Regent Law News

On Friday, August 21, 110 Regent University School of Law students, faculty and alumni joined forces to serve the Hampton Roads area through community service projects. Participants volunteered at six different sites—Union Mission, Habitat for Humanity (Norfolk and Virginia Beach), Norfolk Law Library, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia—completing approximately 550 hours of community service in just one day. "The overall response to Regent Law's Community Service event was astounding," said Val Johnson, a Regent Law student career services staff member. "It's exciting to know that so many students and alumni are dedicated to meeting the needs of others." The purpose of the day was to increase outreach in the local community, as well as to bridge the gap between students and alumni and to become advocates of Regent's mission, which involves actively working towards change and impact on the world. Volunteers at the va

Law Professor David Velloney will be the keynote speaker at the 32nd Criminal Law Advocacy Course at the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia, on September 25, 2009. The Criminal Law Advocacy Course provides advanced individualized training to lawyers from all branches of the military. Throughout the course criminal prosecutors and defense attorneys participate in rigorous small-group practical exercises on essential litigation skills from opening statement through closing argument. Professor Velloney’s keynote address, entitled “The Top 10 Ways Case Preparation Improves Your Advocacy,” will culminate the two-week course and provide junior attorneys with insights from an experienced litigator, law professor, and former Army JAG.

Rising 3L Christina Hulett is contributing to the corporate ethics conversation. In her article “Corporations Are People Too: What Role Should Corporations Have in Fighting Bribery?”, Hulett explains the negative impact that corporate bribery has, especially on impoverished countries. “The article acknowledges that some corporations are trying to operate within an ethical framework, but they are losing business because not all corporations are held to the same standard—especially those outside the United States,” said Hulett. Her article first proposes an amendment to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a federal law that addresses the bribery of foreign officials. This amendment would provide a remedy for corporations that operate ethically but lose business to those that practice unethically. Second, it proposes a cause of action for corporations to bring charges against unethical businesses on behalf of the United States. Ave Maria Journal of International Law will publish H

Lynne Marie Kohm , John Brown McCarty Professor of Family Law, appeared on CBN News August 19 th to discuss issues that lie beneath the surface of proposed health care reform legislation. She addressed concerns surrounding a section of the proposed bill that would enable government officials to come into people’s homes for parenting skills training. On August 20 th , Kohm also commented for CBN News on the highly publicized case of Rifqa Bary, a teenage girl who converted from Islam to Christianity and fled from her Ohio home to a pastor’s home in Florida. A Florida court is deciding whether Bary can be emancipated or if she must return to her family in Ohio.

In his popular lecture “Don’t Talk to the Police!,” Professor James Duane gives viewers startling reasons why they should always exercise their 5th Amendment rights when questioned by government officials. Posted on YouTube.com in June of 2008, Duane’s lecture was quickly recognized by Google as a top-ten most watched video. YouTube currently reports that the two-part video has been viewed over 700,000 times since it was posted. Watch “Don’t Talk to the Police!”

The current issue of PreLaw Magazine, a quarterly publication of National Jurist, highlights Regent Law in an anchor story, Fostering Faith . Regent Law Dean Jeffrey Brauch was interviewed for the story and enjoys a prominent feature, along with a handful of Deans from other leading religiously-affiliated law schools. The story, found here , draws out the positive effect religious commitments have on law school life and academics.

John Huddleston, President of the Virginia State Bar, has created an inspiring project called The Big Picture. An online display of the unique lives of Virginia’s lawyers, the project aims to unite the state’s bar and stir members to service. “I believe it is important to recognize the time, effort, and energy of some of Virginia’s finest volunteers,” said Huddleston. “Lawyers remain integrally involved in their community. In essence, lawyers are part of the big picture.” Part of that “big picture” includes an essay on the concept of “calling” by Lynne Marie Kohm, John Brown McCarty Professor of Family Law at Regent. Kohm was approached by the Virginia bar to write an essay in keeping with its goal of showcasing the good works of Virginia’s lawyers. Kohm’s thought-provoking piece, which is a good read for anyone no matter their career path, can be found here . With a continued focus on diversity of thought, in the next year Huddleston hopes to “tell the story of some of Virginia’s fine

Regent Law Professor Kathleen McKee, Regent Law alumna and law firm proprietor Udoka Obi ‘07, and current Regent Law student Vivian Uwanaka were profiled in a recent Inside Business article exploring gender and race bias in the legal community. McKee is an associate professor and director of Regent’s Civil Litigation Clinic . Obi operates a general civil practice focusing on bankruptcy, family and immigration law and is assisted by current student Vivian Uwanaka . Read the article here .

Regent University School of Law Professor Kathleen McKee has been invited to present a specialized seminar on Clinical Legal Education at the English for Human Rights Conference in Galway, Ireland, August 7 – 21. According to McKee, clinical education is important because it ensures access to the courts for parties who might otherwise forgo their legal rights in the absence of legal representation. “This conference is important to me because it allows me to share with other clinicians what I’ve learned in setting up and directing the Regent University School of Law Civil Litigation Clinic,” McKee said. “For me, our clinical program is an opportunity to walk out my Christian values. This conference allows me to share that sense of purpose with lawyers from another culture that I might not otherwise have the opportunity to be in contact with.” McKee’s seminar roster is primarily composed of human rights attorneys from Iran. Learn more about Regent Law’s international programs here .

Professor Kathleen McKee’s commentary on child labor laws was featured in NBC’s iVillage coverage of “Jon and Kate Plus 8” and Nadya Suleman, who reportedly signed a deal for a reality show featuring her and her 14 children.  Read McKee’s commentary here .