Brief Remark Summer 2014 by Regent University School of Law

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Making AN

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AHEAD OF THE CURVE

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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4 | Meet Judge Patricia West

Meet our newest distinguished faculty member and associate dean.

6-7 | 100% of Regent Law First-Time

Takers Pass Virginia Bar

See how Regent stacks up against other Virginia law schools.

15 | Let’s Move Regent Law Forward!

Learn how you can play a role in continuing Regent’s impact around the world.

12-15 | MAKING AN IMPACT How Regent Law’s innovative programs and acclaimed faculty are changing

17-18 | Alumni Updates

the face of legal education.

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DARIUS DAVENPORT Director of Career & Alumni Services

Brief Remark · Summer 2014

lawcareerservices@regent.edu 757-352-4915 phone 757-352-4338 fax www.regent.edu/lawcareerservices

I am happy to report that as we continue to address significant challenges in legal education and the legal employment market, by God’s grace – and your support – we are successfully positioning Regent University School of Law to thrive for years to come. As a result of aggressive communications to prospective students and a very personal “hands-on” touch, we welcomed 104 highquality J.D. students into our incoming fall 2014 class, exceeding our expectations. Our new Master of Arts in Law welcomed 65 students for the fall 2014 – its very first semester! We were also pleased to welcome 8 new LL.M. students. And as you’ll read in the following pages, students, faculty, and alumni like you to continue to make us all proud. Like law schools across the country, we still face significant challenges, however. The job market is just now showing signs of recovery. Our J.D. enrollment needs to increase in the coming years to maintain a healthy financial position. We need the financial support of partners and friends to supplement tuition revenue. Would you consider how you can partner with us this year? You can volunteer as a lawyer-mentor in our Integrated Lawyer Training program (ILT) and help show one of our aspiring lawyers the ropes. You can refer prospective students to our J.D., LL.M., and M.A. programs via regent.edu/lawreferral. And you can be the one whose phone call or email helps an amazing student land a job. Thank you for all you do for Regent Law and for your prayerful support. I hope to hear from you soon!

PATRICIA WEST

Associate Dean & Distinguished Professor pwest@regent.edu 757-352-4310 phone 757-352-4595 fax www.regent.edu/law

Jeffrey A. Brauch Dean and Professor

It is my pleasure to announce that, in the midst of continued challenges in legal education, great things are happening at Regent Law. As you know, change is taking place all over the legal profession. The way law firms practice law is changing, the way law firms recruit new attorneys is changing, and the needs of law students are also changing. In response to those changes we are taking the necessary steps to make sure that we stay ahead of the curve. This edition of the Brief Remark focuses on the new and exciting programs that we are implementing to ensure that Regent Law School remains a leader in Christian legal education. We know you will enjoy reading about these new programs, including our new M.A. in Law which is poised to welcome 65 new students this fall – in its first year! You will also learn about the impressive work our distinguished faculty is doing to bring a new level of depth to our academic bench. Finally, you will discover our goals to bring alumni and students closer together to enhance our career placement/ professional development outcomes and advancement goals. It is an exciting time at Regent and we welcome your prayers and continued support.

Darius Davenport Director of Career & Alumni Services

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WHEN THE WORLD HEARS “REGENT LAW SCHOOL,” THE NAMES OF THESE GOD-GIFTED PEOPLE WILL SOON COME TO MIND. WE ARE HONORED AND PRIVILEGED FOR THEM TO BE USING THEIR TALENTS AND PASSION FOR LAW AT REGENT.

NEW ADDITIONS

Judge Patricia L. West

Ernie Walton

Associate Dean & Distinguished Faculty Member

Administrative Director, Global Justice Center

Dear Readers:

Regent Law welcomes Ernie Walton, J.D. (’11) back to campus as the administrative director for the Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law. As one of the Center for Global Justice’s first summer student interns, Walton spent his 2L summer in Strasburg, France, at the European Centre for Law and Justice working on religious freedom cases. As he takes on his new role, Walton is excited to provide law students involved in the Center with similar academic and on-the-ground experiences, equipping them for success as justice advocates. “As long as I have known him, Ernie has been devoted to protecting the poor, oppressed, and enslaved, and to promoting the rule of law,” says Dean Jeffrey Brauch. “He is a young man of tremendous skill, energy, and passion, and he stands poised to lead the Center’s efforts to equip the next generation of justice advocates. I am excited to see how God will use him in the lives of our students and those they serve.” Becoming a lawyer, or even attending law school, was not the first career track Walton had in mind. As an undergraduate, Walton pursued international sports ministry, connecting with churches and evangelizing in countries like Romania, the Czech Republic, Japan, and Mexico. It was an injury and subsequent calling to seek justice on behalf of others that led Walton to study at Regent. He has discovered through the years that assisting in legal and human rights matters is similar, in a way, to sports ministry, because it allows him to “meet people where they are.” “My heart and my vision for the Center is to make sure that, from a Biblical perspective, we have a dialogue about what human rights are and why they’re important,” Walton says. “Human rights must have a foundation; they can’t change with the wind.”

