Regent Law News

The international issue of human trafficking often seems too enormous to tackle, but at a summit hosted by Regent University's Center for Global Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law on Wednesday, Dec. 5, the issues were broken down to the city level, with real strategies for Hampton Roads to implement to combat human trafficking. The event was hosted in partnership with the Virginia Beach Justice Initiative and sponsored by the Protecting Children Foundation. "This is not a problem that can be solved by any one entity—it must be a joint effort of many organizations in the community," said Kurt Ormberg, national coordinator of the Innocence Lost National Initiative with the FBI and a panelist featured at the summit. "If we're not serving the people of our own community, I think we're missing out on a big part of what we're called to do," said Ashleigh Chapman, summit organizer and administrative director of Regent's Center for Global Ju

This fall Professor Eleanor Weston Brown spoke at the 13th Global Conference on Environmental Taxation hosted by The University of British Columbia Faculty of Law, the UBC National Centre for Business Law, and the UBC Centre for Law and the Environment in Vancouver, British Columbia. The conference focused on relationships between the environment and taxation, including the political, psychological, institutional and other barriers to the adoption of environmental taxation; emerging developments and new opportunities for the introduction of environmental taxation; and the potential for environmental taxation to induce technological innovation for the abatement of pollution. Professor Brown’s conference paper, “ Agricultural Reform and the U.S. 2012 Farm Bill: A Call for Conservation, Healthy Food and Transparency, ” addressed what Brown contends are missed opportunities for reform in agricultural subsidies within the proposed 2012 Farm Bill. Brown believes that access to heal

Kristi Wooten '99 (Law and Government) was the subject of this Friday, Dec. 7, profile from Inside Business . Wooten was selected by the Hampton Roads, Va., publication to receive one of its Women in Business Achievement Awards. Brett Thompson '01 (Law) was the subject of this recent article from theshopper.com discussing his work as an attorney and philanthropist.

James Duane, professor in the School of Law, was quoted in this Friday, Nov. 30, article from Inside Business discussing federal jury selection and what can be expected in jury selection for an upcoming bank trial. Click here to read the article.

Regent Law faculty stay busy with more than just teaching. As we approach the end of the fall 2012 semester, we would like to share highlights of how our faculty continue to contribute to the scholarly conversation at key conferences nationwide. Associate Dean Natt Gantt (top photo) , and Professor Ben Madison (bottom photo)  participated in Educating Tomorrow's Lawyers' (ETL) first annual conference, "The Development of Professional Identity in Legal Education: Rethinking Learning and Assessment," held September 27-29, 2012, in Denver, Co. ETL, a selective consortium of 24 law schools under the auspices of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS), sponsored the conference focused on developing expertise around the formation of professional identity in legal education. Regent Law was recently granted membership into the prestigious organization after being recognized for its pioneering work in helping Regent students develop the

Continuing a tradition of excellence among Regent University School of Law competition teams, the Moot Court Team recently won the Region IV competition of the National Moot Court Competition (NMCC) sponsored by the New York Bar Association. Held Nov. 16-17, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Va., the competition included 22 teams. Regent's team of third-year law students Paul Bailey, Andrew Kartchner, and Jessica Pak (shown, l to r) also won the award for the best brief. The NMCC is one of two moot court national championships. This year, 183 teams entered the competition, which encompasses 15 regions around the country. Other schools competing in Region IV included the University of West Virginia, University of Louisville, University of Richmond, the College of William & Mary, and Duke University. Only 30 teams across the country—Regent among them—will advance to the national competition Jan. 28-31 in New York City. "This is a ve

Thanks to its new accelerated degree programs, Regent University's School of Law is at the front of the pack when it comes to making a law degree more affordable. Beginning in June 2013, students can enroll in a two-year Accelerated Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program, shaving a year off of a traditional program. The financial burden associated with the traditional three-year option can be daunting for some. "We are seeking to provide students with options that help them manage the cost of law school," said Dean Jeffrey Brauch. "Students in the two-year program save time and living expenses. They also enter the job market a year earlier than they otherwise would." While the approach is untraditional (Regent is one of just a handful of law schools offering this option), Brauch believes it will be particularly appealing to older students looking to enhance or change their career. "The cost and time savings may be particularly attractive to applicants with

