Regent Law News

Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the United States and in 2009 comprised almost 16% of the nation’s population. Yet, despite this presence, only 5.2% of the students admitted into law schools throughout the U.S. classify themselves as Hispanic. Regent is committed to building an academic community that is truly representative of the population at-large, and so Regent Law is proud to announce its newest student organization: the Hispanic Law Student Association (HLSA). HLSA’s mission is to “foster ethnic diversity and awareness within our law school community as well as to actively serve and maintain awareness of legal issues within the global Hispanic community.” 3L Melissa Bray is President of this fledgling organization. She attributes the low percentage of Hispanic law students across the country to “the unique cultural challenges that make academic success difficult for Hispanics.” She went on to explain that HLSA is not only important to the Regent Law

At last Thursday’s Law Chapel service Regent Law professor Michael Hernandez reminded listeners to rely on God’s wisdom and power, as opposed to their own knowledge, to fuel their calling. “I don’t want people to think that sitting in the classroom and filling your head with knowledge is equal to wisdom,” he said. According to Hernandez, the most knowledgeable person can lack wisdom, and the wisest person can lack knowledge. Professor Hernandez came to Regent Law excited to teach but unsure of what subject he preferred – so long as it was not property, a subject of which he had little knowledge. As God would have it, however, property was just the position that needed to be filled, so when asked if he would teach the course he humbly responded, “I am here to serve.” “When you’re in a position like that, you know what you don’t know,” he remarked about feeling ill-equipped to teach the subject. But God honored his willing spirit, and now, 19 years later, not only is he Regent Law

Professor David Velloney was quoted in this Thursday, Jan. 20, article in the Virginian-Pilot , discussing a recent shooting in Suffolk, Va. Professor James Duane was a guest on Nightside with Dan Rea / WBZ Newsradio Boston (syndicated to 38 states) to discuss his lecture titled “Don’t Talk to the Police” which became a viral sensation on YouTube.

The latest issue of the Regent University Law Review is at press. Topics addressed in this issue include the undercurrents of abortion in the Establishment Clause cases, California’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), federal preemption and global warming, and the implications of Melendez-Diaz on computerized evidence. Established in 1991, the Law Review is published by Regent University School of Law student editors and staff members, chosen on the basis of academic achievement and writing ability, under the guidance of the law faculty. Past contributors include United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Attorney General John Ashcroft and Charles Colson. The Regent University Law Review is published twice annually. To order your copy or subscribe, please visit www.regent.edu/lawreview .

“Those who risk little achieve little; those who risk the most achieve the most,” was the premise of Professor David Velloney ’s message delivered in Law Chapel this week. Velloney admonished Christians to be risk-takers, no matter our gifts, temperaments, or professional calling. Citing the story of Elijah’s encounter with Obadiah in I Kings 18:1-15, Velloney contrasted the lives of these two unique risk-takers for God. During a time of societal disintegration and a spiritual apostasy, God raised up Elijah, a rough-and-tumble mountain man, and Obadiah, a political leader in a strategic position, to serve His interests. They are examples for us as we face the challenge of living for God in a difficult environment. It was known of Elijah that the Lord was His God, despite his unruly, temperamental nature. Velloney asked what is it about your life that declares to those around you that the Lord is your God? If you feel inadequate in your boldness to stand for the Lord, consider Elija

Regent Law alumna Shantell Nashatka (‘03) was profiled in the Young Lawyers section of Virginia Business magazine’s list of 2010 Legal Elite , where Regent Law adjunct professor and alumnus Shawn Voyles (’98) was also recognized. Attorney-in-Residence Randy Singer was honored on the Civil Litigation portion of the list. Alumnus Nathan Olanson , J.D., CPA, LL.M. (’00) recently became partner of Rack & Olansen , a Virginia Beach law firm which specializes in estates and trusts, fiduciary services, elder law, taxation and charitable entities.

After a two month break for finals and the holiday season Regent Law’s student chaplain Jake Warner welcomed students, staff and faculty back to Law Chapel where Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Associate Professor Natt Gantt recently served as speaker. Gantt shared how an article he read over Christmas break challenged him to “think of [himself] as a brand” and ensure that his clothes served as an appropriate tool of marketing himself to the world. Although his (and the audience’s) initial reaction was to balk at the importance the article placed on one’s outward appearance as a means of manipulation, he began to consider how this could apply to him as a Christian. While displaying a number of photos of celebrities from Justin Bieber to Sarah Palin to Brett Favre onscreen he asked his audience to consider how they brand themselves. He concluded the slide show with the all too infamous blank Facebook profile picture. “That is you, in case you couldn’t figure it out,” he chu