Current Issue Articles

Message from the Dean Dean Brown

There are several very positive developments at JFKU School of Law.

Audrey Smith as Director of Legal Writing Program. Most of you know Professor Audrey Smith from the years she has spent teaching Appellate Advocacy and Legal Writing. Starting October 22, Professor Smith is a member of the core faculty. Her interest is to work with students to maximize their strengths in analysis, writing, and oral presentation. She has told me that she will recruit top notch adjuncts for her program. Professor Smith is well-grounded in this field, having served as a Research Attorney at the California Court of Appeal, where she received rave reviews.

Nazanin Mazgani and Tamika Thomas Win CCCBA Scholarship. Congratulations to Nazanin and Tamika for winning the Contra Costa County Bar Association's The Honorables Patricia Heron and Ellen James 2007 Scholarship. An awards ceremony was held on October 30 at the Lafayette Plaza Hotel.

Law Student Association and Black Law Students' Association. In the years before we moved to the present location, I understand that there was an active Law Student Association and a Black Law Students' Association. There is considerable energy now to revive their respective statuses and both the faculty and I applaud these efforts.

Your participation in one or both is essential to helping make our law school a place that maximizes your talent and your employment opportunities.

Jeff Brown
Dean
John F. Kennedy School of Law

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JFKLaw Alum Alan Ramos Honored for ELC Pro Bono Work gala2

Alan Ramos, a JFKU law school alum and practicing attorney in Pleasanton, was among the honorees at the Chief Justice Ronald M. George Pro Bono Awards Gala, celebrating and honoring attorneys devoted to achieving access to justice in the Contra Costa community by providing pro bono services to clients. Alan was nominated by JFKU's Elder Law Clinic for his significant role in assisting the Clinic by taking on pro bono cases of elder financial abuse, primarily involving predatory lending practices.(Pictured right: Chief Justice Ronald George and ELC Pro Bono Award Recipient Alan Ramos.)

The gala event was held on Friday, October 25, 2007, at the Contra Costa Country Club and was a celebration honoring attorneys devoted to achieving access to justice in the Contra Costa community by providing pro bono services to clients. For the awards, several non-profits including the Elder Law Clinic were asked to nominate an individual whose pro bono services most touched the lives of those who truly needed legal assistance.

Present to bestow the awards and address the attendees on the benefits and rewards of giving back to the community was California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald M. George as well as members of several non-profit organizations who provide such services as well as numerous private attorneys who nobly volunteer their legal services. gala1

On hand to celebrate were student members of JFK University's Elder Law Clinic, the Clinic's Director Virginia George, as well as Dean Geoffrey Brown and prior School of Law Deans Teri Cannon and Michelle Leighton. (Pictured right: Former JFKU law school dean Michelle Leighton; ELC Supervising Attorney Virginia George, and Attorney Mary Carey.)

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CLINICAL PROGRAM & INTERNSHIP FAIR
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2007, 5:00-6:30 PM, ROOM S304

Working in a law office under the supervision of a talented and experienced attorney can be the most rewarding part of your legal education. You can learn about new areas of law, develop practical lawyering skills, represent clients in court, and make networking connections with the legal community.

Supervising Attorneys from the following offices will be present to provide information and answer your questions:

    JFKU ELDER LAW CLINIC

    BAY AREA LEGAL AID/JFKU SCHOOL OF LAW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CLINICAL PROGRAM

    INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE BAY AREA/JFKU SCHOOL OF LAW IMMIGRATION LAW CLINICAL PROGRAM

    JUVENILE DEPENDENCY PROGRAM, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

    FAMILIES & CHILDREN'S BUREAU, SUPERIOR COURT, ALAMEDA COUNTY, SELF-HELP CENTER

For more information, contact Professor Chris Kanios at gkanios@yahoo.com.

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Law Student Association Update

The current Law Student Association (LSA) at John F. Kennedy University was founded in the fall of 2007. The primary mission of the LSA is to preserve and promote the reputation and quality of current law students, as well as the reputation of the University within the general and academic communities. The objective of the LSA is to help provide the student body with the most fulfilling and rewarding law school experience possible.

In order to best achieve this mission and objective, the LSA intends to:

  • Provide students with a forum to address concerns and opinions, and then communicate these messages to the administration.
  • Act as a liaison between the law student body and Law Alumni to actively establish a mutually beneficial partnership.
  • Provide the law student body with additional academic resources and educational opportunities, as well as social events to promote a sense of community.
To find out more information and see how you can get involved check out the LSA webpage on the School of Law Online Bulletin Board.

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