From the Dean Center for Open Government I am pleased to announce Chicago-Kent’s newest initiative: the Center for Open Government (COG). With the goal of helping ensure transparency, accountability, and responsibility in local and state government, the Center will identify instances where legal recourse is needed to provide access to government information and proceedings. This initiative responds to a wave of recognition by Attorney General Lisa Madigan and many others that the time is propitious for a sea change in how Illinois’ governmental entities do business. To that end, the Center will work closely with the Better Government Association (BGA), the Citizen Advocacy Center, and other open-government advocates to support the litigation demands of various transparency initiatives. The Center will be housed in the Chicago-Kent Law Offices as part of the school’s clinical education program. Under the supervision of faculty, students will interview and counsel clients, conduct factual investigation and legal research, develop case strategies, collect and analyze documents, and help in the litigation, all on a pro bono basis. The Center will be directed by Terrance A. Norton, who served as a member of Chicago-Kent’s clinical faculty for ten years and has extensive experience in open government work, civil litigation and pro bono legal services. Significant seed funding for the Center was received from Clinton A. Krislov, a noted plaintiff’s class-action attorney and a member of Chicago-Kent’s adjunct faculty. Krislov is the founder and name/senior partner attorney of the Chicago firm Krislov & Associates, Ltd., and will serve as chairman of COG’s advisory committee. I look forward to seeing the positive effects of the Center’s advocacy work, and ultimately, a restoration of the public’s trust in the State of Illinois. Sincerely, Harold J. Krent Dean and Professor of Law

In This Issue

News and Announcements

Nominate Alumni for the 2009 Alumni Awards

The Alumni Board of Directors Awards Committee is currently seeking nominations of alumni who have distinguished themselves in their profession or who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the law school. We encourage you to nominate deserving alumni colleagues and friends. It’s a wonderful way to recognize accomplishments of your peers.   

Nominations should be submitted by Friday, September 11.

Become a Luncheon Sponsor:  Each year, we invite individuals and firms to sponsor the Luncheon to benefit the Chicago-Kent Alumni Board Scholarship, awarded annually to students who display financial need and academic merit. Sponsors at the $500+ level who commit their sponsorship on or before September 28, 2009 receive recognition in the invitation that goes to all Chicago-Kent alumni.

For general information on this year's Alumni Awards & Recognition Luncheon, visit: www.kentlaw.edu/allalumlunch.

Introducing Virtual Reunions: Class Years Ending in 4 and 9

The Chicago-Kent Alumni Association introduces Virtual Reunions for classes ending in 4 and 9 between 1959 and 2004. Connect with your law school classmates now through the end of 2009 via the Chicago-Kent Alumni Online Community.

Get connected at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/reunion!

Before accessing your Virtual Reunion, you will be prompted to login to the Alumni Online Community. Login instructions are available on the reunion homepage.

Introducing our Newest Students

Classes began on August 24 and we were happy to welcome approximately 300 J.D. students as the Class of 2012, as well as over 100 international LL.M. and exchange students.

Chicago-Kent’s incoming J.D. class is comprised of individuals from 29 different states and several foreign countries. Collectively, they speak at least 19 different languages and have studied in 17 different countries. More than two dozen hold advanced degrees in a variety of disciplines, while a handful have foreign law degrees, including one student who served as a prosecutor in Saudi Arabia.

The Class of 2012 participated in a host of activities during Orientation week, including a service project cleaning up the grounds at the High Ridge YMCA.

An extremely competitive lot, the new class includes several marathoners, a member of the USA paralympic bocci team, a member of the Canadian national rowing team, a member of national and international gold-medal figure skating teams and a five-time national baton twirling champion. Former Eagle Scouts, military servicemembers, and Peace Corps and Americorps volunteers are part of the Class of 2012. There are also entrepreneurs, a former animal keeper with a major U.S. zoo and an engineer who was part of an Indy race car team. One student holds 16 U.S. patents and has another nine pending. This class has varied musical interests from playing tuba with the National Symphony of Paraguay, to performing as a singer/keyboardist in more than 700 concerts in the past seven years, to serving as a member of the 2006 National Hip Hop Political Convention.

The international LL.M. and exchange students are no less of an impressive set. Hailing from 18 different countries on five continents, among their ranks are recipients of Fulbright and Muskie grants. We hope you will enjoy meeting these diverse students at various alumni and student networking receptions throughout the year.

Four Members of the Class of 2009 Honored

Jeremy Kerman ‘09 and Ausra Norusis ’09 are the recipients of the 2009 Marc Grinker Student Commitment Award. The award was created in memory of Professor Marc A. Grinker, who served as the first director of the law school’s Appellate Advocacy Program.

Jeremy Kerman was a member of the Chicago-Kent Law Review and the Moot Court Honor Society. He also served as an extern to the Hon. Wayne Andersen of the Northern District of Illinois and as a teaching assistant for first-year legal writing students. Kerman has accepted a position with Katten Muchin Rosenman beginning next February.

