Regent Law News

In the months before summer break, law students compete for the coveted judicial internships which provide them with the opportunity to fine-tune their writing and research skills, observe court cases, and make the connections that often lead to full-time employment. This summer, more than 40 Regent Law students enjoyed judicial internships nationwide, from Courts of Appeal in Arizona and Texas to the Supreme Court of Virginia. Regardless of where they served, Regent’s judicial interns agree that their experiences provided them with exceptional skills, training, and an opportunity to observe the judicial process first-hand. 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. Hoffman valued Judge Davis’ mentorship in particular. “Judge Davis took a special interest in ensuring that my summer was a positive experience and in ...

When Abigail Skeans started law school, she resolved not to pursue criminal or juvenile law. God, however, had other plans. In 2012, God brought her to Uganda to work with Children Justice Initiative (Sixty Feet) to help strengthen juvenile justice programs through legal advocacy and collaboration with government officials and international NGOs to implement case management programs and other reforms on behalf of children in East Africa. In her latest blog post about her experiences, Abigail reflects on her first days in Uganda and the unimaginable adventure she’s had over the past year. Abigail says that on July 8, 2012, her first day in Uganda, her heart changed. “To this day, I cannot accurately articulate the evolution that occurred in my heart during my first few hours with the nearly 200 children awaiting trial in such desperate circumstances,” she writes. “After that first experience, I have been adamantly devoted to working on their behalf.” Abigail has witnessed tran...

Alumnus M. Jos Capkovic '11 (Law) authored an article about privacy and big data that is headlining the autumn issue of the American Bar Association's quarterly INFORMATION SECURITY & PRIVACY NEWS .

"As lawyers and as people of faith, it's our job to serve," said Darius Davenport, director of Career & Alumni Services for Regent University School of Law. "There's no better way for students to begin their law school career than with some very basic service experiences." On Friday, August 16, 170 law students launched their legal careers by collectively completing 500 hours of community service throughout the Hampton Roads, Va., area. What originally began as a way for first-year students to connect with the community now involves participation from students in every stage of their scholastic careers. This year marked the largest participation from second and third-year law students. Students gathered early Friday morning to receive their various project locations. The service day took place at eight different community outreach programs, including the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, Habitat for Humanity, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and St. Mary...

This summer, Center for Global Justice Intern Heather Pate is in Uganda, studying at Uganda Christian University and serving Kyampisi Child Care Ministries (KCM), whose mission is to end child sacrifice in the country. At Uganda Christian University, she partnered with her colleague Faith, who will soon graduate from the university with her law degree. Currently, Heather is preparing for a symposium on child sacrifice that will be held next year and has gained a lot of experience through her field work. Recently, she learned that a case she worked on for a boy who was a victim of child sacrifice was dismissed. She and her colleagues are working to find out why and are seeking justice for him and his family. Heather says that one of the most impactful aspects of her experience in Uganda is that she knows the families and children who are victims of child sacrifice personally. “The people that I am helping are hurting so much, and standing beside them, I feel a minute piece of their...

Alumna Nicole Belote '04 has entered private practice after eight years with the City of Suffolk (Va.) Commonwealth's Attorney office, according to this article in the Suffolk News-Herald .

Alumnus Andrew Richmond '07 of Poole Mahoney PC has been promoted to shareholder with the law firm, according to this report in the Monday, Aug. 5, edition of Inside Business . 

This year, the Center for Global Justice’s 20 interns serve 19 organizations around the world. The organizations they support are as nearby as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Norfolk, Va., and as far away as the Women’s Hope Center in Seoul, South Korea. Their causes range from human trafficking to religious freedom. Regardless where the 2013 Center for Global Justice Interns serve, their work is united by a common goal: to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Read more about the Center for Global Justice Internships here , and read more about the interns’ experiences at the Center for Global Justice blog . Emily Arthur (1L) supports El Pozo de Vida, an organization in Mexico City Cortland Bobczynski (1L) serves the legal branch of CitizenLink, a Focus on the Family affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colo. Kyle Carter (2L) interns with Freedom Firm, an organization directed by Regent Law alumnus Evan Henck. Paul Davis (1L) interns with Justice Ventures Internation...

Farnaz Farkish ‘07, an attorney in the Civil Litigation Division Trial Section at the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, recently argued her first case before the Supreme Court of Virginia. Farkish represented the Virginia State Bar (VSB) on an appeal concerning the VSB’s disciplinary proceedings against a Prince George County prosecutor. An attorney disciplined by the VSB has the right to challenge the VSB Disciplinary Board’s decision, resulting in an appeal as of right before the Supreme Court of Virginia, which is where Farkish picked up the case. “It was eye opening to have to review the record because I did not litigate the case in the proceedings below—another attorney represented the Virginia State Bar before the District Committee and Disciplinary Board,” says Farkish. “I reviewed the appendix, which was over 500 pages and committed the proceedings below to memory.” Her opportunity to argue before the Supreme Court of Virginia is rare. In 2012, the Court granted 123 pet...

Scott Bergthold (‘97), Kristin Fecteau (‘98), Rebecca Hope (‘02), Norman Sabin (‘94) and Lanis Karnes (‘96) signed and filed a 20-page Joint Comment in opposition to the Supreme Court of Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility’s petition to amend Rule 8.4 of the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct. If passed, the amendment would have made discrimination based on sexual orientation a disciplinary offense and could have exposed Christian attorneys to professional discipline for practicing law in accordance with their religious beliefs. Based in part upon the Joint Comment, which was signed by 58 Tenn. attorneys, the Supreme Court of Tennessee rejected the amendment. 

Toussaint C. Romain (’07) successfully defended an anti-abortion pastor, missionary, and executive director of Operation Save America against charges that he stalked and intended to cause emotional distress to a Charlotte, N.C., abortionist. After a three-year legal battle, all charges were dismissed, and the abortionist’s insurer dropped him from coverage, leading to the end of the abortionist’s practice.

Regent University School of Law Professor James Duane has accepted an invitation to serve as a faculty associate at Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society for the 2013-14 academic year. Read the press release here . Duane will co-teach a course at Harvard Law School in the fall semester called “The American Jury,” and will assist in the creation of a website intended to communicate information to the American public about the theory and operation of the jury trial process. “I am excited to work with others who share my passion for using the Internet and other forms of mass media to reach beyond the severe limitations of traditional legal scholarship,” Professor Duane says. “I am looking forward to collaborating with some of the finest minds in legal education.” Founded in 1996, the Berkman Center is dedicated to better understanding and developing cyberspace. Its staff includes students, fellows, faculty, virtual architects, entrepreneurs and lawyers....