David Velloney, associate professor in the School of Law, was quoted this week in a number of national and international publications addressing the trial of U.S. Army Private Bradley Manning, an imprisoned soldier accused of leaking classified material in the WikiLeaks scandal. Professor Velloney's comments were included in articles distributed by Thomson Reuters News and Insight to a number of national and international outlets including the Ma'an News Agency , Yahoo! , and The Oregon Herald , The Orlando Sentinel , The Daily Press , the Oman Daily Observer and The U.S. Daily . Professor Velloney was also quoted in this Wednesday, Nov. 14, article from Discovery News discussing the legality and security of public officials having affairs.

Congratulations to the Regent University School of Law's Alternative Dispute Resolution Board (ADR) which won the 2012 American Bar Association (ABA) Regional Negotiation Competition on November 10-11, at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Third-year law students Hannah Carter and Chris Bell (pictured right)  placed first from a roster of 24 teams representing different universities. Read the full article here. An informational luncheon regarding the 2013 Israel Summer Law Program was held on Monday, November 12. Doug Bandow , a Senior Fellow at the CATO Institute spoke on the debt crisis and fiscal cliff that faces the United States at a Federalist Society meeting on Tuesday, November 13. Professor James Davids of Regent Law and the Robertson School of Government delivered this week’s Law Chapel message about better understanding our “calling.” Previous Law Chapel messages may be viewed here . Law students were able to participate in the Mock

The decision to attend law school is not one to be taken lightly. In an effort to serve local community members interested in legal education, Regent University School of Law recently hosted the Hampton Roads Minority Pre-Law Conference, held by the Young Lawyers Conference of the Virginia State Bar. With 88 students in attendance, the day featured first-hand accounts from attorneys, law students and law professors, all designed to expose college and high school students to law school and legal career opportunities. "The Virginia State Bar hosts the Minority Pre-Law Conference because we wish to expose students to all aspects of law school and educate them about opportunities in the legal profession with the goal of diversifying the legal profession," explained Edwin Wu, co-chair of the conference and adjunct professor at Norfolk State University. "With an ever-growing diverse population, the need for diversity in the legal profession has become even more important

Continuing a tradition of excellence in legal competition, Regent University School of Law's Alternative Dispute Resolution Board (ADR) won the 2012 American Bar Association (ABA) Regional Negotiation Competition Nov. 10-11, at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Regent Law's winning team will be among the teams competing at the ABA National Negotiation Competition in Dallas Feb. 8-9. Third-year law students Hannah Carter and Chris Bell placed first from a roster of 24 teams representing universities like Georgetown, American University, George Mason, George Washington University, University of Richmond, the University of Maryland, Washington & Lee, William & Mary and other law schools throughout Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. By winning the competition, Bell and Carter advance to the National Competition for the second time in two years. Last year they finished second in the nation behind the University of Minnesota.

Judge Rossie Alston from the Virginia Court of Appeals delivered this week’s Law Chapel message about learning how to “surrender.” Previous Law Chapel messages may be viewed here . Members of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) offered their insight to pre law students attending the Hampton Roads Minority Pre Law Conference on Saturday, November 3. The Regent University Chili Bowl Championship and Tailgate took place on Saturday, November 3. An informative meeting regarding the Uganda 2013 Summer program took place on Monday, November 5. If you were unable to attend the meeting please contact Professor Velloney at dvelloney@regent.edu . Students were able to learn about Pathfinder and Vault through a tutorial offered by Career Services on Monday, November 5. 1Ls participated in a Resume Blitz through Career Services on Monday, November 5. The Regent Law Moot Court Board  hosted the 2012 Regent Cup Competition on campus from Wednesday, November 7 through Friday, Nove