Ausra Norusis was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and was on the Dean’s List for three years. She served as an extern to the Hon. Martin C. Ashman in the chambers of the U.S. Magistrate and as a law clerk with Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. Norusis was also a teaching assistant in the legal writing program.

In similar news, Andrew Fernandez ‘09 and Jonathan Rhodes ’09 are this year’s recipients of the Fleischman Family Awards for Excellence in Criminal Clinic. The awards were established by Chicago-Kent alumni, brothers, and criminal defense attorneys Jack ‘87 and Sidney Z. Fleischman ‘87 to recognize outstanding students in the criminal defense section of the Chicago-Kent Law Offices.

Andrew Fernandez spent 16 months as a legal extern in Chicago-Kent’s Criminal Defense Clinic. He worked as a summer associate and law clerk at Querrey & Harrow, Ltd. and also served as a legal extern in the law school’s Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic.

Alumni Advisor Network One of the Chicago-Kent’s most valuable resources is the Alumni Advisor Network. As an Alumni Advisor you are searchable in the Online Community by students and recent graduates who are looking for assistance on such on issues such as practice trends, legal markets in specific geographic areas, and other related topics. To become an Alumni Advisor, visit www.alumni.kentlaw.edu. Click on “My Account,” choose the “Alumni Advising” tab, and check the indicated box. Not yet a part of the community? Request your login information.

Save the Date

Social Events - Chicago

Authors' Groups at the Union League Club
Tuesday, September 22 and Tuesday, September 29, 2009
11:30 a.m.: Book signing ~ Noon: Lunch and Program
Union League Club, 65 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604

The Union League Club offers two of their September Authors' Groups to Chicago-Kent alumni.

• Tuesday, September 22: Rosabeth Moss Kanter will discuss her book, SuperCorp. Based on an three-year investigation and interviews with more than 350 key people at major companies around the world, SuperCorp provides evidence that the businesses that are agile, keeping ahead of the curve in terms of market changes and customer needs, are the businesses that are also progressive, socially-responsible human communities.
  
• Tuesday, September 29: Jeff Coen will discuss his book, Family Secrets: The Case That Crippled the Chicago Mob. Painting a vivid picture of murder, courtroom drama, family loyalties and disloyalties, Chicago Tribune journalist Jeff Coen accurately portrays the Chicago Outfit’s cold-blooded—and sometimes incompetent—killers and their crimes in the case that brought them down.

Tickets are $30 and include lunch. For additional details and to RSVP, visit www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/unionleague.

ASCK Week: Alumni/Student ConneKtions
Week of October 5 - 9, 2009
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

Calling alumni volunteers! Chicago-Kent is ASCK’ing for your help to build a stronger community and better connections between alumni and students at Chicago-Kent.  ASCK Week is an opportunity for alumni to volunteer a small portion of time to help connect with, give advice to and train current students to become leaders in the legal profession. 

Please consider volunteering for one or more of the many activities happening during the week. Activities include conducting mock interviews and reviewing resumes, as well as participating in a Chicago-Kent service day.

More information on the week is available online at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/asck. If you’d like to volunteer, contact Tara Anderson at alums@kentlaw.edu or 312.906.5240.

Etiquette Dinner
Thursday, October 8, 2009
5:30 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661

Have you always wanted to learn the finer points of etiquette? Join us for a 3-course meal and tips and techniques from Jill Bremer, AICI, CIP, a certified image consultant. You’ll learn what all those forks are really for, as well as many other etiquette tips.

Price: $15/person, including dinner. To RSVP, call (312) 906-5240 or email alums@kentlaw.edu. The Etiquette Dinner is part of ASCK Week. More information on the week is available online at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/asck.

Burnham Musical to Show off Carr Chapel Restoration
Sunday, October 11, 2009
3:15 p.m.: Check-in ~ 4:00 p.m.: Performance
McCormick Tribune Campus Center, 3201 S. State Street, Chicago IL, 60616

The Mies van der Rohe Society will host a performance of the musical The White City: Daniel Burnham’s Dream in the newly restored Carr Memorial Chapel on the Illinois Institute of Technology main campus. The musical tells the story of Daniel Burnham, who planned and constructed the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, as well as the Burnham Plan, one of the largest city planning efforts for Chicago in 1909.

Tickets are $40 for Mies Society Members and $50 for Non-Members. RSVP to Kelly Hyman at khyman@iit.edu or 312.567.5025.

Social Events - Regional

Denver area alumni are invited to join us for a gathering this Thursday!

Denver Alumni Gathering
Thursday, September 3, 2009
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Marlowe’s, 501 16th Street, Denver, CO 80202
*Please note the change in location.

Please join us for a Denver, CO alumni gathering, hosted by David Goldberg ‘83 and Sarah Hensley Ware ‘08.

RSVP by Wednesday, September 2 to alums@kentlaw.edu or 312.906.5240. 

Can’t make it to the event? Visit your virtual gathering place for the Denver Metro Area at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/denver.

