Regent Law News

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...