I am pleased to relay news of Chicago-Kent's fantastic results from the July 07 bar exam. First-time test takers passed at our highest rate in recent memory of 94% which is 4% higher than the Illinois average. Our results exceed those from University of Illinois, Loyola, and DePaul. Over the last five years, our pass rates for all takers (including first-time) have been above the statewide rate.

I'd like to announce that Chicago-Kent will celebrate our 30th year of honoring distinguished alumni and friends at our annual Alumni Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at the Standard Club. I invite you to join us in honoring the 2007 award recipients and to celebrate each other and the school’s increasing national prominence As a special treat, we will commemorate Lew Collens’ return to the law school by highlighting his wonderful achievements over the past seventeen years as IIT President and the sixteen preceding years as our Dean.

2007 Alumni Awards

Professional Achievement Award

• Maryann Jones '82, Dean and Pesident of Western State University College of Law
  
  
• D. Jean Ortega-Piron '81 Guardian of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
  

Young Alumni Award

• Jonathan A. Carson '97, Co-founder and President, Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC
  

• John R. Schmidt, Partner, Mayer Brown LLP
  

Thank you to those of you who nominated these and other outstanding alumni. I also wish to thank the generous sponsors of this year’s luncheon. Please click here to see a full sponsor list. For more information about the awards luncheon, visit www.kentlaw.edu/allalumlunch.

I look forward to seeing you at the awards luncheon or a future alumni event.

Sincerely,

Harold J. Krent
Dean and Professor of Law

Princeton Reviews Are In

The Princeton Review recently released its law school guidebook, with Chicago-Kent among the top ranked schools in the US. One academic determined that, based on the Princeton Review’s categories, Chicago-Kent fell comfortably within the top fifty schools in the country ⁽¹⁾. Download the Chicago-Kent review to read more about what the students had to say.

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Spotlight on John Locallo, President of the Alumni Board of Directors

In September 2007, John Locallo ’86 succeeded Bob Surrette ’97 as President of the Chicago-Kent Alumni Board of Directors. We sat down with Locallo, a 2002 recipient of the Chicago-Kent Distinguished Service Award and a general member of the Board since 2004, to talk about what it means to him to volunteer for Chicago-Kent:

What has been the most rewarding aspect of volunteering at Chicago-Kent?

The most immediate award has been working with the fantastic administration at Chicago-Kent and the great alumni. But the biggest award is meeting the new students every year who are from all over the country, and have decided to make Chicago-Kent their law school.

What would you say to other alumni who are interested in giving back to Chicago-Kent?

Every single one of us…gets busy with our careers. But eventually the time comes to give…back to the profession—just like the Chicago-Kent graduates who preceded us. When you do, you will…find gratification and a sense of pride knowing that because of your time, contribution, efforts, and dedication, you played a part in helping Chicago-Kent continue to grow in national stature and recognition. This school is what it is, not only because of the faculty and staff, but because of the legacies and successes of its alumni.

What plans do you have for the Alumni Board this year?

My main goal is to enhance the relationship between the current Chicago-Kent law students and alumni…by promoting and hosting informal luncheons during the school year with alumni speaking on various topics. We are also working on a mentoring program between students and alumni. Finally, I would like the Alumni Board to work more closely with the [career services] office so that we can provide more job opportunities for graduates.

Can you tell me about other community and/or professional organizations you volunteer with?

On November 1, 2007, I declared my candidacy for 3rd Vice President of the Illinois State Bar Association. The election will be in the spring of 2008. I am running because I believe that it is of the utmost importance to help lawyers be successful at practicing law in Illinois. Currently, I am the Treasurer of the Illinois State Bar Association, of which I am serving my second term on the Board of Governors. Finally, I am on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Bar Foundation. We raise money to provide legal services for the poor, assist lawyers and their families who have fallen on hard times, and provide scholarships to law students throughout the state.

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Alumni Board of Directors Sponsor Take a Break Programs

The Alumni Board is pleased to sponsor the “Take a Break” speaker series—now in its second year—for students at Chicago-Kent. The Take a Break programs invite alumni to participate in panels discussing popular subject areas and to interact with students. Topics this semester have included Alternative Careers in Business and a panel highlighting the differences and similarities of working at Big Firms vs. Small Firms. Later this month, alumni will speak on working as sole practitioners.

Thank you to our panelists and moderators who have participated in this year’s series: Barbara Erickson ’04, Tarek Fadel '03, Lori Fanning ’00, Brian Fern ’96, Courtney Fong '07, Angela Frye ‘97, Marc Ippolito '95, Michele Krause '94, Andrew Merrick ’06, Paul Miller ‘01, and Greg Shugar '98.

Marc Ippolito '95, Greg Shugar '98, Courtney Fong '07, and Tarek
Fadel '03 discuss how they utilize their law degree in non-legal careers.

