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Don’t forget the checklist on page 8!
a welcome guide for new KU Law students | Spring 2012 KU School of Law Office of Admissions Steven Freedman Assistant Dean of Admissions freedman@ku.edu Rae Anderson Assistant Director of Admissions raea@ku.edu 103 Green Hall 1535 W. 15th St. Lawrence, KS 66045-7608 785/864-4378 866/220-3654 785/864-5054 (fax) www.law.ku.edu
VISIT US Please join us for Admitted Students Day on March 24 to meet your classmates and faculty and get a glimpse of life at Green Hall! If you are unable to attend, you can also schedule a visit online at law.ku.edu/ prospective/visit.
u Students sit behind the statue of law dean James “Jimmy” Green at old Green Hall. Each spring
on the final day of classes, law students and faculty make a cross-campus journey to the law school’s former home.
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Moot Court success for KU Law students
Omlid & Lindsey Third-year law students Nathan Lindsey and Chris Omlid won first place in the John Marshall Law School International Moot Court Competition in Information Technology & Privacy Law, beating out 23 other team from across the country and around the world. All law students get a taste of the moot court experience with Lawyering Skills, but continuing beyond that is optional. For those who enjoy the experience, secondyear students can participate in KU’s own Moot Court Competition, and the top eight teams form KU’s Moot Court Council. The Council represents KU in various national and regional competitions every year.
GREAT THINGS AHEAD FOR KU LAW STUDENTS
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ou are about to embark on the most intellectually challenging, and the most rewarding, educational experience of your life. The knowledge and skills you gain over the next three years will form the foundation of your legal career. As a student at KU Law, you can ensure that the foundation you build will support your professional goals, whatever they may be. As a KU Law student, you become a part of a proud history. The University of Kansas was established by a determined group of abolitionists with the personal courage and integrity to take a stand against slavery. When you walk around Green Hall, you will see composite photographs of generations of law students. From the earliest classes, those pictures include the faces of students of color and women. KU Law is, as it always has been, an inclusive place. As a KU Law student, you can select courses from a broad and varied curriculum and participate in a wide array of extracurricular learning
opportunities. You can pursue a general legal education or specialize through one of our eight certificate programs. We have Dean of KU Law 12 joint degree programs, all of which allow you to obtain both a J.D. and master’s degree on an accelerated basis. These programs allow you to begin your legal training by prosecuting criminals or representing inmates, serving in a judge’s chambers or providing legal services to the poor.
Stephen Mazza
When you complete your legal education and take your own place as a member of the bar — whether your place is in the courtroom, the boardroom or the classroom, on the bench or in the statehouse — KU lawyers will be there to welcome you.
Oh, the places you’ll go! with a KU Law degree KU Law graduates from the last three years practice in over 30 states and five countries.* They live and work on both coasts, in the South and throughout the Midwest. *Data from the KU Law classes of 2007-2010
What can Career Services do for you? 1. Sponsors career forums, workshops and other events throughout the year for networking opportunities. 2. Offers legal directories, bar journals, books and bar exam information. 3. Offers one-on-one career counseling. 4. Coordinates a mentor program for 1L students. 5. Provides resume and cover letter review services. 6. Organizes the mock interview program.
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STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS BROADEN HORIZONS
u Westminster Abbey, one of the most important Gothic buildings in England, is the final resting place of 17 monarchs.
The treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artifacts is among the sites available to students taking part in the London Law Consortium study abroad program.