Shanghai Alumni Gathering
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
6:30 p.m. (18:30)
Pine City Hotel Restaurant, 777 Zhao Jia Bang Road, Shanghai, China 

Dean Krent will host alumni Gatherings in Shanghai and Beijing, China this month.

Alumni in China are invited to join Dean Harold J. Krent for an alumni dinner in Shanghai at Pine City Hotel Restaurant.

Please RSVP to Arthur Wah at Artwah@aol.com by Monday, September 7.

Earlier in the day, Dean Krent will be speaking at the Shanghai Bar Association at 2:00 p.m. (14:00). Alumni and guests are welcome to attend.

Beijing Alumni Gathering
Thursday, September 10, 2009
7:00 p.m. (19:00)
NewKaiYuan Restaurant 67 Bei Si Huan West Road, Hai Dian District, Beijing, China

Alumni currently living in China are invited to join Dean Harold J. Krent for an alumni dinner in Beijing at NewKaiYuan Restaurant (Beijing Wan Quanhe Bridge Branch).

Please RSVP to Liu Yan at chinaoffice@iit.edu by Monday, September 7.

The next day, Friday, September 11, Dean Krent will be speaking at the Beijing Lawyers Association at 2:00 p.m. (14:00). Alumni and guests are welcome to attend.

Washington D.C. Alumni and Student Public Service Reception
Friday, October 23, 2009
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Location TBA, Washington, DC, 20001

Each year Chicago-Kent students interested in government and public interest law careers travel to DC for the annual Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet these students and fellow alumni working in the public sector and join us for a great evening. The location will be announced next month.

RSVP to kentcso@kentlaw.edu by Tuesday, October 20, 2009.

Lectures & Conferences

Tax Law: Careers beyond the Numbers
Monday, October 12, 2009
Noon
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Room 580, Chicago, IL 60661

Have you ruled out tax law because you think it’s boring? Then it’s time to open your eyes to all the exciting opportunities that a career in tax law can offer. Please join us for a brown bag lunch as three tax specialists discuss the wide possibility of career choices in tax law and their individual career paths. Panelists include Cynthia B. Lafuente ‘88, an expert in international tax law with the U.S. Congress Joint Committee on Taxation, David J. Kupiec ’94, a lobbyist and partner with Kupiec & Martin, LLC, and Alexander Harris ’95, a shareholder with American Tax Solutions, Inc., who advocates on behalf of tax payers.

RSVP to kentcso@kentlaw.edu or (312) 906-5200 by Thursday, October 8. Please feel free to bring your lunch. Dessert will be served. This event is co-sponsored by the Alumni Association, the Office of Career Services, and the Corporate Law Society.

CLE Opportunities

27th annual Federal Sector Labor Relations and Labor Law Conference
Thursday, September 17, 2009
8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

Chicago-Kent presents the longest running conference on federal sector and postal labor relations and labor law held outside of Washington, D.C. The keynote panel topic will be “The Evolution of Collaboration – Where Do We Go From Here?”. Other topics will include MSPB, EEO, FLRA, USERRA, the effective use of mediation, and diversity and intercultural Issues.

Attendees are eligible for 5.75 hours of MCLE credit, including 1.25 hours of IL Professionalism credit. For more information and to register, visit www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cle.

Current Issues in Financial Services Law
Friday, October 2, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661

The challenging complexities of revolutionary market forces, technology, and globalization have created an environment in which attorneys must broaden their knowledge and sharpen their skills to handle the widening range of legal and related issues in the evolving financial services industry. Join us for a day of provocative discussion with some of the area’s foremost practitioners and regulators on a number of current developments in this rapidly changing environment.

Attendees are eligible for 6.0 hours of MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour of IL Ethics credit. For more information and to register, visit www.kentlaw.edu/depts/cle.

(l-r) Maria Cafcas, Thomas Cafcas '73, John Pikarski '69, and Suellen Kelley-Bergerson '78 enjoyed a pre-game reception at the 2009 Alumni Night @ Wrigley Field.

Past Event Highlights

Alumni Night @ Wrigley Field

This year’s annual Alumni Night @ Wrigley Field welcomed nearly 200 alumni and friends on Wednesday, August 26.

Guests enjoyed a pre-game dinner at the Cubby Bear, followed by a game at Wrigley Field. Despite threatening clouds, the rain held off throughout the game to see the Cubs beat the Washington Nationals, 9 - 4.

Photos from Alumni Night at available on the Alumni Online Community at www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/cubs09.

Young Alumni Social

Young Alumni and friends enjoyed a Social at English Bar in River North.

Young Alumni Council: If you are a 1999 or later graduate who wants to get involved with Chicago-Kent in a leadership role, interact with the Alumni Board of Directors, and strengthen the bond of young alumni with the law school we invite you to be a founding member of the Young Alumni Council. For more information, contact Tara Anderson, Director of Alumni Relations at tanderson@kentlaw.edu or (312) 906-5245.

For more pictures from the Young Alumni Social, please visit www.alumni.kentlaw.edu/social09.