12.19.2007
Happy Holidays
The Office of Student Services sends you best wishes for a happy holiday season and a restful winter break!
Managing Depression
For an interesting article about managing depression, read "Even Lawyers Get the Blues: Opening Up About Depression" by Sue Shellenbarger. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119751245108525653-email.html.
11.29.2007
For Students in Recovery
The ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) has created a confidential e-mail listserv for law students who want to get, or stay, clean and sober while in law school. This is a chance for students to connect with and ask questions of their law student peers throughout the United States, and share their experience, strength and hope. To be added, interested law students should email CoLAP's director Donna Spilis at spilisd@staff.abanet.org. Students should be prepared to talk a bit about their history and about their need and desire to communicate with other law students facing similar challenges. Ms. Spilis will make the final determination to add the student to the listserv and will provide each student with the rules and regulations regarding use of the listserv. When a student graduates and is admitted to the bar, s/he will be removed from the listserv.
11.07.2007
AALS Conference - Student Workers Needed!
Interested in earning some extra cash over the break? Help the Association of American Law Schools at the annual conference in New York. (Please click on picture to enlarge.)
9.25.2007
Celebrate and Learn about the Succah and the Sukkot Holiday
JOIN CAMPUS RABBI MOSHE LABRIE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 1
10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
In the Succah, on the patio behind the cafeteria.
Refreshments will be served.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 1
10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
In the Succah, on the patio behind the cafeteria.
Refreshments will be served.
9.18.2007
U.S. Supreme Court Case Discussion by Judge Pratt
Please join us for a talk by the Honorable Robert Pratt, Southern District of Iowa, on Wednesday, September 19, at 12:30 p.m., in room 310 (closed circuit presentation of Judge Pratt’s live discussion with faculty in the Alumni Board Room).
Judge Pratt will argue Gall v. United States before the United States Supreme Court. Judge Pratt issued a sentence in this case and the Eighth Circuit reversed the decision. Judge Pratt will talk to us about his original decision, the 8th Circuit decision and dissent, and the briefs to the Supreme Court.
Below please find a summary of the case from www.Oyez.org.
Facts of the Case
While a student at the University of Iowa, Brian Gall was involved in a drug ring distributing ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA). He voluntarily left the drug conspiracy and moved to Arizona where he started his own business and led a crime-free life. When federal agents tracked him down, he turned himself in and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The government argued for a sentence of 30 months in prison, which was the minimum sentence in the range recommended for the offense by the federal sentencing guidelines. Taking into account the mitigating circumstances in Gall's case, the judge instead decided to depart from the guidelines and impose a sentence of 36 months of probation. (The Supreme Court in U.S. v. Booker had declared the sentencing guidelines to be merely advisory, but the guidelines range is still among the factors a court must consider before handing down a reasonable sentence.)The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit rejected the below-guidelines sentence as unreasonable. The Eighth Circuit held that while the guidelines are not mandatory, sentences that fall outside of the recommended sentencing range must overcome a presumption of unreasonableness. Sentences varying from the guidelines must be justified based on the circumstances of the case, and larger variances from the guidelines require correspondingly more compelling justifications. The Eighth Circuit ruled that the district court had erred by using Gall's youth as a mitigating factor, by overweighing his rehabilitation, and by underweighing the seriousness of the crime. Since the "extraordinary variance" was not justified by a finding of extraordinary circumstances, the Eighth Circuit ordered a new sentence.
Question
May Courts of Appeals apply a presumption of unreasonableness to sentences that fall outside the range in the federal sentencing guidelines, so that district courts must justify below-guidelines sentences with a finding of extraordinary circumstances?
Judge Pratt will argue Gall v. United States before the United States Supreme Court. Judge Pratt issued a sentence in this case and the Eighth Circuit reversed the decision. Judge Pratt will talk to us about his original decision, the 8th Circuit decision and dissent, and the briefs to the Supreme Court.
Below please find a summary of the case from www.Oyez.org.