It’s truly a delight to be formally associated with Regent University School of Law! Although I have greatly enjoyed interacting with the students and faculty over the past decade through my participation on the School of Law Board of Visitors, I look forward to the new opportunities ahead as a professor and associate dean, and I’m excited to be at the school on a regular basis. From the Christian legal scholars that make up the incredible faculty, to the warm and caring staff and the bright enthusiastic students, the last 6 months have been amazing. I want the world to know what I know: Regent Law School provides a world-class education, and our graduates can compete with the best! In the spring of 2015, I will be teaching a course on Juvenile Law. After spending years hearing countless cases as a judge in the Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and in Circuit Court, I look forward to bringing that courtroom experience to the classroom environment. From a judge’s perspective, it is so important that attorneys practicing in that field recognize they are attorneys and COUNSELORS of law. I will also be working on special projects to boost Regent’s state-wide and national reputation as a first-rate law school, and I will need your help along the way. One of the projects I am most excited about and one of my first priorities is developing our alumni relations network. At Regent, we are 100% committed to your success. To help us develop our alumni relations, I need your input. What are we doing well? What could we do to improve? What services would you like to see us provide in the future? You now have my email and my phone number. Please contact me directly and give me your thoughts and ideas! I really want to hear from you! I also want to ask you to take a minute and make sure all of your contact information is up-to-date on the alumni website, regentalumni.org. And one more small housekeeping matter. Some of you have volunteered to be your class representatives for purposes of gathering and distributing news about your graduating class. For those of you who have volunteered and for whom we still have good contact information, we will be contacting you to see if you would like to continue to serve in that capacity. Some classes have never had a class agent and we will be looking for someone to fill that role. We hope to have at least one person for each graduating class so if you would like to volunteer to be your class representative, please let me know. It won’t take much time, and you’ll be the first to get the news from all your classmates! I firmly believe that you are among the finest legal advocates in the world, but I need your help to get that message out! Besides volunteering as a class agent, I would also love to hear about how God is transforming communities, our country and even other nations, through you! Tell me your story or your classmates’ stories. I want to know all of you! God bless you, your families, and your work. Judge West pwest@regent.edu • 757-352-4310

BRIEF REMARK

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REGENT LAW FACULTY BLOGGERS ENGAGE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY Several Regent Law professors are committed bloggers, writing about topics ranging from their legal passions to current events. In Pryor Thoughts, PROFESSOR SCOTT PRYOR dialogues about bankruptcy law, but he also sprinkles in lighthearted articles on topics ranging from the new LEGO movie to Regent University’s production of “The Trojan Women.” PROFESSOR LYNNE MARIE KOHM started Family Restoration to address the relationship between the law and God’s plan for families, and to encourage her audiences that family reconciliation and restoration are obtainable realities. PROFESSOR BRUCE CAMERON manages Sabbath School Lessons and GoBible.org. He launched GoBible.org in 1996. GoBible.org has received about 1.8 million unique visitors and 8.4 million page views since March 2009, and has reached nearly every country in the world. Sabbath School Lessons has had about 388,000 unique visitors and 1.3 million page views since March 2009. In addition to these blogs, several other Regent Law professors informally write about their areas of expertise: Henslerisms by PROFESSOR LOUIS HENSLER, Redeeming Law by PROFESSOR MIKE SCHUTT, and Legal Scruples, which is a companion blog for the Center for Ethical Formation, by PROFESSORS BENJAMIN MADISON and NATT GANTT. >>

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LAW SCHOOL NEWS

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ABA Affirms Regent Law Accreditation After a comprehensive review, the American Bar Association (ABA) recently reaffirmed its full accreditation of Regent University School of Law. The reaccreditation review process began with months of intense preparation preceding the ABA’s site visit in fall 2012. The review team of legal educators submitted their evaluation report in mid-2013, with the ABA’s formal notice of approval coming to Regent in early February 2014. Regent Law has been fully accredited by the ABA since 1996. >>

Class of 2013 Posts Strong Employment Rates In a competitive legal job market, Regent University School of Law students are successfully making their way into the profession. According to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), 83 percent of the 2013 graduating class reported employment within 9 months of graduation, with 82 percent of those jobs requiring the J.D. Eight graduates are serving in judicial clerkships. From the moment students set foot on campus in their first year, Regent Law professors stress more than just understanding the ins-and-outs of a legal education. With programs such as Regent Law’s Integrated Lawyer Training (ILT), as well as the Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law, students have opportunities for hands-on training in legal skills, ethics, and professionalism throughout their three years of study. “From day one in their careers, our students are ready to serve with excellence and integrity and are ready to make a difference in the lives of their clients and their communities,” said Dean Jeffrey Brauch. “It’s a joy to see them begin their careers in such influential roles.” Darius Davenport, director of career and alumni services at Regent Law, explained that the strength behind the numbers reaches further than just a positive review of job reports. Davenport said the percentages of graduates landing jobs that require a bar admission in tandem with their law degrees increased by 23 percent. >>

