Regent Law News

It's a combination of fire and spirit of cooperation among lawyers that allows a successful distribution of food to the community, according to Virginia Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell. In a recent award ceremony for the First Annual Statewide Legal Food Frenzy, McDonnell awarded Regent University Law School representatives with the mini Attorney General's cup for collecting the most total pounds and most per capita of food for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia (FSEVA).The school's achievement resulted in 4,231 pounds of food. The award ceremony, held at FSEVA, celebrated the success of over 169 competing law firms, organizations and law school teams that raised 678,686 pounds of food, exceeding the goal of 500,000 pounds. McDonnell, a Regent Law School alumnus, said lawyers are a great facet for community service: "Combine [their] generosity with competition and you have the first Attorney General's Cup Awards," he said. Dean Jeffery Brauch of Regent...

It is a significant achievement to have a scholarly article published during a person’s three years as a law student. Not only has Regent 3L Leo Lestino published two articles during his tenure as a law student, but he also has won a nationwide writing contest in the process. When asked about his recent writing success, Lestino said, “It’s been such a blessing and a great experience.” One of Lestino’s articles titled, “A Mutated Standard of Review: the Not-So-Strict Deferential Scrutiny in Grutter v. Bollinger and Extending its Flawed Application to K-12 Schools,” won first place in the Pacific Legal Foundation’s 2008 Program for Judicial Awareness Writing Competition. The article discusses the standard of review for race-based admissions that the Supreme Court used in deciding Grutter v. Bollinger and its extension to the K-12 context. Lestino addresses the error in the Grutter standard and why deferential scrutiny should not be allowed in university admissions or student assignment i...

Students from Regent School of Law who are in Strasbourg, France for a unique human rights program sponsored by the Law School were recently invited to observe the oral arguments in a high profile terrorism case. The invitation was issued by the President of the European Court of Human Rights (the equivalent of the Chief Justice), which is headquartered in Strasbourg. Strasbourg is also the home of the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), a public interest law firm dedicated to the protection of religious freedom and human rights. According to Jeffrey Brauch, dean of Regent School of Law, European Parliament members from Ireland, Romania, Netherlands and Finland and the former Justice Minister of Slovakia also visited the students. "Our students are not only learning about human rights law and European law," Brauch says, "but they are experiencing it." The Strasbourg program concludes on August 5.

Jason Swango '06 (Law) and Jim Breckinridge '05 (Law) are helping to answer the question asked by attorneys just out of law school: How can I get leads for my law practice? Swango, who is headquartered in Virginia Beach, and Breckinridge, headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., are launching InjuryLawLitigators.com, the only lead generation company of its kind on the Internet today that is owned and operated by attorneys for attorneys. Currently in its pre-launch stage, the company is now marketing its services to attorneys across the country. According to Swango, there are "nine pillars" of law that will ultimately be rolled out: a) Injury Law - including medical malpractice and workers compensation; b) Family Law; c) Bankruptcy; d) Immigration; e) Criminal; f) Patent / Intellectual Property; g) Business; h) Wills, Trusts, & Estates; i) Employment / Labor.

When Regent University Chancellor and President Dr. Pat Robertson introduced Rudy Giuliani to the 600+ Executive Leadership Series audience members on June 26th, he cited the Mayor’s remarkable career of public service: his tenure as Associate Attorney General under President Ronald Reagan; his service to the city of New York – cutting crime, reducing taxes and encouraging tremendous growth and economic development. He reflected on the Mayor’s legendary performance after the tragic events of September 11th, citing the world’s recognition of his extraordinary leadership in a time of unthinkable crisis. With his trademark good humor, Dr. Robertson related the story of their shared prior cancer diagnoses, and his hospital-room call from the Mayor to offer words of encouragement. Dr. Robertson assured the audience that Mayor Giuliani would not be delivering a political speech – and then with exquisite timing, said, “But we’d be remiss to forget that he does seem to be running for President...

On June 7, 2007, Regent Law School’s Office of Career & Alumni Services sponsored the 3rd Annual Judicial Internship Banquet. The Judicial Internship Program allows first year law students an opportunity to intern with local courts. Each year a dinner is held to honor the judges and courts who participate in the program, thus making the entire program possible. This year marks the largest participation rate for the Judicial Intern Program which began in 1998. Fifteen local courts participated accommodating thirty-one student volunteers. Students volunteer for a minimum of eight weeks for twenty hours a week. Darius Davenport, Director of Regent Law Career & Alumni Services, introduced the night’s four speakers. Emily Sheets, a participant in the program and a rising 2L, commented how valuable the integration of education with legal experience is for law students. She said that through the program, students learn the real importance of courtroom clerks to their future success in...

Regent Law has won the Law School division of the first annual Virginia “Legal Food Frenzy,” organized by the office of the State Attorney General, Bob McDonnell. McDonnell, a Regent Law alum, spearheaded the campaign to help Virginia’s hungry by calling on the legal community in the state to donate food throughout the spring. A number of categories and sub-categories were recognized, including law firms of various sizes and law schools, with winners being announced based on the total weight of food donated as well as pounds of food donated per capita. Regent Law won both law school categories, donating 4,231 pounds of food, which worked out to 10.07 pounds per person. The program overall was judged a success by McDonnell. The original goal was 500,000 pounds of food; however, over 637,000 pounds were donated, which equals 530,000 meals for Virginian’s in need.