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Dean’s Roundtable Program Connects Students and Alumni

Dean Hal Krent has established the Dean’s Roundtable program, designed to allow for student interaction with alumni in an informal lunch setting for discussion. The program highlights successful alumni who work in careers outside the legal profession but who still utilize their legal education. Alumni sketch their career paths and answer questions from students about short and long-term career strategies.

The Roundtable series kicked off in September with Greg McLaughlin ‘99, President of the Tiger Woods Foundation. The October speaker was Jonathan Carson ’97, President and Co-Founder of Kurtzman Carson Consultants and the 2007 Young Alumni Award recipient. Peter J. Birnbaum ’83, President and CEO of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund was our first November speaker, and the fall series will finish with Robert Hershenhorn ‘68, Chairman and CEO of First Bank & Trust Company of Illinois on November 26.

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Class Reunions: 1997, 1967, and 1952

On October 4, graduates and friends of the Class of 1997 celebrated their 10-year reunion at Flatwater Restaurant overlooking the Chicago River (and enjoyed unseasonably warm weather!). Alumni reconnected with former classmates and met with Dean Hal Krent, Prof. Howard Eglit, and Prof. Mary Rose Strubbe while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Graduates from the classes of 1967 and 1952 celebrated their respective 40- and 55-year reunions at a dinner at Chicago-Kent on Saturday, October 27. Prof. Ralph Brill hosted the event and spoke about the history of Chicago-Kent during the 50’s and 60’s, as well as some of his memories teaching members of the class of 1967. Hon. John Hourihane ’67 gave a memorable champagne toast to the two classes, and alumni were able to reminisce at the end of the evening.

To view more photos of the reunion celebrations, please visit the Alumni Online Community.

Upcoming Reunions
Class of 2002 ~ November 1, 2007
Class of 1982 ~ November 15, 2007

To purchase tickets, get more information, or see which of your classmates plan to attend, please visit: www.kentlaw.edu/reunion.

I. Chicago Events
II. National Events
III . Lectures

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I. Chicago Events

Wine down the Week Fundraiser, benefiting the Kent Justice Foundation

The Kent Justice Foundation presents its 4th annual “Wine Down the Week” wine tasting fundraiser, including wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres and raffle prizes All proceeds go toward public interest fellowships for Chicago-Kent law students working at public interest agencies over the summer.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007
4:00 pm– 9:00 pm

Chicago-Kent College of Law
565 W. Adams St., Front Lobby
Chicago, IL 60661

Tickets: $9 with payment at the door. Please contact kjf@kentlaw.edu for more information.

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Diversity Networking Reception

The Office of Alumni Relations, along with the Black Law Students, Hispanic-Latino Law Students, the South Asian Law Students and the Asian-Pacific Islander Law Students Associations cordially invite you to attend a Minority Networking Reception. Network with fellow alumni, friends and current students and learn about the many initiatives our students are involved in.

Sponsored by:

Friday, November 16, 2007
5:30 pm– 7:30 pm

Chicago-Kent College of Law
565 W. Adams St., 10th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661

Please Click Here to RSVP by November 14, 2007 or call Terresa Byrd at (312) 906-5240.

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II. National Events

Palo Alto-Area Alumni Gathering

Gather with Chicago-Kent alumni for an update on the college and how we are growing! Featuring Timothy Holbrook, Chicago-Kent Associate Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent Associate Director of the Program in Intellectual Property Law, and the Edwin A. Heafey, Jr. Visiting Professor of Law at Stanford Law School (Fall 2007).

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

MacArthur Park Restaurant
27 University Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Cocktails and Hors d'Oeuvres

Please RSVP by November 5, 2007 to Terresa Byrd at alums@kentlaw.edu or (312) 906-5240.

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III. Lectures

Korus FTA, Who is it for? Prosperity through trade with Korea

Learn about the benefits and opportunities of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, the most commercially significant Free Trade Agreement that the United Sates has concluded in 15 years. Ask questions, such as how can you take advantage of the "new land of opportunity", or what should be the key strategy for your business for the next few decades toward the most promising Asian market? Come and hear what the experts have to say!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Chicago-Kent College of Law
565 W. Adams St.
Chicago, IL 60661

This program is free, but you must register before November 2. Call Lois Ahn at (312) 822-9485 ext. 131 e-mail her at oliver0324@msn.com.

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Appellate Litigation in the States: A Panel Discussion

• Michael Scodro, Solicitor General of Illinois and Assistant Professor of Law at Chicago-Kent
• William Marshall, Solicitor General of Ohio
• Barry Sullivan, Co-chair of Jenner & Block's Appellate and Supreme Court Practice

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Chicago-Kent College of Law
565 W Adams, 10th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Professor Daniel Hamilton at dhamilton@kentlaw.edu.

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The Chicago-Kent e-Brief Archives Are Now Online!

Missed a month of our newsletter? You can now view past issues of the Alumni e-Brief. Please click here to access the archives.