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STUDENT NEWS

Law Teams Wrap Up Successful Competition Season Following a second place finish at the international 2013 University of Oxford Moot Court Competition, Regent’s moot court and negotiation teams recently concluded another outstanding competition season. A team of 3L students coached by professor Tessa Dysart finished second overall at the 2014 National Religious Freedom Moot Court Competition hosted by George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 3Ls Andrew Stevener, Chelsea Schlittenhart, and Drew Cziok placed ahead of Georgetown University, New York Law School Howard University, and other competitors. Schlittenhart won the competition’s “Best Oralist” award. From the 192 teams that entered the 2014 National Moot Court Competition in New York City, 3Ls Sharon Kerk and Joshua Smith advanced to the top 16. “The team did an outstanding job. They performed with excellence—even in the round we lost,” said team coach Professor Michael Hernandez. “The judges commented on how persuasive our arguments were.” Regent’s team of 2Ls Danielle Bianculli, Stephen Cady, and Jeffrey Pommerenck advanced to the top nine at the College of William and Mary’s Spong Moot Court Tournament. “Not only were our students skilled in their performance, but they also conducted themselves in a way such that everyone commented on how positive their presence was at the competition,” said team coach Professor Kathleen McKee. 2Ls Kellisia Hazlewood, Abbie Nordhagen, and Sarah Decker finished second overall at Touro Law Center’s National Moot Court Competition in Law & Religion in Islip, New York. The team brought home best oralist, second-best oralist, and second-best brief awards, finishing closely behind competition champion Emory University. “I am really proud of our team. Abbie, Kelli, and Sarah put an incredible amount of time into preparing for the competition, and 3L Elise Girani provided invaluable help as the assistant coach,” said team coach Professor Tessa Dysart. “Their hard work clearly paid off, and we are looking forward to returning to Touro next year.” Katherine David and Timothy Chiasson advanced to the semifinals in the Robert R. Merhige, Jr. National Environmental Negotiation Competition at University of Richmond School of Law, finishing among the final four. Professor Eric DeGroff, director of the Center for Advocacy, coached the pair. Regent Law has competed in Merhige Environmental Negotiation Competition for more than 20 years. Regent Law teams were Merhige national champions four times, national finalists seven times, and semifinalists twice. >>

100% of Regent Law First-Time Takers Pass Virginia Bar

BRIEF REMARK

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One hundred percent of Regent University School of Law graduates passed the February 2014 Virginia Bar Exam on their first attempt, according to the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. The average pass rate for state-wide, first-time bar exam takers was 69.96 percent. Regent’s overall pass rate as well, including repeat takers, was 69.57, a pass rate over 10 points above the state average of 59.41 percent.

First-Time Takers Overall ALL VIRGINIA BAR EXAM APPLICANTS: 69.96% 59.41% VIRGINIA LAW SCHOOLS:

Appalachian School of Law College of William and Mary George Mason University Liberty University Regent University University of Richmond

University of Virginia Washington and Lee University

25.00% 100.00% 78.57% 60.00% 100.00% 78.57%

43.75% 58.82% 72.00% 42.86% 69.57% 68.57%

83.33% 0.00%

72.73% 60.00%

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STUDENT NEWS

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Regent Law Students Gain Experience, Mentorship through Judicial Internships

Andrew Butler’s Story In April of 2014—only a few weeks before his first year at Regent Law would come to a close—Andrew Butler learned that he had a 6-centimeter brain tumor. Andrew and his fiancée Jane flew to The University of Kansas Hospital to meet with Dr. Paul Camarata, one of the best neurosurgeons in the United States. After evaluating Andrew’s MRI, Dr. Camarata determined that the mass appeared cancerous. He scheduled Andrew’s surgery for May 1. As Andrew prepared for his surgery, the Regent Law community gathered to pray for Andrew, Jane, and their families. Two weeks after Andrew learned why he was having such excruciating headaches, he received incredible news: the tumor was benign. Andrew recounted his experience on his Facebook page: “The Lord has demonstrated His sovereignty, grace, and goodness to Jane and me in new ways over the last two weeks. It is impossible for me to think about where we find ourselves at this moment without seeing His handiwork and design. I cannot help but say with Paul:

‘If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied’ (1 Corinthians 15:19).” “My hope is not in this life, but there is a very true sense in which this brain tumor has changed my life. The Lord has already allowed this circumstance to bless me and bless others. It is my prayer that we do not forfeit any of the opportunities made available to us in the Lord by this brain tumor. To God be the glory.” Andrew and Jane were married on May 25. >>

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Center for Global Justice Makes Intern Impact Since its founding in 2010, the Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law has provided grants to select Regent Law students to cover the costs of summer internships that focus on human rights. So far over 60 interns have served in 19 countries. The grants, which generally range between $4,000 and $5,000, enable students to intern with human rights organizations around the world without incurring debt. Through the program, students receive great legal experience, organizations receive free legal help, and victims receive justice. This summer, Stockton Brown, a rising 3L, interned with Freedom Firm, based in India. Freedom Firm, which is directed by alumnus Evan Henck, J.D. ‘07, is an anti-trafficking non-governmental organization that seeks to eradicate child sex trafficking in India’s red-light districts. Freedom Firm carries out its mission by conducting onthe-ground investigations of red light areas known for sexually exploiting children by assisting police in conducting raids, prosecuting traffickers, and offering rescued girls hope through effective aftercare treatment. The Center has sent an intern to Freedom Firm every summer since 2010. Past interns have assisted in prosecuting cases of sex trafficking, including arguing in court and drafting briefs, helping sex trafficking survivors start businesses, and planning raids on local brothels. Other internship placements this summer include International Justice Mission, Thailand; Jubilee Campaign, Washington, D.C.; and Land and Equity Movement, Uganda. >>