Congratulations to three Regent University School of Law alumni on their recent election success: Megan Revis Frederick  ('09) was elected Commonwealth Attorney in Culpeper, Va. Erika James  ('02) was elected as a District Judge for North Carolina District 8 Mary Howard Wells  ('02) was elected as a District Judge for North Carolina District 11. James and Wells are the 4th and 5th alumni to take the bench in 2012, bringing the total number of Regent Law alumni currently serving as judges to 24 and the number who have served all-time to 28. Over 40 Regent Law alumni have served as elected officials in the schools 26-year history.

Regent Law’s Moot Court Team of Anastasios Kamoutsas, Carmen Cabrero , and Samuel Moultrie advanced beyond teams from Harvard and Baylor among others to advance to the semifinal round at the 19th Annual Burton D. Wechsler Moot Court Competition . Congratulations! The 2013 Strasbourg Study Abroad Program registration is now open. Click here to register. The Law council of Graduate Students (COGS) held a law school town hall meeting on Tuesday, October 23. Students were able to voice their questions to various members of the Regent faculty and staff. Career services hosted the event “Social Media: Using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn in Your Job Search” on Tuesday, October 23. Congressman J. Randy Forbes , of the 4 th District of Virginia, delivered this week’s Law Chapel message about embracing religious liberties. Previous Law Chapel messages may be viewed here . The Moot Court Board hosted the Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. National Constitutional Law Moot Court Comp

Jeffrey Brauch , dean of Regent University Law School, appeared on CBN Newswatch on Friday, Oct. 12, to discuss Regent's decision to participate in a challenge to the HHS birth control mandate and whether the mandate can be overturned. The story was also picked up by blackchristiannews.com . This news was also reported by News Talk 1070 AM KNTH , faithandfamily.com , and religiontoday.com . Jonathan McDowell '10 (Law, Business & Leadership) has been named to the 2012 Super Lawyers Rising Stars list as one of the top up-and-coming attorneys in Missouri/Kansas for 2012 (link not available). 

The Law Review Symposium, Emerging Issues in Social Enterprise took place on Saturday, October 6. The Federalist Society hosted guest speaker, Brian Morris, a Federally Licensed Polygraph Instructor who spoke about the possibilities for incorporating polygraph tests in law practice. He also conducted a live polygraph demonstration on Monday, October 8. A special presentation of the Trial of Christ was held on Tuesday, October 9. University of St. Thomas Professor Mark Osler played the prosecuting attorney arguing that Jesus should be put to death. Jeanne Bishop , a Chicago public defender, played the defense attorney. The Council of Graduate Students (COGS) held a town hall meeting on Tuesday, October 9. Students were able to voice their questions to various members of the Regent faculty and staff. Dean Brauch hosted “Donut Day” on Wednesday, October 10 allowing students to get to know one another and share in fellowship over coffee and donuts. Read the Dean’s blo

In the wake of the recent financial crisis, interest in social enterprise has increased exponentially. Over the last four years, 18 states have passed statutes allowing the formation of various companies and corporations fitting under this category. While the population of these entities is growing, the existence of these business formations is hotly-debated within the corporate law community. Recognizing the timeliness of this issue, Regent University's Law Review chose social enterprise as the topic for its 2012 symposium. Held on Saturday, Oct. 6, the Law Review (housed in the School of Law) played host to students and attorneys interested in exploring the developing issues related to social enterprise entities. "The 2012 symposium was particularly valuable to law students and attorneys because its topic was unlike those that we've explored in past symposia, yet it was compatible with Regent's mission that the practice of law is a calling," explained thir

