Law School briefs – 5/11/11

Law School Briefs is Indiana Lawyer’s section highlighting news from law schools in Indiana. While IL has always covered law school news and continues to keep up with law school websites and press releases for updates, we gladly accept submissions for this section from law students, professors, alumni, and others who want to share law school-related news. If you’d like to submit news or a photo from an event, please send it to Jenny Montgomery at [email protected], along with contact information for any follow-up questions at least two weeks in advance of the issue date.

IU – Indianapolis commencement

Vernon Jordan, senior managing director of the New York firm Lazard Freres & Co. and the 1992 chairman of the President Bill Clinton transition team, is scheduled to speak at the commencement for Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis which begins at 2 p.m. May 14 in the Indiana Convention Center, Sagamore Ballroom, 100 S. Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis. Jordan has held many high-profile positions in his career including president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League and executive director of the United Negro College Fund. He has also held many presidential appointments, serving on the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on South Africa, the Advisory Council on Social Security, and the Presidential Clemency Board. For more information, contact: Susan Bradley at [email protected].

Valparaiso commencement

Vanita Banks, past president of the National Bar Association, is scheduled to speak at the commencement for Valparaiso University School of Law which begins at 10 a.m. May 21 in the Valparaiso University Chapel. The association is the oldest and largest national association of predominately African-American lawyers and judges.

Banks is counsel with Allstate Insurance Company where she is a member of the Public Policy Development Division. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Purdue University, juris doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law, and L.L.M. in taxation from DePaul College of Law in Chicago. For more information, contact Lisa Todd at 219-465-7893.

Notre Dame commencement

The Rev. John J. Coughlin, professor of law and concurrent professor of theology, will speak at the hooding ceremony for Notre Dame University School of Law at 1:30 p.m. May 21. The ceremony will be held south of the Reflecting Pool, and in the case of rain it will be in the Joyce Center Fieldhouse. On May 22, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is scheduled to speak at the general commencement for Notre Dame University which begins at 9 a.m. May 22 at the Notre Dame Stadium. For more information, contact Chuck Williams at [email protected].

Maurer students assist with taxes

Students from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law helped local low-income residents and foreign students file 63 tax returns this spring, resulting in thousands of dollars of refunds.

The students participated in the law school’s second annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, volunteering 230 hours.

“The VITA program was rewarding because it allowed me to gain real tax experience while helping the community,” student coordinator Daniel Huntley said. “Many of our clients depend on this service to make ends meet throughout the year, and we feel a duty to help give back to the community that has given us so much.”

The Internal Revenue Service trained the 29 law students, along with students from Kelley School of Business, who participated in the program.•