BRIEF REMARK

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STUDENT NEWS

In the months before summer break, law students compete for coveted judicial internships that provide them with the opportunity to fine-tune their writing and research skills, observe court cases, and make connections that often lead to full-time employment. Kevin Hoffman, lead articles editor for the Regent University Law Review and vice chairman for the Trial Advocacy Board, interned for Federal District Judge Mark Davis of the Eastern District of Virginia. “Judge Davis took a special interest in ensuring that my summer was a positive experience and in sharing many lessons he had learned in his years of practicing law and serving as a judge,” Hoffman says. Chelsea Schlittenhart, Moot Court Board chairperson and a Regent University Law Review staffer, met Judge John C. Gemmill of the Arizona Court of Appeals at Regent Law’s annual Hassell Competition, a connection that led to a post-graduate judicial clerkship with the judge. Schlittenhart drafted opinions for criminal and family law, unemployment board, and Anders cases before presenting them to Judge Gemmill. She also attended judicial conferences. Joshua Smith, managing editor of the Regent University Law Review and treasurer for the Federalist Society, interned for Justice Jeff Brown of the Texas 14th Court of Appeals. He says this internship, combined with previous internships with Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jeff Bohm of the Southern District of Texas and Texas District Judge Edwin Denman, were excellent opportunities for him to learn to work more efficiently and clearly communicate complex ideas. “I have observed the importance of being attentive to details, how clear and concise writing will capture a reader’s attention, and how only a thorough and thoughtful approach to one’s case will sufficiently prepare an attorney for court,” Smith explains. “These ‘behind-the-scenes’ experiences have prepared me to better understand what judges expect from attorneys, and I believe these internships have also prepared me to better meet those expectations.” >> ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Regent Law Students Participate in Two Supreme Court Cases Through the Right to Work Practicum, Regent Law students had the incredible opportunity to participate in not one, but two cases heard by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2014. Under the guidance of Bruce Cameron, National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation litigator and Reed Larson Professor of Labor Law, law students helped research for Mulhall v. UNITE HERE and Harris v. Quinn, both major labor law cases. “Most attorneys never file a case that the U.S. Supreme Court will consider,” says Professor Cameron. “Few attorneys are involved in cases that the Supreme Court accepts for argument. Even fewer argue a case before the High Court.”

The law school held a moot session in Robertson Hall for Mulhall v. UNITE HERE. Third-year law student Jennifer Brown, J.D. ‘14, performed research for Mulhall and also sat as a judge during the moot session. “It’s a rare experience to have researched cases that were used in the brief and to sit as a judge in the Moot Courtroom,” Brown said. “I enjoyed digging for the one article or case that could be the changing factor in the argument.” Other moot court judges included third-year law student Chelsea Schlittenhart, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Services Douglas Cook, Professor James Duane, Professor Bruce Cameron, Associate Professor Kathleen McKee, and Professor Michael Hernandez. >>

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INNOVATION IN LEGAL EDUCATION

Regent University School of Law continues to respond to challenges and changes in legal education and in the legal economy. Within the past year, Regent has positioned itself to thrive in a quickly changing and ever more competitive legal environment by launching several new programs and initiatives.

Center for Ethical formation cited as an ‘Innovative Idea’ for Law School Reform Drawing on the principles outlined in the Carnegie Foundation’s landmark report, “Educating Lawyers: Preparation for the Practice of Law,” Regent Law’s Center for Ethical Formation and Legal Education Reform (CEFLER) helps students develop the ethical framework necessary to achieve the highest standards of competence and professionalism. CEFLER serves both as a center for thought leadership and as the hub of corresponding programs and events. The Center’s faculty publishes and presents on the topic of professional identity formation nationwide. All courses, where possible, encourage students to produce critical reflection on value conflicts and ethical dilemmas, encouraging students to go beyond simply “learning the rules” of ethical practice. PreLaw Magazine, a premier publication for prospective law students, recently highlighted the Center as among the “25 most innovative ideas” for law school reform.

>> LEARN MORE: REGENT.EDU/LAWCENTERS

Part-Time Evening Program Option

Online LL.M. in American Legal Studies

While students at Regent Law could always study part-time if they wished, they can now earn a J.D. by taking classes entirely in the evenings. The part-time evening program makes the law school experience more accessible and affordable and is an attractive option for professionals interested in continuing their careers while earning their J.D.

American law is now the common currency of business transactions worldwide, influencing law, policy, and government around the globe. With the online LL.M. in American Legal Studies, international attorneys who wish to be trained in American law can do so without the added expense of leaving their home (or their jobs) to study abroad. Online students receive the same rigorous education from Regent, recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a leader in online education.

>> LEARN MORE: REGENT.EDU/LAW

LL.M. in Human Rights Capitalizing on growing interest in human rights, the new on-campus 24-credit hour LL.M. in Human Rights provides advocates with advanced understanding of international, regional, and domestic human rights protection and promotion from a Biblical perspective The signature course in International & Comparative Human Rights addresses the origins and philosophical basis for the modern international human rights movement, the fundamental principles of modern international human rights law, and current mechanisms for the enforcement of human rights.

>> LEARN MORE: REGENT.EDU/LLM

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>> LEARN MORE: REGENT.EDU/LLM

Master of Arts in Law The new 30-credit hour M.A. in Law, offered oncampus and online, is geared for professionals looking to strengthen their credentials and enhance their marketability by learning to apply foundational legal principles in their unique professional context. Concentrations include Business Management, Human Resources Management, Non-Profit Management, Business & Commercial Law, National Security, and Criminal Justice.

