Wednesday, January 11, 2017

SFS Program: Investing and Financial Planning

Yes, investing and financial planning are possible, even with student loan debt! Join experts from Waddell & Reed, including alumnus Chris Bateman ’14, for a casual get together and educational workshop on investing and financial planning presented by Student Financial Services.

Monday, January 23, 5:00-5:50 pm, Room C5
Or Tuesday, January 24, 12:00-12:50 pm, Room 110

The class will cover the basics like dealing with debt, foundations for investing, and insurance planning. If you have questions about the stock market, the economy, or your own financial situation, sign up for answers to these questions and more. RSVP to lawfa@seattleu.edu and indicate the date you will attend. Snacks will be provided.

LSAC Writing Competition

The Law School Admission Council's (LSAC) Diversity Committee announces a writing competition to promote diversity in law schools and the legal profession on the following topic:

WHY PIPELINE PROGRAMS TARGETING STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED RACIAL AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS 
ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE FUTURE OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION

LSAC is committed to fostering diversity in law schools and the legal profession. Currently, through its Diversity Committee, LSAC sponsors and funds a number of initiatives aimed at increasing the diversity of the legal profession. These initiatives include organizing national and regional pipeline workshops that promote the development of outreach and early educational programs for students from diverse backgrounds; offering grants to support diversity initiatives at LSAC-member law schools; maintaining databases and websites, such as DiscoverLaw.org, with information, resources, and programs that encourage students of color, students living with a disability, and LGBTQ students to pursue a legal career and equip them with the tools for successful admission and graduation from law school; and engaging in ongoing collaborative programs and projects with prelaw advisors and students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACUs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

For decades, studies consistently have shown that students of color, students living with a disability, and LGBTQ students are underrepresented in most law schools. As a consequence, smaller percentages of persons who represent these groups are graduating from law school and entering the legal profession. This writing competition is designed to reinvigorate the dialogue about the recruitment and retention strategies that law schools should deploy to yield a more diverse class of graduates who will enter the legal profession.

ENTRY PROCEDURES
Include a cover page with your submission. The cover should only contain the author's name, title of the paper, mailing address, law school affiliation, law school status (lL, 2L, 3L/4L), telephone number where the author may easily be reached, and an email address.

To allow anonymous evaluations, please do not put your name on the actual paper. The title on the paper must precisely match the title on the cover page that contains the identifying information described above.

Email entries to DiversityOffice@LSAC.org. Only electronic files (PDF or Word) will be accepted.

JUDGING
A panel of law school faculty, legal writing instructors, and LSAC Diversity Committee members will evaluate each submission and select the winning papers. If no paper meets the standards set forth in this announcement, the panel may decide not to issue an award or publish a paper. The panel's decision will be final.

DEADLINE
All papers must be sent no later than 5:00 PM EST on Friday, March 31, 2017. No extensions will be granted under any circumstances. Papers submitted after the deadline will not be eligible for an award. All submissions become the property of LSAC, and LSAC will retain the copyright of any winning papers selected for publication.

ELIGIBILITY
Current JD candidates who are in good standing at LSAC-member law schools are invited to participate.

The length and format of the paper must adhere to the following:
  • Up to 20 pages (5,000 words or less)
  • 8½ by 11 inch paper
  • Double spaced, 1-inch margins, Word format, 12-point font
  • Endnotes written in "A Uniform System of Citation" (The Blue Book) format
Evaluation Criteria Essays will be judged according to:
  • Research and use of relevant sources and authorities (cases; law review articles; other secondary sources, including, but not limited to, books, newspapers, and magazines; and empirical and sociological studies)
  • Quality and clarity of legal analysis, persuasion, and writing
  • Understanding, interpretations, and conclusions regarding diversity and the implications of diversity in this context
  • Full compliance with all competition procedures
AWARDS
One winning paper will be selected from each of the three (3) qualifying categories of eligible students (1L, 2L, 3L/4L). Each winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and the winning essays will be posted at DiscoverLaw.org.

In addition, one winning paper will be submitted for publication in the Journal of Legal Education or similar publication.

Please send your inquiries to the LSAC Diversity Initiatives Office

Citizenship Day

The City of Seattle is seeking attorney participants for Citizenship Day on January 20th. If you're an alum who practices criminal defense, family law, or immigration, please consider volunteering. There is also need for attorneys who speak languages other than English.

Please view the Citizenship Day page, volunteer page, and flyer for additional information.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Free CLE

The Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington and the King County Bar Association are pleased to present a free CLE (1.5 credits pending approval)

TIPS FROM THE BENCH:

Effectively Preserving Your Issues for Appeal


The Honorable Ricardo S. Martinez
Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

The Honorable Roger Rogoff
King County Superior Court

The Honorable Michael J. Trickey
Acting Chief Judge, Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I

Moderated by
Cynthia B. Jones
Jones Legal Group, LLC
Vice President of the FBA of the Western District of Washington

When: Friday, January 20, 2017, 3:30-5:00 p.m., check-in begins at 3:00

Location: United States Courthouse | 700 Stewart St., 19th Floor, Seattle

Register: Please RSVP to chelseah@kcba.org 

A wine and cheese reception will follow the CLE presentation to provide an opportunity for participants to meet and talk with the panel


For more information, contact the FBA co-chairs of membership, Jamie Lisagor and Karen Orehoski

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Peggy Browning Fund Fellowships Available

2017 Summer Fellowships: Funded positions in labor-related organizations throughout the US

2017-2018 School-Year Fellowship: One funded part-time position in Chicago

AFL-CIO’s Law Student Union Summer Program: 10-week internships combining legal work with grassroots organizing (program run by AFL-CIO; apply via Peggy Browning Fund’s website)

Application deadline: January 13, 2017 (Peggy Browning Alumni are eligible to re-apply)

Check them all out at www.peggybrowningfund.org!