year, who work in your Practice Area, live in your Region, or were involved in the same Student Organizations as you.

In addition to joining existing groups, you can create your own groups and invite your friends to join. It’s quick and easy to share video, photos, links, comments, and event invitations with each other, and it’s simple to receive updates on everyone in your group.

To get started, visit www.alumni.kentlaw.edu.

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

Save the Date

Social Events - Chicago

2009 Commencement Ceremony
Sunday, May 17, 2009
3:00 p.m. (Doors open at 2:00 p.m.)
Arie Crown Theatre, McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60616

Please join us for the 2009 commencement ceremony, featuring keynote speaker, FTC Commissioner, William E. Kovacic. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony.

Alumni wishing to attend should RSVP to commencement@kentlaw.edu by May 8, 2009. (A ticket is required for entry.) For more information and directions visit www.kentlaw.edu/commencement.


Chicago-Kent's Night with the White Sox: Order Deadline Extended to May 15!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
7:11 p.m.
U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W 35th St, Chicago, IL 60616

More Information >>

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, May 15.  Please note that tickets are subject to availability and due to high demand, we encourage you to register as soon as possible.


Save the Date: Trial Advocacy Alumni Reunion Dinner
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Chicago, IL (Time and Location TBA)

Please join us for the annual Trial Advocacy Alumni reunion dinner and awards ceremony. Details forthcoming.

RSVP to alums@kentlaw.edu by Monday, June 15, 2009.


Senior Partner Council Logo
Save the Date: Senior Partner Council Appreciation Dinner
Thursday, July 23, 2009
6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library, Winter Garden, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605

Make a Senior Partner Council gift and secure your invitation for this year’s annual celebration. The Senior Partner Council includes supporters of leadership gifts of $1,000 or more annually ($500 for alumni from 2003 and later, public interest and/or government employees). This year invitees will enjoy an evening in the beautiful Winter Garden of the Harold Washington Library. Tour the exhibit Tall Man of Destiny: Images of Abraham Lincoln, and learn the inside scoop on Lincoln’s impact on American Law.

Benefits of Senior Partner Council membership include invitations to special events, special reports from the Dean, and recognition in the annual Dean's Report. For more information, contact David Thompson at dthompson@kentlaw.edu.


CLE Opportunities

28th annual Conference on Not-For-Profit Organizations
Friday, June 5, 2009
8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

This one-day seminar is designed for experienced attorneys, accountants, and not-for-profit executives, staff and board members. The conference features a comprehensive program at a mid-to-advanced level of discussion on most current developments in taxation, legislation and regulation of non-profits.

Attendees are eligible for 6.25  hours of MCLE Credit, including 1.0 hour of ethics credit. For more information and to register, visit www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cle.


Click to view more photos from the Public Interest Awards >>
(l-r) Laura Kay Jelinek ’95, M. Katherine Roller ‘97, and Cynthia Goldberg Leos ’02, pictured with Dean Hal Krent, were the 2009 recipients of the Marovitz Public Interest Law Award.

Past Event Highlights

2nd Annual Public Interest Awards and Networking Reception

On Tuesday, April 21, Chicago-Kent honored alumni and students who better our communities through their work and commitment to public interest law. Three outstanding alumni, Laura Kay Jelinek ’95, Cynthia Goldberg Leos ’02, and M. Katherine Roller ‘97, received the 2009 Honorable Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Public Interest Law Award.

The event also featured a spotlight on the work of the Chicago-Kent Chapter of the Student Hurricane Network, and students in the Public Interest Law Program were honored for their work and commitment to public interest law.

Following the Awards ceremony, alumni and students socialized at a networking reception.

Photos from the event are available on the Alumni Online Community at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/piawards09.

Matt Lash '07
Matt Lash ‘07


Matt Lash ’07 Memorial Scholarship

Chicago-Kent alumnus, Matt Lash ‘07, passed away in April 2008 after a long battle with cancer. Despite living with his disease throughout law school, he completed his JD, held an internship with the Detroit Tigers, volunteered in the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, was a class representative to the Student Bar Association, wrote for the Commentator, and volunteered with the American Cancer Society and other cancer organizations.

In honor of Matt’s extraordinary optimism and tenacity, as well as his love for Chicago-Kent, a memorial scholarship has been established in his name. The Matt Lash Scholarship Fund will provide financial assistance to Chicago-Kent students facing health challenges. Matt’s family, friends and classmates, including Laura Potter ‘07 and Ben Panter ‘06, organized a “Lash Bash” event last month to raise funds for the scholarship. Over 150 people attended the event, which included a silent auction, and generated over $8000 in the ongoing effort to fully fund the Matt Lash Scholarship.

If you would like to donate to the scholarship in Matt’s honor, please visit www.kentlaw.edu/give and select the “Matt Lash ‘07 Memorial Fund” from the drop down list.

Click to view more photos from the Diversity Networking Reception >>
(l-r) Students David Shim and Amy Chu are pictured with Dean Hal Krent and alumna, Elaine Sit '96, at the Diversity Networking Reception.


3rd Annual Diversity Networking Event

On Monday, April 20, Chicago-Kent hosted the third annual Diversity Networking Event, which connected students, alumni, and friends for networking and discussion of diversity issues in the legal world.

The event was preceded by a panel entitled, The Importance of a Diverse Workforce in a Challenging Economy: The Impact on Law Students in 2009, moderated by David Mendelsohn ‘91, DLA Piper LLP (US). Panelists included Jason Brown, PepsiAmericas, Inc., Paul Chadha, Accenture LLP, and Christina L. Martini, DLA Piper LLP (US).

Photos from the event are available on the Alumni Online Community at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/diversity.


Video: Practicing Law in China versus the US

On April 9, the Chicago-Kent Chinese and American Society for Legal & Cultural Exchange hosted 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 included Ruth Guo ’06, Mayer Brown, LLP, Amber Liu ’08 and Thomas R. Stiebel, Jr., both with Quarles & Brady LLP, and Annie Wu, Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Click to view more photos from the Society of Women in Law Networking Reception >>
(l-r) Students Susan Estes and Lindsey Epstein met with alumnae, Mary Anne Smith '77 and Cheryl Berdelle '82 at the first annual Society of Women in Law Networking Reception.

A video of the panel is available online. Please click here to view this event.


Society of Women in Law Networking Reception

The Chicago-Kent Alumni Association and the Society of Women in Law co-hosted a reception at the law school on April 15, bringing together current female Chicago-Kent students and Chicago-Kent alumnae.

Earlier this year, current law students were matched with alumnae mentors in the legal community. This event celebrated the culmination of that program while allowing current students and Chicago-Kent alumnae network and socialize. 

Thank you to the alumnae who served as mentors this year! Next year’s Society of Women in Law Mentor Program will kick off in October 2009. If you are an alumna who is interested in participating, please keep your eyes open for an email in the early fall, or email alums@kentlaw.edu.  

Photos from the event are available on the alumni online community at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/wil.

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