Regent Law News

Regent University launched its M.A. in Law program in the fall of 2014. A year later, Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson saw the need for a Wealth Management and Financial Planning Concentration and it was added to the program. Regent Law is happy to announce that the Wealth Management and Financial Planning program has been renewed for two years by the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board of Standards. The board commended the diversity in Regent’s program, calling it “an important area of emphasis for the CFP Board and the profession in general.” The M.A. in Law with a Wealth Management and Financial Planning Concentration currently consists of 30 credit hours and covers the 72 topics required for all CFP Board-registered programs. Graduates of Regent’s program are eligible to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination. This program was developed a bit more than 2 years ago when Dr. Robertson realized that as our population ages, there is an increased need for quality, principled leaders

Each quarter, Regent University’s Office of Academic Affairs honors faculty members with Faculty Excellence Awards. On November 7, Regent Law professor Lynn Marie Kohm was awarded the 2017 Faculty Excellence Award in the area of service. According to Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, executive vice president of Academic Affairs, Kohm “embodies the cheerful servant leader,” and claims that her most important service to LAW is her commitment to coordinating a student women’s discipleship group. “[Kohm] exemplifies servant leadership,” said Moreno-Riaño. “She works tirelessly to promote her school to external audiences … in her faculty development role, she passionately encourages faculty to develop their research and scholarship.” Congratulations to Professor Lynne Marie Kohm!

On November 7, the Public Interest Legal Advocates of Regent (PILAR), in partnership with Regent University School of Law Career and Alumni Services, hosted a panel titled, "Women in the Law." Panelists included Dannielle Hall-McIvor, Associate City Attorney for Virginia Beach City Attorney's Office; Jennifer Williams, Assistant Commonwealth Attorney from the Newport News Commonwealth Attorney's Office; Virginia Van Valkenburg, Assistant United States Attorney from the Eastern District of Virginia and Mr. Kevin Reep, Human Resources Manager for the US Attorney's office in Norfolk and proud father of Jessica Reep, a current 1L. The President and Vice President, Madeline Jones, and Leata Laidlow respectively, introduced the panel and moderated the questions. Regent Law students enjoyed lunch and a lively discussion about the unique aspects of being a woman in the legal profession, focusing on the female perspective and issues women encounter in the workplace and

On November 3, twelve of our Regent Law Honors Program students traveled to Richmond, VA, to visit the Supreme Court of Virginia.  They met with the Honorable Donald W. Lemons, Chief Justice, for a lively discussion.  After hearing oral arguments in two cases, State Law Librarian Gail Warren spoke with the students about the court, its work, and its history.  Some students also were able to speak with the Honorable D. Arthur Kelsey, Justice, joined by his clerk, Alexandra McPhee (Regent Law 2017 grad).  In the afternoon, students toured the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and discussed the operation and work of this court with Patricia S. Conner, the Clerk of Court.

During Fall Semester 2017, Regent University School of Law (LAW) students who earned the highest marks for their spring semester courses received what’s known and revered within the law community as a book award at the Ronald L. Fick Book Award Ceremony. And though the book award honoring academic achievement for law students is longstanding, the tradition at Regent began just a few years ago, when Ronald Fick, father of Allison Fick ’14 (LAW) and shareholder and attorney at Dunwody White & Landon, P.A. in Palm Beach, Florida, discovered that no such recognition for students existed in the school. “[Fick is] a great friend of the law school and the university; he’s been a supporter of the school for years…and he’s also been a great advisor to me,” said LAW dean Michael Hernandez. “Most important, he’s a committed believer who integrates his faith with his practice – and he embodies exactly what Regent Law is about.” Fick, who was present for the ceremony, offered his congra

On Friday, October 27, Virginia’s Board of Bar Examiners (VBBE) released the bar examination passage rates for Virginia law schools. Regent University School of Law (LAW) alumni who took the Virginia bar examination in July 2017 earned a 94.59 percent overall passage rate – the highest in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and more than 23 percent above the statewide average. “To finish first in the state like Virginia is an incredible accomplishment,” said LAW Dean Michael Hernandez. “I’m proud of our graduates, and I’m proud of our faculty that rallied around and supported our graduates. This is a validation of our program and I’m really thrilled with the results.” Regent LAW alumni who took the test ranked over other law schools in the state including University of Virginia (92.59 percent), George Mason University (79.37 percent), University of Richmond (79.37 percent) and Washington and Lee University (84.85 percent). Regent LAW’s bar passage in Virginia for first-time test take