KU Law is affiliated with study abroad and exchange programs in Cambridge and London, England; Limerick and Dublin, Ireland; and Istanbul, Turkey. These programs provide students with the opportunity to study the law from an international perspective under the guidance of eminently qualified professors. U.S. Supreme Court
Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have been instructors in these programs. The Cambridge Pre-Law Institute is an option incoming law students are encouraged to consider. The program will be July 7-August 3, 2012. It offers undergraduates and incoming law students the opportunity to live and study at Cambridge
University, focusing on the culture, history and politics of the English and American legal systems under the guidance of KU Law faculty. Students in the program take two 3-credit courses and have many opportunities to explore the prestigious university. Find more information online: www.studyabroad.ku.edu
Student organizations provide diversity, helping hand What did KU Law students and faculty do for Thanksgiving this year? They fed 20,000 people in need around the Lawrence area. This was the 25th year that Black Law Students Association (BLSA) members coordinated the Thanksgiving Food Drive. They ask for the help of students and faculty, who provide food and monetary donations to make the drive successful. Tonda Hill, the president of BLSA, is proud to be involved in an organization that gives so much back to the community. In addition to BLSA, Tonda has taken advantage of other opportunities to get
KU Law
involved: she served as former vice president of the Christian Legal Society, and participated in Moot Court and the Law Journal. At KU Law, there are a number of student organizations you can participate in, as well as academic opportunities outside of the classroom. Make the most out of your time here and get involved!
Tonda Hill
BLSA President
Getting involved The following student organizations at KU Law provide support and assistance to their members, promote cultural awareness in the law school and in the legal profession, and serve as vehicles for law school and community involvement. They often partner in planning service and social activities. Members also collaborate in their efforts to recruit and mentor new students. n Asian Law Students Association n Black Law Students Association n Hispanic American Law Students Association n Native American Law Students Association n Nontraditionals in Law Association n OUTlaws and Allies (LGBT) n Women in Law Membership is open to all students. Contact information is available at law. ku.edu/current/orgs/.
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What is the toughest thing about the first year?
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The toughest parts of 1L year are trying to navigate the world of legal research, learning how to blue-book and trying to land a summer internship.”
Jessica Lewicki Jackson Hole, WY
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Adjusting to a new way of learning compared to my undergraduate classes was difficult for me, but I quickly learned that the professors want to help you succeed however they can.”
Juliette Nguyen Wichita, KS
KU Law
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What is the best thing about the first year?
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I am receiving a quality education that provides challenging problems in various areas of law. It is true when people talk about law school being stressful, but that is because law school rewards its students with tremendous growth.”
Jose Ordonez Woodland, CA
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Meeting so many great people. Make friends with your small section because you will be spending a lot of time with them!”
Crystal Cook KU Law
Hays, KS
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What do you like best about living in Lawrence?
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Downtown Lawrence is one of my favorite places in the world. It has excellent restaurants, lots of character (and characters), a “Main Street USA” feel, and is a great place to shop, dine, or enjoy a drink.”
LIVING IN LAWRENCE What’s so great about Mass Street? Massachusetts Street (or Mass Street, as the locals call it), is the veritable center of Lawrence. It’s block after block of unique local restaurants and shops, with very popular music and entertainment venues mixed in. But don’t take our word for it — see what some of our students have to say.
One of my favorite areas to grab a bite is Massachusetts Street. This is Lawrence’s soul, a cute downtown area full of shops and unique (but cheap) restaurants. -Aubrey Wilson, 1L Downtown venues like Liberty Hall,The Granada and The Bottleneck bring in lots of fun concerts. You will find an array of local boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and bars. -Crystal Cook, 2L
Steve McAllister KU Law Professor
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Students come from roughly 110 countries every year. They study with world-class scholars in a friendly, safe environment.”
Raj Bhala
KU Law Professor
Mass is a great place to get coffee or ice cream on a nice day and just walk down the street. You will always see interesting people sitting around Mass. - Juliette Nguyen, 2L
BEST OF LAWRENCE According to lawrence.com voters in 2011.
u Photos
courtesy of University Relations and Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau
Pizza 1. Rudy’s Pizzeria, 704 Mass. 2. Papa Keno’s Pizzeria, 1035 Mass. 3. Wheat State Pizza, 711 W. 23rd St.
Live Music Venue 1. Liberty Hall, 644 Mass. 2. Bottleneck, 737 N.H. 3. Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Mass.
Burger 1. Burger Stand at the Casbah, 803 Mass. 2. Dempsey’s Burger Pub, 623 Vt. 3. Five Guys Burgers & Fries, 2040 W. 33rd St.
Place to Watch the Game 1. Johnny’s Tavern, 401 N. Second St., 721 Wakarusa Drive 2. Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 1012 Mass. 3. 23rd Street Brewery, 3512 Clinton Parkway
Overall Restaurant 1. Free State Brewery, 636 Mass. 2. Pachamama’s, 800 N.H. 3. 715, 715 Mass.