>> LEARN MORE: REGENT.EDU/LAWMASTERS

Integrated Lawyer Training Program (ILT) Students learn the fundamentals of legal analysis but often graduate without the practical and professional tools they need to practice with distinction. To equip students for holistic success, ILT combines traditional legal study with practical skills training and ethical formation in the context of a Christian worldview. ILT dovetails with the Center for Ethical Formation, Honors Program, and Academic Success Program in offering students more than a dozen guaranteed training opportunities. Highlights include the opportunity to partner with a lawyer-mentor drawn from the local legal community. Lawyer-mentors provide students with personal/spiritual coaching, advising, and career planning. Students can engage in a field placement for academic credit, working in the law offices of a prosecutor, public defender, in-house counsel or private practice attorney. An additional component, the Apprenticeship Program, allows select thirdyear students to spend a semester working as an apprentice in a region where the student intends to

practice law while completing coursework online. In terms of curricula, more than one third of the courses offered in the law school feature the “PractiSkills” component. Not only do these courses teach students about the law, but they also train students how to practice law in that subject area. For example, our course in Civil Procedure includes skills training in drafting pleadings and engaging in discovery (depositions, interrogatories, etc.). Similarly, tax courses teach students what tax lawyers actually do for their clients.

>> LEARN MORE: REGENT.EDU/ILT

M AKING AN IMPACT

BY THE

local, national, and international presentations at law schools including Harvard Law School, local Bar associations, CLEs, various symposia and conferences in U.S, Israel, and Ukraine. prestigious appointments at the local, state, national, and international levels. articles in publications including the Berkley Journal of Criminal Law, Columbia Human Rights Law Review, Quinnipiac Law Review, Oklahoma City University Law Review, Capital Law Review, Michigan State International Law Review. books and book chapters including Professor Louis Hensler’s Torts: Cases, Materials, Questions and Comments, John Brown Professor of Family Law Lynne Marie Kohm’s Wardle, Strasser, and Kohm’s Family Law From Multiple Perspectives: Cases and Commentary, and Professor Michael Hernandez’s Unlocking Estates in Land and Future Interests.

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SCHOLARSHIP Advances Christian Legal Thought and Action

In the Media Law faculty have been featured in publications and outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal This Morning, U.S. News & World Report, Christianity Today, National Law Journal, National Legal Times, ABA Journal, The Virginian-Pilot, The Andy Caldwell Show, The Randy Tobler Show, The Tony Macrini Show, Moody Radio Network, and local NPR affiliates. NBC gave a prime-time nod to PROFESSOR JAMES DUANE’s hit YouTube lecture “Don’t Talk to the Police.” In “Conventions,” a February 26, 2014 episode of the NBC drama “Chicago P.D.”, a criminal suspect requests to remain silent under protection of the Fifth Amendment and in so doing references Duane’s popular lecture. As the lecture stays in vogue, schools and criminal defense organizations continue to reach out to Professor Duane. So far, Duane has accepted more than one dozen invitations to speak on the Fifth Amendment. PROFESSOR LYNNE MARIE KOHM was quoted in a Christianity Today article, “Should Christian Colleges Encourage Students to Marry Each Other?” Kohm argued that while forming marriages is not the mission of Christian schools, Christian educational institutions can be tools God uses to connect believers.

nod on primetime T.V., Regent Law’s faculty continues to impact the legal profession with Christian legal thought and action. This 2013-2014 year-in-review snapshot highlights how our faculty continue to enhance the value of a Regent Law degree for both current students and alumni.

In the Legislature PROFESSOR TESSA DYSART’s article, “The Protected Innocence Initiative: Building Protective State Law Regimes for America’s Sex-Trafficked Children,” published in the Columbia Human Rights Law Review, was acknowledged by the New York legislature for its contributions to the fight to end human trafficking. As a result of amicus work done by a group of Child Advocacy Practicum and Center for Global Justice students on the protection of children and parental rights in L.F. v. Breit, the Virginia Code has been amended to state: “A parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parent’s child.” The U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on Oversight and Government Reform cited PROFESSOR JAMES DUANE’s public statements on whether International Revenue Service official Lois Lerner had waived her Fifth Amendment rights when she appeared before that committee. PROFESSOR DAVID WAGNER’s 2007 article, “The End of Virtual Constitutionalism,” was cited in an opinion of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Commonwealth v. Williams, on January 21, 2014.

In Legal Education Reform The Center for Ethical Formation and Legal Education Reform and Academic Success programs continue to advance related scholarship. PROFESSORS NATT GANTT and BENJAMIN MADISON, co-directors of Center for Ethical Formation, completed a chapter based on professional identity formation for the latest edition of “Best Practices for Legal Education” published by the Clinical Legal Education Association. Gantt and PROFESSOR GLORIA WHITTICO, directors of the Academic Success program, will have their article “The Role of ASP in Developing Students’ Professional Identity” appear in The Learning Curve, a website published by Pearsons devoted to positively influencing education policy at local, regional, and national levels.

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NUMBERS

FACULTY

Whether through scholarly publications, national presentations, prestigious appointments, or even a

Law faculty nationwide gauge their academic impact based on their articles’ rankings on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN). Regent’s faculty has had considerable SSRN success. PROFESSOR KENNETH CHING’s essay, “Beauty and Ugliness in Offer and Acceptance,” made it onto five SSRN top 10 lists. Rankings are based on the number of times the article was downloaded. Professors Kohm, Pryor, and Dysart also made top 10 lists.