On Saturday, October 21, Regent University School of Law was honored to host the 2017 Capital Area Legal Writing Conference.  The conference brings together legal writing and academic success professionals from across the Mid-Atlantic region, including several folks from as far away as Rutgers and Penn State. The conference included presentations on topics such using learning theory to help students prepare for a successful bar experience, teaching citation format in small, short lessons, and incorporating social justice in the first-year legal writing curriculum. Regent Law Professor Janis Kirkland hosted the group with the assistance of Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Kimberly Van Essendelft and Regent Law Library Director Marie Summerlin Hamm. Professors Kirkland and Hamm presented a session entitled "Where the Rubric Meets the Road: Measuring Legal Analysis, Research, & Writing Competencies Across the Curriculum." “This conference provided a great opportunity

The expansion of technology has undoubtedly impacted lives and vocations on a global scale. But how has it impacted the law? Regent University School of Law (LAW) students explored this question at the annual Regent University Law Review symposium titled “The Expansion of Technology in the 21st Century: How the Changes in Technology are Shaping the Law and the Legal Profession in America.” The event featured panel discussions including Shawn Tuma’s “How Cybersecurity is Impacting People’s Rights”; Josh Snavely’s “Security vs. Security: The Encryption Debate”; and Thomas Folsom’s “Code Like Magic.” Students had the opportunity to hear perspectives on “Current and possible future ethical issues with technology in the legal profession” from vantage points of an attorney (Kellam Parks), judge (Judge Kevin Smith) and law firm (Mark Baumgartner). “We have to adapt,” said the Honorable Robert J. Humphreys, who gave his keynote address “How Changes in Technology are Shaping the La

Congratulations to Regent Law alums John Legg (’08) and Ari Craig (‘09), two of only three recipients of Judge Advocate General (JAG) appointments to the National Security and U.S. Foreign Relations Law LL.M. program at George Washington. John (L) and Ari (R) after one of their classes at George Washington. John is a JAG in the Air Force and his follow-on assignment is to the Department of Law at the Air Force Academy to teach cadets. Ari,  a JAG in the Navy, will be assigned to an operational law billet in Washington, D.C. Selection by the armed services for this LL.M. Program is based on the applicant’s military record as an officer. We are very proud of them both!

Janet Ashcroft, wife of former United States Attorney General John Ashcroft, is a “renaissance woman”. “I am grateful for all the roles I have had in my life thus far,” Ashcroft told a group of female Regent University School of Law students at a Regent luncheon she hosted. Mrs. Ashcroft is a wife, mother, lawyer, published author, professor, water-skier and snow-skier, among other talents. At the lunch she shared how she balanced her professional career with her personal responsibilities, all the while supporting her husband and his political career. “We didn’t do a lot of planning, but the Lord really guided us through our victories as well as our losses,” said Ashcroft. Mrs. Ashcroft explained that her husband’s “life is a picture of him intending to do one thing and God pulling him in a different direction.” She also encouraged the women of Regent Law to keep their faith at the forefront throughout their careers. “Everyone encounters bumps in the road. You can’t con

Regent University School of Law was recently identified as one of PreLaw Magazine's 20 Most Innovative Law School s, defined as "...schools that are on the cutting edge when it comes to preparing students for the future." Pages 32-33 of the article reads, Through Regent Law's Integrated Lawyer Training, students participate in a number of opportunities designed to enhance their legal education through hands-on training and ethical formation.  Students learn workplace skills, such as basic accounting principles and technological competence with e-discovery, e-filing and other cutting edge law office technology. Third year students also have the opportunity to participate in a for-credit apprenticeship, where they work and study under an attorney while taking online coursework.  Regent Law was also ranked in the top 15 of law schools for human rights law and given an "A" rating. Click here to read  PreLaw Magazine 's Back to School 2017 issue &