Place for a Date 1. Pachamama’s, 800 N.H. 2. Teller’s, 746 Mass. 3. Liberty Hall, 644 Mass.
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MOVING GUIDE: TOUR OF LAWRENCE
Moving FAQs Where should I live next year? Are there any campus housing options?
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Our tour begins at the home of KU Law, Green Hall. You’ll spend a lot of the next three years, learning, studying, and bonding with your classmates. Here’s Mt. Oread, the highest point for miles around. Since many of the University’s buildings are located here, you can see them long before you actually drive into Lawrence.
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Massachusetts Street houses some of the most popular restaurants and shops in town. Students frequently meet up on Mass. St. after class to relax and enjoy the diverse Lawrence culture.
Massachusetts intersects with 6th Street, one of the major roads through town. Driving up 6th, you’ll pass lots of neighborhoods, apartment complexes, and retail areas. Turning right on Maine Street, you can reach Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and Centennial Park is nearby.
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Now we’re all the way across town in West Lawrence, close to one of the two high schools in town, Free State. The retail areas and neighborhoods mostly end once you cross Wakarusa.
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Head on out to Clinton Lake to enjoy a quick swim, a picnic, or a day out on the water. A short drive from campus, Clinton Lake is a great way to enjoy a beautiful Kansas day.
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Now we’re on Clinton Parkway, another main road. It’s also known as 23rd Street. There are a lot more apartment complexes and neighborhoods on this road, and a few more retail areas. Here is West Campus, which is off Clinton Parkway. You’ll find, among other things, the Pharmacy School and the Lied Center, which offers musical and dramatic performances.
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Pick up a few essentials or do all your major shopping on south Iowa Street. Here you’ll find Target, Wal-Mart, and other large retail stores to get anything you may need. This is East Lawrence, the closest neighborhood to downtown. The Douglas County Fairgrounds and the Lawrence Recreation Center are also in East Lawrence.
11 Finally, we’re back on 6th Street. City Hall is located off East 6th Street, and it’s a good place to start if you’re new to town. If you head across the river, you’ll be in North Lawrence.
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There are many apartment complexes and other rental properties in Lawrence. The Lawrence JournalWorld’s apartment directory, http:// apartments. lawrence.com, is a good place to start. Although there is no designated housing for law students, oncampus student housing is available.Visit the following link for more information: www. housing.ku.edu/. How can I find a roommate? We’ve created a page that lists students looking for a roommate. Check it out here: www.law. ku.edu/roommates. Which utility companies should I use? Most rental properties use the same companies for all residents. If you plan to buy, the most common utility companies are Westar Energy for electric, Black Hills Energy for gas, and the City of Lawrence for water and trash.
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STUDENT CHECKLIST & IMPORTANT DATES - BE PREPARED! Anytime
Join the KU Law 2015 Facebook Group (facebook.com/groups/kulaw2015).
Anytime
Add admitlaw@ku.edu to your contacts or so that emails from Admissions won’t go to junk mail
Anytime
Establish a registered KU email account (www.technology.ku.edu/accounts).
March 1
Priority deadline for financial aid application: http://financialaid.ku.edu
March 24
Attend Admitted Student Open House
April 15
1st Seat Deposit Due
ers rt a t s r e m sum
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fall starters
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May 24
June 15
May 30
August 16
Attend Orientation
1st day of classes
2nd Seat Deposit Due
Reading List Here’s a list of recommended reading before you start law school from KU Law professors. Make the most of summer break and pick one up today! n “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee. What lawyer does not aspire to be Atticus Finch? n “The Lincoln Lawyer,” “The Reversal,” and “The Fifth Witness,” by Michael Connelly. n “The Long Goodbye,” by William H. Colby. A distinguished KU Law alum writing about the most difficult case he ever handled. n “The Bramble Bush,” by Karl N. Llewellyn explains the process of legal analysis and should help you better understand what your first-year professors expect from you. n “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” by Edward Gibbon (one-volume abridged edition).
Attend Orientation
August 23
1st day of classes
KU Law