ELSS

St. Patrick's Day Outing Pictures!

2008-03-29T18:33:00.001-04:00

You think the river is green now?

2008-03-12T10:24:00.003-04:00

Join the Evening Law Student Society on Saturday, March 15, 2008 for a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration!

8:00AM Breakfast @ Elephant & Castle, 160 E. Huron
10:00AM Annual Chicago River Dyeing. Columbus & North Water Street. (Stairs to get to the river are just west of Columbus).
12:00 noon St. Patrick’s Day Parade. ELSS will pick a spot near Columbus & Jackson.
1:00ish Green beer at Emerald Loop 216 N. Wabash

For questions or more information, contact Nayra Calderon Najera E - (ncalderonnajera@kentlaw.edu) Cell – 312.296.7187 Download the schedule (pdf) here.

Upcoming Spring Events!

2008-03-02T15:01:00.003-05:00

Show your "evening student" spirit!

2008-02-20T11:07:00.010-05:00

Get your very own evening law student t-shirt, featuring the Evening Law Student Society slogan "Evening Law Students: The Few, The Proud, The Tired."

There are multiple products to choose from, including short-sleeve t-shirts, long-sleeve t-shirts, women's fit t-shirts, and even a baseball hat or a tote bag! Each product has a front image and a back image, plus the official Chicago-Kent logo. There are two different designs to choose from:

For the design called "books on back," see the link below:
http://www.cafepress.com/booksonback

For the design called "words on back," see the link below:
http://www.cafepress.com/wordsonback

Wear that shirt proudly and don't let anyone forget how hard you work!

ELSS Bowling at Lucky Strike

2008-02-05T10:37:00.003-05:00

JOANNA BRINKMAN, 3L - EVENING STUDENT WINS NATIONAL MOOT COURT COMPETITION!!!

2008-02-03T22:06:00.001-05:00

Moot Court Honor Society members Joanna Brinkman (3L - evening division), Lalania Gilkey-Johnson, and Rachel Moran won the 2007-08 National Moot Court Competition in New York on January 31. The Chicago-Kent team--undefeated in six arguments--scored a unanimous verdict from the seven-judge panel after an excellent final round performance against a University of Colorado team.

Congratulations Joanna!

'Preparing for Finals' panel

2007-11-24T18:11:00.000-05:00

1L Evening Students - Nervous about your first semester of law school finals? FEAR NO MORE! The Evening Law Student Society (ELSS) is presenting a 'Preparing for Finals' panel composed of a diverse group of 2L Evening Students who will share their insight and suggestions.

The panel will be on M. 12/3 from 5pm to 5:50pm in room 590. A light dinner will be served on a first-come, first served, basis.

If you have questions that you'd like to ask the panel, contact 1L class reps: Tamara Starks or Rachel O'Konis.

Come to our next executive board meeting (Sat. 12/1 from noon to 1pm in room 355) to:

2007-11-24T18:10:00.000-05:00

cast your vote for a Evening Law Student T-shirt which we'll be selling in the spring;
voice your opinion about our constitutional amendments
help us brainstorm for programs for the spring
help select new officers (if you are interested in being an officer, contact Mark Hoffman, president, at elss@kentlaw.edu)

SAVE THE DATE - Evening Student Bowling!

2007-11-24T18:06:00.000-05:00

Friday, January 25th, 6pm at The Lucky Strike (322 E. Illinois). ELSS executive board members will make announcements during the first week of spring semester.

Legal Fun Fact: Did you know that it’s a federal crime to impersonate a decorated soldier?

2007-11-24T18:04:00.000-05:00

Under the Stolen Valor Act (18 U.S.C. Section 704), signed into law by President Bush last December, “anyone who knowingly wears, manufactures, or sells any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the U.S. armed forces, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof, except when authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.”

Fun Legal Factoid of the Week

2007-08-28T22:52:00.000-04:00

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Stealing someone's heart can cost you: Just ask German Blinov.