Regent University School of Law and School of Business and Leadership alum Rebekah Woods will step into the position of president at Columbia Basin College this fall. She is the first female president of Columbia Basin College. Woods previously served as Lansing Community College’s dean of Student and Academic Support and Strategic Enrollment Management. She then took up the position of provost for Jackson College. She was received into Aspen Institute’s 2017-2018 Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. She said those looking to lead — whether in organizations, businesses, or higher education — should not only stay humble, life-long learners, but to “find a place that is a good fit for you where you can make a difference and [where] your natural leadership style is going to be effective.” “Remain true to yourself and who you are as a leader,” she said. “I don’t think anyone should ever feel that they have to change who they are in order to join an organiza

Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness and the right to due process: Regent University School of Law (LAW), Roberson School of Government (RSG) and College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) explored the Fifth Amendment promised to citizens in the United States Constitution on Monday, September 18. Each year, Regent celebrates the nationwide observance of “Constitution Day,” a day commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. To commemorate this year, LAW professor James Duane and Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell presented their perspectives on “Finding Common Ground for Criminal Justice: Exploring the Fifth Amendment.” Duane spelled out his perspective on the Fifth Amendment from his recently published book that explores cases in which innocent parties have self-incriminated in criminal cases due to a lack of proper “lawyering up” before talking to police. You Have the Right to Remain Innocent: What Police Officers Tell Their Children About t

Jason Rodriguez, Class of 2016 "Regent Law's outstanding courses and Moot Court Program enabled me to immediately and seamlessly transfer from student to criminal appellate practitioner. Immediately after passing the bar in 2016, I was hired as an Assistant Attorney General in Florida in the Criminal Appeals Division. Since then, I have briefed over 100 cases before the First District Court of Appeal, participated in two successful oral arguments, and provided supplemental research on a brief opposing certiorari in the United States Supreme Court. I have frequently received compliments from both colleagues and opposing counsel on the quality of my briefs and the fact that I am able to perform at such a high level with less than a year of experience outside of law school. My success is directly attributable the skills I learned in Regent's rigorous writing courses, like Advanced Legal Analysis Research and Writing and Appellate Advocacy, along with the practical feedb

Before their schedules are overruled with rigorous coursework and challenging lectures, Regent University School of Law students give back to the Hampton Roads Community. Alexander Angle, 2L, with his team at St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children. In mid-August, Regent Law’s Office of Career & Alumni Services hosted the 9th Annual Community Service Day. Some 140 participants including Regent Law students, faculty, deans, staff, alumni, and members of the James Kent Inn of Court and their families tackled tasks at Union Mission, the Southeast Virginia Foodbank, St. Mary’s Home for Disabled Children and the Bridge Christian Fellowship Church. Each year the effort is encouraged by Regent Law to remind students that law, in the name of Christ, is about having a servant’s heart: putting others first in a career teeming with a countering reputation. Ashna Desai, 2L, spent her time volunteering at the Union Mission. Her team unpacked donated winter clothes and prepared them f

The 20th Annual Judicial Internship Banquet was held at the Founders Inn on June 27 to honor local judges and judicial administrative staff who participate and support the Regent Law School Judicial Internship Summer Program. Courtney Knox Speaking The event was sponsored by the Regent University School of Law Office of Career and Alumni Services and led by Associate Dean of Law and Career Alumni Services Judge Patricia L. West (Ret.). Approximately 80 guests, which included current interns as well as judges and judicial administrative staff members from 15 courts, enjoyed a brief reception followed by dinner and remarks from rising 2L law student Courtney Know and Judge Robert H. Sandwich. To further celebrate the work of those who participate in the program, two awards were presented to outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond in their service to the program. “Having the privilege to spend our summers sitting with a judge and exploring the court system is such

At a time when headlines about Russia are increasingly common, a group of Regent University students decided to spend part of their summer studying and learning firsthand about the Eastern European nation. From May 18-26, the group of students from the Robertson School of Government (RSG), as well as the School of Law, participated in an Education First Study tour, designed to provide cultural insight and perspective to students. During their week-long trip, the group visited sites of ancient and modern significance, including: the Slavic Center for Law & Justice (SCLJ), The Kremlin, Red Square, and St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, as well as the European University of St. Petersburg, the Museum of Russian Politics, and a number of historic churches in St. Petersburg. For Linda Waits-Kamau (RSG ’16, Law ’17), one of the most impactful parts of the trip came during her stay in Moscow. “Our visit to the SCLJ in Moscow, a branch of the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ

Mary Myhre graduated from law school for a second time on May 7, 2016. A former Muslim, she endured severe persecution after becoming a Christian in northern Sudan. “After I converted, I basically lost everything because the government denied all my rights,” she explained. “So I’ve been outcast, and I don’t have anything to prove that I did study law and took the bar exam.” Myre’s situation grew even more desperate when her husband was murdered. She needed the help of missionaries from Texas to miraculously escape Sudan with her two children. After arriving in the States, she met a School of Law professor who, upon hearing Myhre’s story, encouraged her to consider Regent. So, she applied, was accepted and graduated from Regent Law. “My ultimate dream,” Myhre said, “is to take the bar, pass the bar, and work where I can help those who also are being persecuted for their faith.” Fast-forward one year, and Mary has just accepted a position as a South Carolina Juvenile Justice Mitigati

Typically, the month before graduation from law school, most students are thinking about final exams and graduation ceremonies while anticipating preparation for the bar exam – but not Regent University School of Law students Chelsea Mack and Natasha Delille. From April 15-23, these two third-year law students participated in – and won first place – at the Third Annual Ukrainian Student Summit held at the Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs. This year’s competition consisted of 22 teams from Ukraine, Poland, Romania and the United States. In keeping with the summit’s goal of proposing ideas for encouraging the development and sustainability of democracy, each team was tasked with creating a presentation addressing “The Challenge to Democracy in Increasing Globalization.” Mack and Delille’s presentation addressed the topic of judicial reform, outlining ideas for how Ukraine could develop and improve democracy in Ukraine. Their unique presentation featured video i

Kate Sawyer, Courtney Marasigan, Pam Dodge, and Professor Jeff Brauch Earlier this month, three Regent University School of Law (LAW) students made waves in the moot court competition arena as they made it to the top-16 round of the Price Media Moot Court Programme, an international moot court competition in Oxford, England. Pamela Dodge (’17), Courtney Marasigan (’17), and Kate Sawyer (’17) represented one of 44 teams that qualified for the international round of the competition, and the initial 92 teams that began the tournament in the regional rounds from around the world. Regent’s team was the only one from North America to earn their way into the international rounds after taking home the second-best brief in the Western Hemisphere in January 2017 at the Americas Region of the Price Media tournament in New York City. “[The team] did an outstanding job. They performed at the highest level and got increasingly stronger as the tournament went on,” said LAW professor Jeff

Judge Patricia L. West Regent University sits in a unique judicial hub all on its own: Many appellate judges have chambers in the area. And just up the road, Norfolk is home to the U.S. District Court for Eastern Virginia. But for Regent Law students wrapping up their legal education, the pathway to finding a judicial clerkship post-graduation goes far beyond location – the resources made available to students through LAW’s Career & Alumni Services sets the stage for 3L students seeking employment after graduation. Particularly those seeking to be set up for employment in the judiciary. "Our students are poised to secure competitive clerkships because of our professional support and counseling, our unique resources,  and our network of relationships with judges that we have solidified over the years,” said associate dean of Law Career & Alumni Services Judge Patricia L. West (Ret.) . “We have fostered strong relationships with judges in all areas of the judiciary

One of Regent University’s distinctive characteristics is the camaraderie that occurs among faculty, staff, and students in pursuit of scholarship and Christian community. On May 17, the University Library hosted their second biannual spotlight on faculty scholarship in the Library Gallery. Among these honored authors was Professor James Duane from the School of Law. Duane had the opportunity to share some highlights and stories from his book, You Have the Right to Remain Innocent, which was written and published following his classroom lecture, “Do Not Talk to the Police,” that went viral on YouTube, and now has over 2 million views. Duane was a humorous speaker, bringing laughter to the room, but he emphasized his purpose in writing and speaking about this book: “The Lord is not pleased with those who falsely accuse the innocent by ways of deceit, and I think light needs to be shed on this subject. Young and innocent people are getting falsely convicted and imprisoned more than