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MAKING AN IMPACT

has been exploring the Missouri State Archives’ physical records of the “freedom suits” documenting slaves who fought for their freedom in the Missouri courts. Her article “‘If Past is Prologue’: Toward the Development of a New ‘Freedom Suit’ for the Remediation of Foster Care Disproportionalities Among African-American Children,” published by Capital Law Review, investigates how the freedom suits provide insight into the high number of black children in the present foster care system. In the fall The University of Cincinnati College of Law Freedom Journal will publish “A Woman’s Pride and a Mother’s Love: The Missouri Freedom Suits and the Lengths and Limits of Justice.” Professor Whittico gained a deeper understanding of the authority of the rule of law as she studied the freedom suits. >>

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PROFESSOR GLORIA WHITTICO

MAKING AN IMPACT

Princeton Review Ranks Regent Law Professors Among Top 10 in Nation The Princeton Review recently recognized Regent University School of Law’s faculty as among the top 10 in the nation. “This recognition embodies the faculty and staff’s desire to go beyond legal theory and provide a comprehensive and practical legal education that encompasses how students are ethically formed as lawyers and leaders in their respective communities,” said Darius Davenport, Director of Career and Alumni Services. The 2013 survey placed Regent Law professors among a select group of law schools including Duke, Stanford, Washington and Lee, and the University of Virginia. The Princeton Review surveyed more than 18,500 students at 169 law schools, in addition to collecting data from school administrators, to create school profiles and ranking lists in 11 categories. >>

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Prestigious Appointments Regent Law faculty members currently hold 52 appointments at the local, state, national, and international levels, allowing them to expand their impact across the globe. This year, they received six new appointments.

PROFESSOR JAMES M. BOLAND

was appointed to a Virginia State Bar Task Force chaired by Justice Elizabeth Lacey of the Virginia Supreme Court to examine how to improve Virginia attorneys’ legal writing.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JAMES A. DAVIDS, at the request of U.S.

Senator Charles Grassley, will serve as a member of a Panel of Legal Experts on the Commission

on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations. PROFESSOR ERIC DEGROFF was honored with three appointments. In 2013, he was named the managing editor of the Chemical Waste Litigation Reporter and was appointed to the Virginia Waste Management Board. In 2014, Professor DeGroff was elected as secretary the Board of Governors of the Virginia State Bar’s Environmental Section.

PROFESSOR

Forward LET’S MOVE REGENT LAW

JAMES

DUANE

accepted an invitation to serve as a faculty associate at Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society for the 2013-14 academic year. >>

Online Alumni Community REGENTALUMNI.ORG is

your one-stop-shop to connect with fellow law alums, network through our career center, and keep up to date on alumni community news and events. Be sure to visit the site and keep your profile up to date!

$2,000 Referral Scholarship

Hiring Connections

Do you have a family member, friend, or coworker who would be interested in our M.A., J.D., or LL.M. programs? Did you know that you can refer such individuals to us and, if they are admitted, they will automatically receive a $2,000 award to offset the cost of tuition? Visit REGENT.EDU/ LAWREFERRAL to make a quick referral today. It’s an easy way for you to help someone in your circle achieve a legal education.

According to NALP, 83% of the Class of 2013 was employed within 9 months of graduation, with 82% of those jobs requiring the J.D. Help us push these numbers even higher! We encourage you to consider Regent Law alums when you are hiring or when you are in a position to recommend someone for a position. We are happy to refer outstanding students and alumni to you for your hiring needs. Contact us at lawcareerservices@regent.edu.

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ACLJ and Regent Alumni Work to Free Persecuted Iranian Pastor Jordan Sekulow, J.D. ‘09, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), represents Saeed Abedini, an American Christian pastor who is currently serving an eight-year sentence in Iran. Abedini was first detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in July 2012 when he traveled to Tehran to select board members for an orphanage he planned to establish and was later placed on house arrest. In September 2012, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard took Abedini from his parents’ home and relocated him to the Evin Prison. He is now in the Rajai Shahr prison. Abedini’s wife and two young children live in Idaho. Sekulow frequently appears on Fox News and other major news organizations, covering the newest details on Abedini’s imprisonment. He also posts frequent updates on Abedini’s situation on the ACLJ’s blog. Currently, the White House and Secretary of State John Kerry have petitioned for Abedini’s release. ACLJ attorneys argued Abedini’s case before the United Nations, but there has been little cooperation from Iran to release Abedini, although the ACLJ hopes Iran will release Abedini on the basis of clemency. The ACLJ has established a “Petition of Clemency for Pastor Saeed.” As of June 2014, nearly 290,000 people signed the petition. Visit beheardproject. com/saeed to learn how you can support Pastor Abedini. >>

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CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS JACK MANHIRE (’97) is chief of the Legal Analysis Branch at the International Revenue Service Office of Professional Responsibility in Washington, D.C. SONIA MORRIS (’99) published a book titled “Light to Pierce Your Dark Night: When Position Fails to Reflect True Purpose.” The book is about people who are hearers and doers of the word. BEN DUPRE (’01) was elected chief of

staff for Chief Justice Roy S. Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court. Chief Justice Moore describes Mr. DuPre as “a man of demonstrated honor and integrity who is highly qualified in the profession of law.”

