Wayne Law News

Wayne Law welcomed its 2010 entering class to campus on Monday, August 23, 2010. The  entering class is comprised of 197 students boasting a median LSAT score of 156 and a median GPA of 3.40.

The Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights is pleased to announce its Fifth Biennial Lecture featuring prominent actor, singer and humanitarian Harry Belafonte. “An Evening with Harry Belafonte,” sponsored by Comerica Bank, will take place October 30, 2010, beginning at 7 p.m.

Wayne Law's Program for International Legal Studies is pleased to announce the Fall 2010 Speaker Series. International law experts from across the U.S. will be on-hand to discuss some of today's most pressing international legal issues.

Wayne Law first-year students had the opportunity to discuss the importance of workplace civility and ethics with more than 50 prominent Detroit-area attorneys and judges. Part of orientation week, Wayne Law’s inaugural Professionalism in Action program was held August 27, 2010, at the Detroit Athletic Club. Event speakers are pictured from left to right: State Bar of Michigan President Charles Toy, Chief United States District Judge Gerald E. Rosen, Wayne Law Dean Robert Ackerman and Wayne Law Director of Legal Research and Writing Anne Burr.

Wayne Law, the Wayne Law Alumni Association, and Peter and Rose Houk, both 1969 alumni, hosted an event for Lansing-area alumni on July 22, 2010, at the Boji Tower in Lansing, Mich. Special guests included Wayne Law Dean Robert M. Ackerman, Hubbard Law Firm President Michael Woodworth and a number of alumni judges from mid-Michigan.

Wayne Law congratulates second-year law student Emily Thomas on her recent appointment as vice chair of the Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA) Student Committee.

Wayne Law’s Program for International Legal Studies pleased to announce the creation of its External Advisory Committee. The committee – consisting of prominent international lawyers in government, private practice, the international judiciary and academia – will provide guidance to the program, its director, students and alumni. Judge Bruno Simma (pictured above) of the International Court of Justice, serves as the committee's honorary chair.

Like many Wayne Law students, Mary Jo Weindorf (pictured right) and Sarah Kwiatkowski (pictured center with Professor John Mogk on left), now an alumna, were drawn to study law in Detroit due to the many outreach, community development and advocacy opportunities its location provides. What they may not have realized at the time, however, was just how large a role they potentially would play in Detroit’s revitalization efforts.

An Evening at the Ballpark with Wayne Law took place on August 3, 2010, with 225 attendees, including 140 attorneys from more than 60 Michigan law firms, and 65 Wayne Law rising second- and third-year law students. The event, hosted by the Wayne Law Career Services Office, was designed to kick-off the fall recruitment season and introduce Wayne Law students to the legal community. Students and attorneys mixed and mingled throughout the Detroit Tigers baseball game.

Assist a local nonprofit in its efforts to enhance the local community! Participate in the 25th annual Ambulance Chase Charity Run/Walk hosted by Wayne Law Student Board of Governors at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, 2010. Click the below to learn more.

Wayne Law welcomes Kathryn L. Koehler as its new alumni officer. Koehler’s responsibilities include facilitating Wayne Law Alumni Association (LAA) activities; raising awareness of the group and its benefits to alumni, students and the community; enhancing the Law School’s alumni network, based on regional, class and practice area affiliations; and increasing participation in LAA activities.

Students, alumni and friends interested in increasing their insight into labor law are invited to attend the 18th annual Bernard Gottfried Memorial Labor Law Symposium on Thursday, October 14, 2010. Bernard Gottfried is pictured above.

Serban S. Vacarelu has joined the faculty as a visiting professor for the fall 2010 semester. His visit was arranged through a longstanding faculty exchange program between Wayne Law and Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Wayne Law students, faculty and staff members recently gathered for Wayne Law's inaugural Service Day on Saturday, August 28, 2010. The event took place from noon - 3 p.m. at Motor City Blight Busters in Detroit's Artist Village.

To say that Barry Grant, ’60, and his daughter, Nanci, ’89, have a lot in common is a bit of an understatement. They both decided to pursue careers in the law and chose Wayne State University Law School as their law school.

Lumen Legal is presenting a free remote document review software training specifically for Wayne Law graduates featuring CatalystCR from 1-4 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010. After the remote session, participants are allowed to take an examination on using CatalystCR – those who pass the exam with a minimum score of 70 percent receive the status of “Catalyst CR Certified Reviewer." To register or for more information, please contact Kelly Caplan, Lumen Legal staffing consultant, at (877) 933-1330.

Upcoming Events

Prosecuting International Crimes: the cases of Abu Ghraib and Chuckie Taylor, Sept. 9

In search of a just settlement of the Israel-Palestine conflict: The relevance of international law, Sept. 22

Wayne Law in Grand Rapids: State Bar Reception and Happy Hour at The B.O.B., Sept. 30

Miranda rights for terrorism suspects?, Oct. 6

The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia, Oct. 13

Civil Rights Film Festival, Oct. 13

The 18th annual Bernard Gottfried Memorial Labor Law Symposium, Oct. 14

Judge Takaaki Shintaku presentation, Oct. 27

Ernie Goodman Book Signing, Oct. 27

Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights Fifth Biennial Lecture, Oct. 30

More Events

Alumni Accomplishments

Jessica Ann Hallmark, '08, has joined the law firm of C. Leslie Banas and Associates in Birmingham, Mich. She previously clerked for the Hon. Wendy Potts at the Oakland County Circuit Court. She also served on the Congressional Staff of Congressman Joe Knollenberg from 2001 to 2009. 


More Alumni Accomplishments

Student Accomplishments

Aisa Villarosa and Samantha Orvis recently returned from a four-day trip to the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco. As official delegates at the conference, they participated in the Law Student Division Assembly, voting on amendments and reforms to the ABA Law Student Division policies. One of the new policies that they voted for -- which ultimately passed -- was a renewal of individual law student and attorney commitment to engaging our nation's youth in civic learning. More than a hundred law schools were present at the meeting.


More Student Accomplishments

Faculty Accomplishments

Rachel Settlage led a panel discussion on the recent Supreme Court decision Padilla v. Kentucky at a Statewide Immigrant Rights Summit in Lansing, Mich., organized by the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.


More Faculty Accomplishments

Professors in the News

Robert Sedler commented in The News-Herald in an article titled "Lansing: Multitude of judges seeking Michigan Supreme Court seats."


More Professors in the News

Additional Links

Wayne Law Career Services Office

Wayne Law LL.M. Program

Wayne Law Board of Visitors

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