Facts of the Case
While a student at the University of Iowa, Brian Gall was involved in a drug ring distributing ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA). He voluntarily left the drug conspiracy and moved to Arizona where he started his own business and led a crime-free life. When federal agents tracked him down, he turned himself in and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. The government argued for a sentence of 30 months in prison, which was the minimum sentence in the range recommended for the offense by the federal sentencing guidelines. Taking into account the mitigating circumstances in Gall's case, the judge instead decided to depart from the guidelines and impose a sentence of 36 months of probation. (The Supreme Court in U.S. v. Booker had declared the sentencing guidelines to be merely advisory, but the guidelines range is still among the factors a court must consider before handing down a reasonable sentence.)The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit rejected the below-guidelines sentence as unreasonable. The Eighth Circuit held that while the guidelines are not mandatory, sentences that fall outside of the recommended sentencing range must overcome a presumption of unreasonableness. Sentences varying from the guidelines must be justified based on the circumstances of the case, and larger variances from the guidelines require correspondingly more compelling justifications. The Eighth Circuit ruled that the district court had erred by using Gall's youth as a mitigating factor, by overweighing his rehabilitation, and by underweighing the seriousness of the crime. Since the "extraordinary variance" was not justified by a finding of extraordinary circumstances, the Eighth Circuit ordered a new sentence.
Question
May Courts of Appeals apply a presumption of unreasonableness to sentences that fall outside the range in the federal sentencing guidelines, so that district courts must justify below-guidelines sentences with a finding of extraordinary circumstances?
9.06.2007
Office of Student Services Brown Bag Advisement Sessions
The Office of Student Services has organized several "brown bag" advisement lunches and dinners with your professors for the fall semester. These sessions will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about a particular area of law, to ask questions about upper-level electives and course sequencing, and to learn a little more about some of your favorite professors. You bring your lunch or dinner; we'll bring your professors! All sessions will take place in room 307. Please click on the page on the left for the schedule.
8.30.2007
High Holidays at Touro Law
Experience the High Holidays at Touro Law Center! Please click on the picture to enlarge.
8.28.2007
American Bar Association Law Student Division - Member Benefits
A message from the ABA Law Student Division
Legislative advocacy is one of the most important benefits provided to American Bar Association Law Student Division members. Over the past several years, the Law Student Division has made incredible strides within the Association and in the lives of law students nationwide. In particular this past year, the Law Student Division undertook an aggressive lobbying campaign designed to ease the financial pressure facing public interest lawyers. Armed with personal written accounts collected from law students across the country, the Law Student Division leadership took to Capitol Hill and put a sympathetic face on this issue by sharing these stories in meetings with almost 50 congressional offices.
The ABA championed three avenues for student loan repayment assistance, two of which have been approved in some form in both the House and Senate and the third has been cleared by the Senate and the ABA is working to ensure its passage in the House. Details about the Division’s legislative initiatives can be found on our home page at http://www.abanet.org/lsd/home.html.
I encourage you to join the Division’s grassroots advocacy efforts by becoming a member of the ABA Law Student Division now. (http://www.abanet.org/lawstudent).
Competitions Program
The opportunity for students to hone their critical thinking and legal skills by participating in one or more of the ABA Law Student Division competitions is another great member benefit. Last year, 1,300 students from 160 ABA-approved law schools and 2,400 bench and bar members participated in the Division’s regional and national competitions. Participation in the Division’s four competitions is limited to ABA Law Student Division members.
· Arbitration Competition (entry deadline is September 14)
· Negotiation Competition (entry deadline is September 14)
· Client Counseling Competition (entry deadline is October 26)
· National Appellate Advocacy Competition (entry deadline is November 9)
Details about the competitions, as well as online entry forms and a PDF of the Competition Poster, can be found on the Competitions website at http://www.abanet.org/lsd/competitions/.
Other Member Benefits
A $25 annual membership in the ABA Law Student Division will enable you to stay ahead in law school and build a network to launch your career. Joining the 51,000 other law student members from across the country is a smart decision and your dues pay you back time and time again throughout the year. (http://www.abanet.org/lawstudent)
Here’s how…
· Help make our voices heard on Capitol Hill by joining the 51,000 other law student members from across the country in our student loan relief advocacy efforts.
· Student Lawyer Magazine and ABA Journal. A subscription to both magazines is included in your $25 annual membership fee. Information on Student Lawyer and ABA Journal is available at http://www.abanet.org/lsd/studentlawyer/ and http://www.abanet.org/journal/redesign/home.html.
· Kaplan PMBR bar review course tuition discounts of $70 to $100 (http://www.kaplanpmbr.com/).
· One free Legalines study guide (coupon included with your membership card) and Bar/Bri bar review course scholarship opportunity.