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Freeing Churches to Work

NOEL STERETT, J.D. (‘06)

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Noel Sterett, J.D. ‘06, a partner with Mauck & Baker, LLC in Chicago, Ill., works to protect religious freedom in the United States. He recently represented two Wisconsin churches, Harvest Covenant Church and River Hills Community Church, in two separate cases involving local permit regulations and zoning codes prohibiting the churches from using public buildings for church services. In a third case Sterrett was hired to represent TLC pregnancy services, a mobile pro-life crisis pregnancy center, when local government attempted to shut it down. Sterett and John Mauck, also a partner at the firm, litigated and won each case. TLC continues to serve pregnant women in Elgin, Ill. Harvest Covenant Church, which was prohibited from using its childcare center for church services by the city of Milwaukee, now holds services in the center. River Hills Community Church worships in the former bank it purchased after it was initially prohibited from establishing itself in the local business park. “These cases are testimonies to their communities,” says Sterett. “The church needs to stand up for and enjoy the rights that we have that Christians in other countries do not. That’s where Mauck & Baker’s litigation comes in: we advocate for religious liberty at the local level.” >>

recognized by Heart & Soul magazine for her work as a sports agent and her role as the CEO of Atlanta’s Icon Management, Inc., an organization that represents individuals in the sport and entertainment industries.

ALAN BROOME (’04) began his own

RICHARD GRIFFITH (’06) is the director of global legal solutions at UnitedLex Corporation in Richmond, Va.

JULIE WARREN (’04) joined Huddleston Bolen LLP. Ms. Warren practices in the litigation department of the firm’s Huntington, W.Va., office.

JOSIAH CORRIGAN (’07) is a managing partner of Morris and Corrigan, PLLC in Kinston, N.C. The firm handles nursing home abuse and neglect, as well as complex medical malpractice issues.

practice, The Law Office of Alan W. Broome, in Virginia Beach, Va.

TAMEEKA WILLIAMS (’04) received the 2014 Walter E. Hoffman Community Service Award from the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association.

TIMOTHY CREED (’08) currently serves

RYAN WOMACK (’11) is an associate

MONIQUE MILES (’08) is the founding principal of Old Towne Associates, P.C., in Alexandria, Va. Ms. Miles focuses her practice primarily in the areas of employment, labor, and non-profit law, as well as general civil litigation in the state and federal courts of Virginia and Washington, D.C.

attorney for the Commercial Litigation Department at Jennings Strouss Attorneys at Law in Phoenix, Arizona.

JUSTIN BUSH (’05) co-founded Bush & Taylor, P.C., in Suffolk, Va., with Fred Taylor. The firm represents individuals, families, and corporations in the areas of domestic, criminal, and civil litigation, as well as personal injury. Mr. Bush was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Virginia Super Lawyers Magazine in 2009. MATTHEW WILKINS (’05) was honored

The Honorable MARY WELLS (’02) was elected District Court Judge for the 11th Judicial District in North Carolina.

JASON E. HAVENS (’03) was elected

as the president of the Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc. The Estate Law Specialist Board is an organization accredited by the American Bar Association and affiliated with the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils.

STEPHEN ROGERS (’03) was promoted to senior counsel at Frank’s International NV. Franks International was recently listed on the New York Stock Exchange as FI.

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as a “2013 Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star” in the areas of business disputes and litigation. The award identifies the best attorneys who are under 40. Each year, the honor is limited to no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in an attorney’s state. Wilkins is a partner at King & Yaklin, LLP in downtown Marietta, Ga.

as staff counsel at GEICO in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

KATHLEEN MAGEE ARNOLD (’09) now

serves as the assistant district attorney at the Hays County Attorney District Office in San Antonio, Texas.

AMY HOLLAND (’09) joined The Law Office of Cynthia T. Griffin, LLC in Norfolk, Va. KATHRYN PRICE (’09) accepted a

position at USA Cycling as their staff attorney. She serves as in-house counsel to the national governing body for the sport of cycling and its various disciplines (road, mountain, track, cyclo-cross, BMX, and para-cycling).

LIZA GALINDO (’06) launched her law

firm in February 2011, and in 2013, she invested in a faith-focused business logo that identifies the areas of law and ethics she practices. “After much debate, I incorporated my religious beliefs in the logo,” she says. “I see it as a daily reminder that even though I operate a business, my faith takes priority.”

CHARLES SLEMP (’09) serves as commissioner of accounts for Wise County and the City of Norton in Virginia. Mr. Slemp is also general receiver for the Circuit Court for Wise County and the City of Norton.

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JEREMY SPITZER (’09) accepted a

position as an associate attorney at Ericksen, Poell & Carpenter in Waukegan, Ill.

MICHAEL CASARETTO (’10) served as

local counsel on the legal team of the Texas Center for the Defense of Life in Austin, Texas, a nonprofit legal organization that has participated in several nationally-recognized, pro-life cases.

SAUNDRA MCDOWELL (’10) and JONATHAN MCDOWELL (’10) were

named “Rising Stars” by Kansas/ Missouri Super Lawyers Magazine in 2013. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the attorneys in the state receive this honor.

LEE STRINGHAM (’10) joined West Texas National Bank in Midland, Texas as a commercial lender. AMBER (ZEBLEY) WOODLAND (’10)

opened a firm with Ms. Michele Procino-Wells named Procino-Wells & Woodland, LLC.

ANNA ERNEST (’13) joined The Law

CHELSEA SCHLITTENHART (’14) received a judicial clerkship with the Honorable John C. Gemmill of the Arizona Court of Appeals in Phoenix.

GORDON FRASER (’13) launched Fraser Law, PLC in Norfolk, Va. Mr. Fraser concentrates his practice in the areas of civil litigation, criminal law, traffic law, and family law.

JOSHUA SMITH ( ’14) received a judicial

Office of Cynthia T. Griffin, LLC in Norfolk, Va.