A Cook County jury ordered Blinov to shell out $4,802 last week after he was sued by a husband from a Chicago suburb for stealing the affections of the man's wife.

Arthur Friedman used a little-known state law to mount the legal attack against Blinov. The alienation of affection law, one of eight across the country, lets spouses seek damages for the loss of love.

But Natalie Friedman, the woman at the center of it all, claims her husband asked her to have sex with other men and women -- including Blinov -- to spice up their relationship.

She supposedly began having feelings for Blinov, prompting her husband to file the lawsuit.

"This guy ruined my life -- he backstabbed me," Arthur Friedman told the Chicago Sun-Times. "What he did was wrong. And I did what I had to do to get my point across."

Blinov doesn't deny having a relationship with Natalie Friedman while she was married, but he was surprised to learn he could be sued for it. His attorney also said Natalie Friedman was unhappy with her marriage before the relationship started.

"German was not a pirate of her affections," attorney Enrico Mirabelli said. "Her affections were already adrift." E-mail to a friend

BRANFORD, Connecticut (AP) -- A woman who claimed she was unaware that her husband was growing pot in the basement will get to keep her half of their house, while the government can seize her husband's share, a federal appeals court has ruled.

The 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said in a ruling Wednesday that Harold Von Hofe must forfeit his interest in the home to the federal government. However, his wife, Kathleen, does not have to because she wasn't actively involved in her husband's marijuana cultivation.

"The record is devoid of any evidence indicating her use of drugs or her involvement in any criminal activity whatsoever," the appeals court wrote.

Von Hofe, who was a teacher at Branford High School, and his wife were charged in 2001 after police raided their home and found 65 marijuana plants, glass smoking pipes and other items associated with growing marijuana.

Harold Von Hofe pleaded guilty to manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance while Kathleen Von Hofe pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance. Both avoided prison time and received probation.

The Von Hofes' attorney, Jonathan J. Einhorn, said Kathleen Von Hofe could get a mortgage for the government's half-interest in her home.

As of Wednesday, the couple remained in the house, valued at $248,000.

Thanks to all the panelists for our 'Where do we go from here program'

2007-04-30T11:37:00.000-04:00

THANKS to all the panelists for our 'Where do we go from here program". Each panelist provided important personal insight and helpful suggestions for 1Ls as they transition into 2L status. Panelists included:

Dawn Rose - 4L

Renee McKinney - 3L

Purav Bhatt - 3L

Sam Brown - 2L

Trevor Joike - 2L

Avery Elofsson - 2L

Legal Factoids of the Week

2007-04-30T11:34:00.000-04:00

New York

A fine of $25 can be levied for flirting. This old law specifically prohibits men from turning around on any city street and looking "at a woman in that way." A second conviction for a crime of this magnitude calls for the violating male to be forced to wear a "pair of horse-blinders" wherever and whenever he goes outside for a stroll.

The penalty for jumping off a building is death.

Kansas

Prohibits shooting rabbits from a motorboat.

North Dakota

Beer and pretzels can't be served at the same time in any bar or restaurant.

Ohio

It is illegal to hunt whales on Sunday.

Pennsylvania

A person is not eligible to become Governor if they have participated in a duel.

Texas

A recently passed anticrime law requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.

The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.

Thanks, Walter!

Next ELSS executive board meeting... all evening students welcome to attend.

2007-04-19T10:37:00.000-04:00

Sat. 4/28 - 3pm - 4pm, room 583.

All evening students are welcome to join the officers and class reps as we review the semester and make plans not only for next year, but also for this summer. The ELSS will be coordinating some programs over the summer... come share your perspective! If you think you'll be joining us, please let Mark Hoffman (ELSS President) know at elss@kentlaw.edu.