· Home and Auto Insurance offered through Liberty Mutual and American Bar Insurance. Policies available include home, auto, and renters insurance. For great rates and a free quotation, call 800.955.3379 or visit http://www.abiins.com/.
· Health Insurance offered through United Healthcare Student Resources. Call 800.237.0903 x6292 or visit http://www.uhcsr.com/aba.
· Opportunities to participate in competitions, writing contests and the Awards Program--many with cash rewards http://www.abanet.org/lsd/competitions.
· Leadership Opportunities as a national, regional, or local representative (http://www.abanet.org/lsd/elections).
· Access to membership of specialty Sections, Divisions, and Forums within the ABA (http://www.abanet.org/abasource/sdf.html).
· Hertz Car Rental to members under the age of 25 without a surcharge.
· Public Service opportunities such as VITA and Work-A-Day (http://www.abanet.org/lsd/work-a-day/home.html).
· Complimentary subscriptions to your circuit list serve.
· Access to ABA Online Travel with Travelocity Business for great rates on airfare, car rentals, and hotels.
To join the ABA Law Student Division, please visit http://www.abanet.org/lawstudent or call the ABA Service Center at 800.285.2221.
Legislative advocacy is one of the most important benefits provided to American Bar Association Law Student Division members. Over the past several years, the Law Student Division has made incredible strides within the Association and in the lives of law students nationwide. In particular this past year, the Law Student Division undertook an aggressive lobbying campaign designed to ease the financial pressure facing public interest lawyers. Armed with personal written accounts collected from law students across the country, the Law Student Division leadership took to Capitol Hill and put a sympathetic face on this issue by sharing these stories in meetings with almost 50 congressional offices.
The ABA championed three avenues for student loan repayment assistance, two of which have been approved in some form in both the House and Senate and the third has been cleared by the Senate and the ABA is working to ensure its passage in the House. Details about the Division’s legislative initiatives can be found on our home page at http://www.abanet.org/lsd/home.html.
I encourage you to join the Division’s grassroots advocacy efforts by becoming a member of the ABA Law Student Division now. (http://www.abanet.org/lawstudent).
Competitions Program
The opportunity for students to hone their critical thinking and legal skills by participating in one or more of the ABA Law Student Division competitions is another great member benefit. Last year, 1,300 students from 160 ABA-approved law schools and 2,400 bench and bar members participated in the Division’s regional and national competitions. Participation in the Division’s four competitions is limited to ABA Law Student Division members.
· Arbitration Competition (entry deadline is September 14)
· Negotiation Competition (entry deadline is September 14)
· Client Counseling Competition (entry deadline is October 26)
· National Appellate Advocacy Competition (entry deadline is November 9)
Details about the competitions, as well as online entry forms and a PDF of the Competition Poster, can be found on the Competitions website at http://www.abanet.org/lsd/competitions/.
Other Member Benefits
A $25 annual membership in the ABA Law Student Division will enable you to stay ahead in law school and build a network to launch your career. Joining the 51,000 other law student members from across the country is a smart decision and your dues pay you back time and time again throughout the year. (http://www.abanet.org/lawstudent)
Here’s how…
· Help make our voices heard on Capitol Hill by joining the 51,000 other law student members from across the country in our student loan relief advocacy efforts.
· Student Lawyer Magazine and ABA Journal. A subscription to both magazines is included in your $25 annual membership fee. Information on Student Lawyer and ABA Journal is available at http://www.abanet.org/lsd/studentlawyer/ and http://www.abanet.org/journal/redesign/home.html.
· Kaplan PMBR bar review course tuition discounts of $70 to $100 (http://www.kaplanpmbr.com/).
· One free Legalines study guide (coupon included with your membership card) and Bar/Bri bar review course scholarship opportunity.
· Home and Auto Insurance offered through Liberty Mutual and American Bar Insurance. Policies available include home, auto, and renters insurance. For great rates and a free quotation, call 800.955.3379 or visit http://www.abiins.com/.
· Health Insurance offered through United Healthcare Student Resources. Call 800.237.0903 x6292 or visit http://www.uhcsr.com/aba.
· Opportunities to participate in competitions, writing contests and the Awards Program--many with cash rewards http://www.abanet.org/lsd/competitions.
· Leadership Opportunities as a national, regional, or local representative (http://www.abanet.org/lsd/elections).
· Access to membership of specialty Sections, Divisions, and Forums within the ABA (http://www.abanet.org/abasource/sdf.html).