Prayer is a vital part of the Regent University community, and on Thursday, May 4, several Regent professors and alumni participated in a National Day of Prayer observance at City Hall in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Law (LAW) Patricia L. West was the coordinator for this annual event. Although West has participated in the ceremony previously, this year marked her first time in the role of coordinator, a position she looks forward to continuing in the future. Other Regent-connected participants included Dr. Joseph Umidi, executive vice president for student life, who served as master of ceremony; Dean Michael Hernandez (LAW), who offered remarks and prayed for the education system; former Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell ’89 (LAW and GOV), who prayed for local, state and national leaders; and Bishop B. Courtney McBath ’98 (DIV), pastor of Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, who prayed for houses of worship.

In May 2017, The International Jurist released its latest issue featuring the best LL.M. programs. Regent University’s School of Law (LAW) received an “A+” ranking in its “Best Value Law Schools” category. The issue honors “the most robust programs for foreign attorneys” in the areas of Academics, Best Law School, Experience, Career Opportunities and Best Value. Regent’s LL.M. programs were ranked above law schools such as UNC School of Law, Wake Forest University, Georgia State University and Ohio State University. “I’m very proud of the Regent faculty, because they worked very hard to achieve that goal,” said director of LL.M. programs and LAW associate professor Kathleen McKee. “It’s nice to be able to say to them, ‘I know you worked hard, but here are the fruits of your labor.’” The LL.M. programs – which include both American Legal Studies and Human Rights – are designed for students who have already received JDs and wish to pursue more concentrated areas of study. The

In May 2017, The International Jurist released its latest issue featuring the best LL.M. programs. Regent University’s School of Law (LAW) received an “A+” ranking in its “Best Value Law Schools” category. The issue honors “the most robust programs for foreign attorneys” in the areas of Academics, Best Law School, Experience, Career Opportunities and Best Value. Regent’s LL.M. programs were ranked above law schools such as UNC School of Law, Wake Forest University, Georgia State University and Ohio State University. “I’m very proud of the Regent faculty, because they worked very hard to achieve that goal,” said director of LL.M. programs and LAW associate professor Kathleen McKee. “It’s nice to be able to say to them, ‘I know you worked hard, but here are the fruits of your labor.’” The LL.M. programs – which include both American Legal Studies and Human Rights – are designed for students who have already received JDs and wish to pursue more concentrated areas of study. The

Regent University School of Law (LAW) alumnus Judge Ronald Salmons ’06 always knew he wanted to be a lawyer. What he didn’t know was when he went back to school as a 40-year-old law student, he’d be simultaneously raising his fifth-grade daughter to share the same passion. But as R. Salmons was taking the bench as Judge of the Family Court of West Virginia, 10th Circuit in Lincoln County and Boone County, West Virginia in early 2017, his daughter, Karrah Salmons ’19 (LAW), began pursuing her own legal career as a Master’s in Law student at Regent. Photo courtesy of Judge Ronald Salmons. “I told my dad back [when he was a law student] that I never wanted to be an attorney, I thought they were really stuck up,” she said. Salmons vaguely recalls her family’s move from West Virginia to Virginia Beach all those years ago. And when she returned to Regent to pursue her own degree, she recalled some of the friendly faces of her professors from when she’d visit classes with her fat

On Thursday, February 16, Regent Law students were honored at the bi-annual ceremony, which recognizes the students who receive top marks in their courses each semester. For the Fall Semester 2016 Book Award recipients, success isn’t derived from a stereotypical urge to be the best of the best. It comes from a place of humility, prayer and a “we’re all in this together” mentality. They do this while maintaining their academic excellence, learning from world-class professors and setting themselves up for their future careers. Here’s what they had to say: Noah DiPasquale, 3L – Business Structures and Agency Book Award Recipient “You hear stories about how competitive it is as different law schools, that was one of the things that originally drew me to Regent was seeing the atmosphere here,” said DiPasquale. “I noted the way that the students interact with each other was distinctly different than I would’ve expected.” His impression has held true through all thr