5-credit survey update

2007-04-19T10:36:00.001-04:00

THANKS... to the ninety evening students who took the time to complete our survey regarding a faculty proposal to alter the way 5-credit doctrinal courses are taught. We have compiled your feedback and submitted a report to the faculty. We will keep evening students posted of the faculty's decision via the ELSS web site. We will distribute copies of the report that we submitted at the executive board meeting on Sat. 4/28.

Interested in Moot Court, but think it isn't open to working evening students?

2007-04-19T10:34:00.000-04:00

Hear from a 2L evening student about her experienc on Moot Court.

Hello fellow Evening Students! My name is Joanna Brinkman, and I am a 2L evening student who is currently involved in the Moot Court Honor Society. I am writing to invite questions from those of you who might be interested in participating in Moot Court (MC). The Charles Evans Hughes arguments have just ended, but the summer competition is still to come, and I strongly encourage any of you who have an interest to send your questions to me at jbrinkman@kentlaw.edu

I know that it often feels like evening students do not have the same opportunities as the day students, but I can attest to the fact that MC is an opportunity that is available to you! Like many of you, I work full-time during the day and attend classes only in the evening. Initially I thought I would never be able to fit MC into that schedule; however, I was wrong, and I don’t want to see any of my fellow evening students pass up a wonderful opportunity because you think the option isn’t available for you. If you have any questions at all, I am more than happy to answer them, and I strongly encourage each of you with an interest to pursue Moot Court.

Legal Trivia 101

2007-04-19T10:30:00.000-04:00

Each week, the ELSS plans to post a 'legal fun facts/trivia' so you have important legal knowledge with which you can impress your friends, family members, and co-workers. This week's information was found by Elisa Rodriguez (ELSS Secretary and 2L). Thanks Elisa!

From the http://funlaws.50webs.com/Illinois.html website: Illinois Funny Laws

You may be arrested for vagrancy if you do not have at least one dollar bill on your person.
You must contact the police before entering the city in an automobile.
The English language is not to be spoken.
All bachelors should be called master, not mister, when addressed by their female counterparts.
It is illegal to give a dog whiskey.
The official language of Illinois is "American".
It is illegal for barbers to use their fingers to apply shaving cream to a customer's face.
You may be convicted of a Class 4 felony offense, punishable by up to three years in state prison, for the crime of "eavesdropping" on your own conversation.

Interested in becoming a resource for prospective students?

2007-02-01T00:58:00.000-05:00

We will be creating a resource list of evening students who are available to answer questions from prospective evening students. If you would like to be a resource, please e-mail the following information (feel free to only include those tidbits of info that you wish to) to: elss@kentlaw.edu:

Your name (required)
Your e-mail (required)
Your year of expected graduation (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) (required)
Your undergraduate institution, major, and year of graduation
Your graduate institution (if appropriate), degree, and year of graduation
Your areas of legal interest
Your current area of work and/or employer
Anything about yourself that you think someone may be interest in talking with you about (to gain your perspective on being an evening student). Examples could include: If you have children, if this is a second career, where you are from, if you are part of a particular group (Christian, Muslim, Agnostic, African American, 1st in the family to go to law school, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Bicyclist, Rock Climber... basically anything that you think may be of interest to someone looking at Kent).
Advice on applying to law school
What you like or don't like about Chicago-Kent
What you like or don't like about being an evening student.

Contact ELSS

2007-02-01T00:52:00.000-05:00

Do you need to contact one of the leaders of the ELSS? You can either contact an officer directly or send a message to: elss@kentlaw.edu.

ELSS Officers

2007-01-31T00:34:00.010-05:00

Mark Hoffman, President mhoffman@kentlaw.edu I am currently in my third year of the Evening Program. I began the program at 41 and was the assistant dean of Northwestern University’s School of Education prior to starting school. Upon matriculating to Chicago-Kent, I reduced my title, responsibilities, and workhours, to 30 hours a week so I could focus more on school. With a year and a half of school behind me, I have begun to clerk part-time at the State Attorney General’s Office (in addition to my work at Northwestern). I am interested in a variety of legal areas including: employment, municipality, estates and trusts, and real estate.