· Hertz Car Rental to members under the age of 25 without a surcharge.
· Public Service opportunities such as VITA and Work-A-Day (http://www.abanet.org/lsd/work-a-day/home.html).
· Complimentary subscriptions to your circuit list serve.
· Access to ABA Online Travel with Travelocity Business for great rates on airfare, car rentals, and hotels.
To join the ABA Law Student Division, please visit http://www.abanet.org/lawstudent or call the ABA Service Center at 800.285.2221.
8.15.2007
Nassau County Bar Association Barbeque
Join the Nassau County Bar Association for "Domus-on-the-Lawn," their annual end-of-summer barbeque! (Click on picture to enlarge.)
8.07.2007
Ethical Dilemmas - A Lawyer's Duty of Confidentiality
For an interesting discussion about a lawyer's duty of confidentiality, please read "The Toughest Call" by Mark Hansen in the current issue of the ABA Journal: http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/the_toughest_call/.
8.02.2007
Welcome Back to School Party
The Law Center would like to welcome you back to school with a party on the patio. We’ll have live music, so bring your dancing shoes!
Wednesday, August 29, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 29, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
7.31.2007
LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Client Review Fellowship
The Minority Corporate Counsel Association is offering the LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Client Review Fellowship. One Fellow will receive a one-time gift of $15,000. The Fellowship is open to all students who will enter their third/final year of law school in Fall 2007, with an anticipated graduation date of Spring 2008. Please click on the document to enlarge. (For more information, and the complete packet of information, please stop by the Office of Student Services.)
7.10.2007
Lady Lawyers Fantasy Camp and Women in the Law Night
Interested in playing or watching basketball with other women students and attorneys? For more information, please click on the picture to enlarge.
6.22.2007
Theodore Roosevelt American Inns of Court Luncheon
Wednesday, October 10, 12:30-1:30pm
Faculty Conference Room
Join Justice Leonard B. Austin of the Nassau County Supreme Court, Commercial Division; Lois Carter Schlissel, Managing Attorney, Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. and Professor Ilene Barshay for a luncheon to learn more about the Theodore Roosevelt American Inns of Court. Members of the Inn includes judges, lawyers, law educators and law students dedicated to the study of law and the promotion of civility in the legal profession. Student members produce programs with judges and practicing attorneys and participate in collegial discussion -- the hallmark of the Inn experience.
The luncheon is open to all students – kindly RSVP to Kristin Matthews, Director of Alumni Relations, room 404, e-mail kmatthews@tourolaw.edu or call (631) 761-7063.
Faculty Conference Room
Join Justice Leonard B. Austin of the Nassau County Supreme Court, Commercial Division; Lois Carter Schlissel, Managing Attorney, Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. and Professor Ilene Barshay for a luncheon to learn more about the Theodore Roosevelt American Inns of Court. Members of the Inn includes judges, lawyers, law educators and law students dedicated to the study of law and the promotion of civility in the legal profession. Student members produce programs with judges and practicing attorneys and participate in collegial discussion -- the hallmark of the Inn experience.
The luncheon is open to all students – kindly RSVP to Kristin Matthews, Director of Alumni Relations, room 404, e-mail kmatthews@tourolaw.edu or call (631) 761-7063.
6.19.2007
Character and Fitness
The NY Lawyer Assistance Trust has developed this brochure about the character and fitness requirements for admission to practice law in NY. (Click on pictures to enlarge.) I encourage you to review this brochure now, so that you do not encounter any surprises when it's time to go before the Character and Fitness Committee. An electronic version of the brochure can be found at www.nylat.org/publications/brochures/documents/CharacterandFitnessBrochure.pdf.
6.14.2007
Professor Kaufman in a Starring Role!
Don't miss the opportunity to see Professor Eileen Kaufman recreate history in this reenactment of Palsgraf v. LIRR!! (Click on the picture to enlarge.)
6.13.2007
"Brown Bag" Advisement Sessions
We are organizing several "brown bag" advisement lunches and dinners with your professors for the fall semester. These sessions will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about a particular area of law, to ask questions about upper-level electives and course sequencing, and to learn a little more about some of your favorite professors. You bring your lunch or dinner, we'll bring your professors! Look for more information in the Touro Times.
Welcome!
Welcome to the Office of Student Services blog! We hope you check this site frequently to learn more about the various programs and resources available to you from the office.
We hope that you are enjoying your summer.
We hope that you are enjoying your summer.
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