Law students - The Indiana Lawyer

Back to the border: Notre Dame law legal aid team sees increased hardship for asylum seekers

February 19, 2020 | Katie Stancombe

Instead of spending his holiday season surrounded by all things merry and bright, immigration attorney Rudy Monterrosa spent days at what he described as an ominous place akin to a concentration camp. For the second year in a row, Monterrosa took a team to the Texas-Mexico border to offer free legal services to women and children seeking asylum in the United States. His experience this time, however, was quite different.

Indiana law schools not seeing much of a ‘Trump bump’

February 4, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

While the political climate is being credited with boosting applications to law schools nationally, Indiana’s legal institutions might be immune to the hubbub since they have posted fluctuations but no discernable upward trend in the number of individuals applying for enrollment.

UNLV administrator candidate for IU McKinney dean

January 30, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

An expert in property law and former university vice provost at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is the third finalist for the dean’s position at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney.

Michigan State law professor finalist to be IU McKinney dean

January 27, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

David Thronson, an expert in international human rights law and director of the Talsky Center for Human Rights of Women and Children at Michigan State University College of Law, will be visiting Indianapolis Monday and Tuesday as the second finalist for the dean’s position at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

IU McKinney welcomes first dean candidate

January 22, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Milena Sterio, an associate dean at Cleveland State University Marshall College of Law and an expert in international law, is the first of the four candidates for the dean’s position at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law to visit the IUPUI campus and meet with faculty, students and alumni.

Uniform Bar Exam adoption not unanimous

January 8, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Of Indiana’s four neighboring states, one has adopted the Uniform Bar Exam, one is preparing to adopt, one is expected to adopt and one is not even considering adoption.

Many see advantages in Uniform Bar Exam

January 8, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Working at a Fort Wayne law firm before enrolling in law school, Julia Kosnik saw the benefit of being able to help clients across state lines from a partner who was licensed in both Indiana and Michigan. “It would be so much easier if I could take the (Uniform Bar Exam) and practice in both states,” Kosnik said. “I’m hoping they move in that direction.”

2020 ICLEO applications available

January 3, 2020 | IL Staff

Applications are now available for the 2020 Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity program may now do so, the Indiana Supreme Court announced Friday.

Indiana law schools buck first-year enrollment dip

December 27, 2019 | IL Staff

First-year enrollment in J.D. programs in Indiana law schools rose 3.2% in 2019 over 2018 while the overall J.D. enrollment across the U.S. slipped 0.27%, according data released by the American Bar Association.

Panel recommends adopting Uniform Bar Exam to enhance fairness, reliability

December 25, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

With Indiana already incorporating two components from the Uniform Bar Examination into its own attorney admittance test, a study commission formed to review and recommend changes to state’s bar exam is advocating Indiana pick up the remaining component and transition completely to the UBE. But three commission members cautioned against the move, saying the state would be relinquishing control of its own test.

IndyBar: The IndyBar Law Student Division — A Pathway to Personal and Professional Enrichment

December 25, 2019 | From IndyBar

Few — if any — bar associations around the country have a separate and distinct law student-run entity that comes close to matching our level of programming and involvement. But the evolving nature of the legal field, both educationally and professionally, requires constant re-evaluation to make sure we remain in front of the curve.

Study commission advises Indiana adopt Uniform Bar Exam

December 16, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

Finding the Indiana Bar Exam places a “cognitive overload” on examinees, the special commission convened a year ago to study and recommend changes to the test is suggesting the Indiana Supreme Court reduce the number of subjects tested either by cutting the topics on the Indiana Essay Examination or by switching to the Uniform Bar Examination.

Memorial service announced for Valpo law professor

December 11, 2019 | IL Staff

A celebration of life for attorney and Valparaiso Law School professor David Welter, who died unexpectedly Monday, has been scheduled for Friday. Welter, a graduate and longtime faculty member of the northern Indiana law school, was 59.

Notre Dame offers new Dublin internship program for 2Ls

December 9, 2019 | IL Staff

The Notre Dame Law School has announced an international paid internship opportunity for select 2L students beginning in the summer of 2020.

Parrish: Students find clerkships in smaller counties rewarding

November 13, 2019 | Austen Parrish

This summer’s Rural Justice Initiativesought to expose students who are committed to public service to different facets of rural and smaller-city practice while helping trial court judges with their heavy workloads in counties where that help is needed most. The goal was to underscore to students the benefits of clerking after graduation, to help improve access to courts and expand legal services, and to inspire some students to consider pursuing careers in rural Indiana.

Former bar exam leader offers tips as Indiana considers changes

October 31, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

As the Indiana legal profession re-evaluates its bar exam in light of slumping pass rates, a leader in bar examinations and bar admissions offered some insight into testing and provided some advice, as well as some warnings, about making changes.

New lawyers take oath in admission ceremony

October 30, 2019 | IL Staff

More than 275 people passed the Indiana Bar Exam in July and were eligible to be admitted to practice law in Indiana. Many took their oaths at the Indiana Supreme Court Admission Ceremony on Oct. 2. Here are Indiana’s newest lawyers.

New lawyers get by with a little help from family, friends

October 30, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

The support of family and friends for students in law school is not only common for most law students, but also necessary. Law professors and counselors say students need a supportive network to rely on inside and outside of law school to help them master the material, tamp down any discouragement or despair and ultimately become successful attorneys with good mental health.

Law Student Outlook: Thoughts on mediation, negotiation and other forms of ADR

October 30, 2019

Despite our continued interest in litigation, we are here to report that we certainly like what we have found in and are open to future possibilities in alternative dispute resolution. We have also come to recognize that just because our interests lean toward litigation does not mean that we will not encounter and utilize skills such as negotiating that maybe are not seen as being traditionally within a litigator’s area of expertise.

McKinney alumnae forge friendships spanning 40 years

October 16, 2019 | Marilyn Odendahl

A group of women law student trailblazers who entered the profession in the late 1970s never let their bond of friendship fade. At a recent 40th annual reunion,one asked her former IU McKinney classmates, “Can anyone here imagine being where you are today without the others?” They responded in unison, “no.”

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