Tim Wei, Vice President Technology twei@kentlaw.edu I am currently in my second year of the Evening Program. I earned my undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since then I have been working as a trader at a hedge fund where I focus on developing trading automation for futures products. I am interested in intellectual property law.

Nayra Calderon-Najera, Secretary ncalderonnajera@kentlaw.edu I am a Chicago native and am currently in my first year of the Evening Program. I work full time as an Investment Management Compliance Examiner in the General Counsel department of a Chicago-based broker-dealer/investment adviser firm. I hold several FINRA (formerly NASD) licenses and obtained my ABA-approved paralegal certificate from Roosevelt University, where I also completed my undergraduate degree. I have been a working student my entire collegiate career and have worked in various law firms and corporate in-house law departments since 1994. My interests are currently securities regulation and corporate law.

Tamara Starks, Treasurer tstarks@kentlaw.edu I'm currently a 1L in the Evening Program. I earned by bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, and I have a master's in history from the University of Illinois in Chicago. During the day, I work as an editor for The Associated Press, mainly writing scripts for radio and TV reports. I'm interested in labor and employment law and immigration issues.

Celeste Addyman – 4L class representative caddyman@kentlaw.edu I graduated from DePaul University with a degree in psychology in 2005. I will graduate with my JD in December, 2008. During the day I work in Chicago-Kent’s Career Services Office. I also volunteer as a 711 for Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers, visiting women at Cook County Jail and counseling them on family law issues. I’ve been married for almost three years. After graduation I want to work as a public defender or doing legislative and policy work.

Walter Tersch, 3L class representative. wtersch@kentlaw.edu I have worked at law firms since 1997, in varied practice areas including Probate Estates, Family Law, Bankruptcy, Debt Collection, and Corporate Law. I currently clerk for the City of Chicago's Law Department, enforcing housing code regulations for the Building and Land Use Litigation division. My law school focus area is Environmental Law. I am a Chicago native from Ravenswood and attended DePaul University.

Claudia Farfan, 3L class representative CFarfan@kentlaw.edu I was born and raised in Chicago. My mother was born in Colombia and my father was born in Mexico and they met here. I went to Northwestern University for undergrad. I am currently in my 3rd year as an evening student at Kent. I have been working for a bankruptcy attorney for the last 3 years while in law school. I am also now very excited to be clerking for the Cook County Public Defender's Office in the felony trial unit. I will be in court at 26th and California everyday starting in May and anticipate getting a lot of hands-on trial experience very soon.

Danielle Beach, 3L Representative (bio coming soon!)

Adrian Guerrero, 2L Representative (bio coming soon!)

Jim Cagle, 2L Representative. jcagle@kentlaw.edu I graduated from U of Wisconsin-La Crosse with an undergrad in Finance and Marketing and I live in Downers Grove with my wife, Alison. I work for OfficeMax at the corporate HQ in Naperville as the Capital Analysis Mgr. My other involvement at Kent includes serving as a 1L mentor, as well as, a position with the Student division of the 7th Circuit ABA as a Lt.. Governor for Evening and Part-time students.

Rachel O'Konis, 1L Representative rokonis@kentlaw.edu Rachel O'Konis is a 1L in the evening division. Rachel works full-time at Chicago Public Schools managing internal communications and media relations for technology projects. She has a Master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University and a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Rachel hopes to concentrate in public interest law.

Victoria Ziebarth, 1L Representative vziebarth@kentlaw.edu I am in my first year of law school and moved to Chicago from Washington, DC to attend Kent. In DC, I most recently served as the Director of Regional Affairs for the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration. I am a native of Dallas, Texas and received a B.A. in International Studies from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. My interests are in international law, corporate law, trusts and estates, and legislative advocacy.