ANDREW CZIOK (’14) received a judicial clerkship with the Department of Justice Honor’s Program at the Executive Office of Immigration Review’s Office of the Chief Immigration Judge in Denver, Colo. KEVIN HOFFMAN (’14) received a

judicial clerkship with the Honorable Henry Coke Morgan, Jr., of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Norfolk.

SHARON KERK (’14) received a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Lawrence R. Leonard of the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia in Norfolk. AMBER KNIPE (’14) received a judicial

BRITTNY HARRIS (’11) is an attorney at Pentiuk, Couvreur & Kobiljak P.C., in the Greater Detroit area. Ms. Harris performs legal research and drafts memorandum on municipal law, labor and employment law, constitutional rights, business law, landlord/tenant law, and contract law.

RUTH MARON (’12) accepted a position as an associate attorney with Forman Perry Watkins Krutz & Tardy LLP in Jackson, Miss.

clerkship with the Honorable Michele A. Varricchio of the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas in Allentown, Pa.

NICHOLAS LEE (’14) received a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Robert J. Conrad of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina in Charlotte. MATTHEW ROBERSON (’14) was awarded a judicial clerkship with the Honorable

PAUL A. ROETMAN (’99) of the Second

HEATHER MOORE (’12) joined the

Johnny Gardner Law Group, P.A., in Conway, S.C., as an attorney.

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Judicial District for the Superior Court of Kotzebue in Kotzebue, Alaska.

clerkship with the Honorable John Devine of the Supreme Court of Texas in Austin.

WEDDINGS RACHEL BAUER (’13) and ANASTASIOS KAMOUTSAS (’13) were married on April 12, 2014.

ALEXIS FENELL (’13) married JOSHUA COSTELLO (’14) on September 27, 2013.

2013-14 GRADUATES Alfred Jonathan Gandionco Acha Carl Ernest Avery, Jr. Ayodeji Babalola Jacob James Balderson Zachary Tyler Battles Daniel Kenton Bendele Leah Jayne Bendele Corie Lynn Bosley Dustin Matthew Brooks Jennifer Marie Brown Sarah Alayne Bumps Tracy Leigh Burnette Kyle Brandon Carter Roger Stephen Chance Timothy Chiasson Anthony Joseph Comento Joshua Seth Costello Scott Griffith Cowgill Thomas W. Croessmann Andrew Joseph Cziok Patrick William Daley Angela Lyn Desmond Rebekah Heather Deuel-Jones Sarah Faith Drury Sloan Denning Eisenring *David Engelhardt Darron Jacob Enns Allison Murray Fick Emerald Leigh Frierson Daria Meghan Frost Danielle Sierra Gallaher Jonathan David Glendon Gammon Davis Alexandra Garcia Donald Ross Gayle Philip Fernandez Germann Elise R. Girani Dalton Lewis Glass Max Anthony Gonano Benjamin N. Goodrich Michael Vincent Gramling Steven Marshall Griffin, Jr.

Macey Dawson Gurley Matthew Richard Puchferran Meredith Gray Haggard Vijai Kumar Rahaman Grayson Cade Hales Todd Hennen Ranson Thomas F. Harding Ryan Ramon Reyes Zachary Z. Hardister Danielle Bethany Ridgely Amanda J. Hawkins Neville Rush Ridgely III Kelsi Taylor Herbert David Michael Rief Sean Michael Hobbs Matthew David Roberson Beau A. Hoffman Aaron B. Rodebeck Kevin A. Hoffman Katelyn J. Rodebeck Zachary Peter Hoffman Stephanie Hartman Rojo Caroline Hoffman Garfink Janzen Kahryn Alyse Rombach Paul Robert Armstrong Janzen Shannon Ashley Sadler Candace Michele Johnson Bailey Morgan Schiermeyer Nick Johnson Chelsea I. Schlittenhart Jennifer Danae Jones Daniel Eric-Raymond Seitz Jessica Lee Jones Aaron Christian Seymour Sharon Marie Kerk Raymond Joseph Shalhoub III Min Shik Kim James Earl Shores Amber Lynn Knipe Abigail Krysten Skeans Timothy Paul Koller, Jr. Jeremy Michael Smith Jacqueline Suzanne Lage Joshua Steven Smith Nicholas Hayes Lee Martha Jane Smith Rebecca Ligon Ashley Renee Stafford Cherie Lowry Jared Benjamin Stafford Holly G. MacDonald Andrew Ian Stevener James Joseph Maguire Ethan T. Stowell Steven Manabat Kevin Lewis Swan Meredith Anne Martin Christine Nicole Thomsen Joseph Daniel Maughon Courtney Erica Turner Erik William McCauley Nicole Tutrani Sara Ann Meadows Rebecca Diane Knight Vermette Jonathan Moffitt Jarod Mitchell David Wachtel Michael B. Morris Amanda Michelle Wallace Kristy Lee Mutchler William Andrew Webb II Lisa Nguyen David Ray Whitfield Susan Elizabeth Niccolls Zachary Steven Whiting Elizabeth Ann Oklevitch Brandon Lee Wilder Holly Erin Ortiz Leslie Ann Williams Heather Michelle Pate Jennifer Bradner Worden Matthew Todd Poorman Brittany Marie Wrigley

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Norfolk, VA Permit 91

1000 Regent University Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23464-9800

Regent University School of Law is honored to host The Honorable

Antonin Scalia Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

and The Honorable

Henry E. Hudson United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia

for a special evening at the Founders Inn.

Tuesday, September 16 We would be delighted if you would join us. RSVP today at regent.edu/justicescalia

6:30 to 8:30pm