Regent Law News

Regent University School of Law student Nevin Beiler ’17 earned an honorable mention in the 2016 Religious Liberty Student Writing Competition, sponsored by the J. Reuben Clark Law Society and the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University. Photo courtesy of Nevin Beiler. Beiler’s paper, “Deciphering Title VII & Executive Order 13672: To What Extent Are Religious Organizations Free to Discriminate in Their Hiring Practices,” was recognized among winners from schools such as Harvard Law School, George Mason School of Law and University of Virginia School of Law. According to the 2016 J. Reuben Clark Law Society Writing Competition Committee, this year marked the largest number of participants in the competition’s seven years. Each paper was reviewed by a panel of nine judges – “legal practitioners and academics.” Beiler was in...

September 17 marks the nationwide observance of Constitution Day – a day that celebrates the signing of the all-American document at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Dr. Jim Davids. Regent University School of Law (LAW) students, faculty and staff commemorated the historic event on Friday, September 16, by gathering to hear lectures moderated by Associate Dean Natt Gantt. Regent LAW’s Federalist Society , a student group that focuses on the founding principles of the United States, sponsored the event. The celebration included two lectures from LAW associate professor, Dr. Jim Davids , and assistant professor Tessa Dysart . “The Constitution is an incredible document. In under 5,000 words it established three branches of government, separation of powers, and an ingenious system of checks and balances that has survived over 200 years,” said Dysart. “While it certainly had it flaws, our country has been able to rectify many of those through amendm...

Teaching has always been on the horizon for Regent University School of Law professor Caleb Griffin. Caleb Griffin. He joined LAW faculty Fall Semester 2016, after receiving a phone call from professor and associate dean, Natt Gantt, who was seeking interested candidates for the position. “I was at work one evening and he called and asked if I was interested in being a law professor, and I really was,” said Griffin. “I was literally called to work here.” Griffin came to Regent after graduating from Harvard Law School in 2014, and a stint of practicing corporate law at the firm of Vinson & Elkins, representing organizations such as banks and oil companies. “Practicing law is great, and I learned a lot, but I find it so rewarding to be able to work with students and examine deeper questions about the law," he said. His true passion lies in helping students conduct research and think about the “bigger issues” of law. He explained that those who practice law...

Regent University's School of Law Faculty members willingly share their knowledge and expertise beyond the classroom to spark scholarly debate and advance the practice of law. Their latest endeavors include the following. Associate Professor Jim Davids ’ article "Religious Colleges' Employment Rights Under the 'Ministerial Exception' and When Disciplining an Employee for Sexually Related Conduct" was solicited, offered, and accepted by the Texas Journal of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights for publication.  Associate Professor Jim Davids and Assistant Professor Tessa Dysart , moderated by Associate Dean Natt Gantt , spoke at Constitution Day today, sponsored by the Regent Law Chapter of the Federalist Society. Associate Professor Brad Jacob’s Federalist Society talks coming up this fall include: Oct. 26 – University of Chicago Law School – The Unintended Consequences of the 17th Amendment Oct. 27 – Chicago-Kent Law School – Religious Liberty in the “...

As an employer, when Ronald L. Fick, shareholder and attorney at Dunwody White & Landon, P.A., leafs through a stack of résumés for potential new hires, candidates who’ve won several book awards go straight to the top. Ronald L. Fick He shared this insight with Regent University School of Law (LAW) students, faculty and staff at the Ronald L. Fick Book Award Ceremony on Thursday, September 1, sponsored in part by Virginia Beach law firm, Pender & Coward, P.C. Each semester, the Ronald L. Fick Book Award Ceremony honors LAW students who’ve received the highest marks in their classes. This tradition began shortly after Fick learned his daughter, Allison Fick '14, had received the highest mark in one of her classes – but learned Regent didn’t hold book award ceremonies. “This is something that all top law schools need to do,” said Fick, as he explained how his sponsorship of the ceremony began. “I know that all of you work very hard over the course of a se...

As an employer, when Ronald L. Fick, shareholder and attorney at Dunwody White & Landon, P.A., leafs through a stack of résumés for potential new hires, candidates who’ve won several book awards go straight to the top. He shared this insight with Regent University School of Law (LAW) students, faculty and staff at the Ronald L. Fick Book Award Ceremony on Thursday, September 1, sponsored in part by Virginia Beach law firm, Pender & Coward, P.C. Each semester, the Ronald L. Fick Book Award Ceremony honors LAW students who’ve received the highest marks in their classes. This tradition began shortly after Fick learned his daughter, Allison Fick '14, had received the highest mark in one of her classes – but learned Regent didn’t hold book award ceremonies. “This is something that all top law schools need to do,” said Fick, as he explained how his sponsorship of the ceremony began. “I know that all of you work very hard over the course of a semester, and I hope each of you will ...

Regent University's School of Law Faculty members willingly share their knowledge and expertise beyond the classroom to spark scholarly debate and advance the practice of law. They have been busy this past summer. Here’s a brief update on some of their scholarly activities. Associate Professor Gloria Whittico was part of a panel in May with the National Consortium on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in Courts .   She also presented her freedom suits talk at the National Underground Railroad conference held in Hilton Head, SC.  Her work was very well-received.  That talk was largely derived from her work at "' A Woman's Pride and a Mother's Love' the Missouri Freedom Suits and the Lengths and Limits of Justice" and "' If Past Is Prologue': Toward the Development of a New 'Freedom Suit' for the Remediation of Foster Care Disproportionalities Among African-American Children ." Associate Professor Whittico also traveled to Drake Law...