Members of the Regent community participated in the Stop Slavery Walk held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, September 29. Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. of the United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri delivered this week’s Law Chapel message about ­­­­open-mindedness, empathy, and altruism. Previous Law Chapel messages may be viewed here . The International Law Society (ILS) hosted guest speaker, Mr. Rio Guo an S.J.D. candidate at Harvard Law School, who spoke on Property Rights in China. The Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Society (IPELS) held an interest meeting on Monday, October 1. The International Justice Mission held its first meeting of the year on Thursday, October 4 to discuss the fight against human trafficking and rehabilitating those victimized by it, as well as opportunities for involvement. Career Services held a cover letter communications workshop on Thursday, October 4. See a list of upcoming events here . The Center for

Addressing the foundational leadership characteristics of every strong president, the Honorable Alberto Gonzales, who served as the 80th attorney general of the United States, compared the administrations of President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush before an audience at Regent University. Gonzales spoke to more than 300 guests at the Thursday, Sept. 27, Executive Leadership Series (ELS) luncheon. Held each month, ELS brings together businessmen and women in Hampton Roads to hear from business and leadership experts. Gonzales also spoke to more than 150 Regent University students from the School of Law, Robertson School of Government and College of Arts & Sciences before the luncheon. "Everyone in this room has a dream," Gonzalez began, explaining that one of the best ways Americans can exercise their pursuit of the American dream is by voting. "We all work and strive to realize that dream," he said

Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft welcomed students to his summer home for an ice cream social on Wednesday evening, September 26. Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales  addressed Regent Law students on Thursday, September 27. A Navy JAG informational luncheon was held on Monday, September 24. The Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA) held an informational meeting on Tuesday, September 25. Professor Hernandez of Regent Law delivered this week’s Law Chapel message about being radical in our Christian lives including prayer, thoughts, forgiveness, reconciliation, and victory. Previous Law Chapel messages may be viewed here . The Virginia Bar Association Law School Council (VBA) held an informational luncheon on Friday, September 28.

Faculty, staff, and students celebrated Constitution Day on Monday, September 17, with a panel discussion and luncheon. Panelists included Dr. James Davids, Robertson School of Government and School of Law; Professor Tessa Dysart,School of Law; Dr. Mitchell Land, Dean of School of Communication & the Arts; and Dr. Caleb Verbois from the College of Arts & Sciences. The Federalist Society hosted its first speaker of the year, Mr. John Crowley, Senior Vice President, Law and Regulatory Affairs for APM Terminals Americas Region, Inc. on Tuesday, September 18. He addressed the topic of legal barriers to economic growth. Pastor Jim Wood of First Presbyterian Church delivered this week’s Law Chapel message about living in the glory of God by worshiping through our work Thursday, September 20. Tapings of previous Law Chapel messages may be viewed here . Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) inducted 20 members into the professional fraternity Thursday evening. On Friday, September 21, Dr. P

It all started with a nudge from the Career Services Office in Regent University's School of Law. Third-year law students Anastasios Kamoutsas and Mary Hill discovered that the A21 Campaign, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to ending human trafficking around the globe, was hiring interns. One application process later, Kamoutsas was on his way to Greece and Hill found herself in Ukraine. Both internships were sponsored by the Center for Global Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law, housed in Regent's School of Law. As an intern in the A21 Campaign office in Greece, Kamoutsas worked primarily on the organization's yearly submission to the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. The TIP is a tool the U.S. State Department uses to represent a global look at the nature and scope of human trafficking and the range of government actions being taken to confront and eliminate it. Greece was a prime location to learn firsthand about the work being do

A summer legal internship evokes images of students hunched over legal tomes in a dusty law library. While there was certainly research and writing involved, for a group of Regent University School of Law students, the traditional summer internship has been redefined. Sponsored by the Center for Global Justice, Human Rights & the Rule of Law, second-year law students Heather Pate, Danielle Gallaher and Nicole Tutrani didn't travel to far-off locations; rather they stuck close to home, choosing to work with people and organizations fighting for human rights in the United States. Pate spent the summer as a policy intern for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) in Washington, D.C. Her primary responsibilities included scheduling meetings with Congressional staff, agencies and professionals with research or concerns about adoption care and policies. She also participated in meetings with various agencies, wrote and edited publications outlining research and