Regent Law News

This week Public Interest Legal Advocates of Regent (PILAR) held its sixth annual auction to promote law-related interest in the public sector and provide grants for students who will intern in unpaid public interest positions. In the past PILAR has been able to provide up to $1000 in summer stipends per applicant through its assistance programs. The proceeds of the auction make up the majority of these substantial grants. PILAR’s desire to foster support for those desiring to serve the “least of these,” at what is often a personal financial cost, is a trademark of the Regent Law community. “Encouraging one another in the mindset of service and building a network to support Christian lawyers who truly want to get “dirty” but don’t usually get paid much for it is what this [auction] is really all about,” said Amy Gibbs, this year’s Auction Coordinator. Every PILAR member that applies for a grant was expected to solicit ten items from the community for auction. This year, hot items were...

During the second week of March, 2008, Regent Law School hosted Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr. Long-time friend of the Regent community and a Jurist-in-Residence, Justice Hassell lectured in law classes, inspired student groups, addressed student leaders, and spoke at the school’s weekly chapel. His annual visits offer invaluable insight into the rigors of the courtroom and the value of Christians in the profession. This year, Justice Hassell also presented a $500 award to student Erin McCormick, winner of the First Annual Honorable Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr. Writing Competition. McCormick’s article, Sex, Psychology, and the Religious “Gerrymander”: Why the APA’s New Policy Hurts Religious Freedom will be published in an upcoming Regent University Law Review.

Of the 31 moot court teams competing at last weekend’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) in Washington, D.C., two teams from Regent Law School emerged as Regional Champions and will advance to the national finals to be held in Chicago on April 3-5, 2008. Last weekend’s wins are the latest in a series of victories for Regent Law School, including the 2006 NAAC Moot Court championship and the 2007 ABA National Negotiation Competition championship. One of Regent’s teams, consisting of Joshua Jewett, Valerie Kuntz, and James Nealis, won the First Place Brief award; the second team of Rhonda Kinard, John Legg, and Cort Walker won the Second Place Brief award with Walker being named 8th Best Oralist out of a field of 80. Coached by law Professors Michael Hernandez and Benjamin Madison, the teams developed outstanding legal briefs and oral arguments, keeping them undefeated during all five rounds of the tournament. ...

An instructional video produced by Regent University Law School professor Charles Oates and Regent's Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) has added two 2008 Telly Awards to its list of recognitions. The Missing Persons Dilemma video won Tellys for academic use and work produced on a low budget. Previously, the video had been selected as a winner of the 2007 Silver Davey Award. The Missing Persons Dilemma video case study was designed to enhance the classroom experience among Regent Law students studying legal ethics. The video, a collaborative effort between Oates and the CTL, is a dramatic reenactment based partially on an actual case. The video illustrates the conflict that two defense lawyers face when confronted with a difficult ethical issue. They must choose between protecting their client's confidence or acceding to the public's right to know the status of missing persons. The Telly is one of the most sought-after awards by industry leaders, from large internatio...

The Regent University School of Law Moot Court Team recently took first place honors in the William B. Spong National Moot Court Tournament sponsored by the College of William & Mary School of Law, February 15 and 16. Regent was one of 19 teams competing from all over the country. The Regent team not only took first place in the overall competition, besting other law schools such as the University of Virginia, University of Cincinnati and the South Texas College of Law, but also won the award for best petitioner brief in the tournament. "This win shows the continued excellence of Regent's students and their advocacy training," said Regent law school Dean Jeffrey A. Brauch. "Associate Professor Kathleen McKee was the team's coach, and she did an outstanding job preparing them for the tournament." Regent's team consisted of Leo Lestino, a third year law student, and Rachel Williams, a second year law student. Professor Michael Hernandez is the faculty ...

Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International (PAD), the world’s largest legal fraternity, now has a chapter at Regent. A strong alliance of foreign and domestic leaders of the law, PAD exists in part to stimulate academic excellence, inspire compassion and courage, and to foster integrity and professional competence. Chartered this January as the George Washington Chapter primarily through the efforts of law students Patrick Murphrey (’10) and Nathan McGrath (’10), the chapter creates a new opportunity for law students, alumni, and faculty to network with members of the legal community at large. There are over 200,000 members in 55 countries; among them are six past presidents, six past and current Supreme Court justices, and many members of the U.S. Senate and Congress. PAD also offers service and learning opportunities to encourage participation in moral, intellectual, and community advancement. Murphrey and McGrath see the chapter as a step toward living up to Regent’s motto of “Ch...

Law students and faculty, local attorneys, judges and teams from ten participating law schools set the bar high for success at the 2008 National Moot Court Competition hosted by Regent University School of Law. The goal of the competition is to serve the law school community through the development of students' written and oral advocacy skills. After two long days of competing, participants were honored at an awards banquet held at the Founders Inn. "The teams that competed in this year's competition clearly devoted significant amounts of time and energy in their preparation," said Rich Wenner, Regent Law student and national competition coordinator. "A true team effort on behalf of the Moot Court Board, chaired by Regent Law student Seth Rhodebeck, made the competition a success. Dr. Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice gave selfless devotion to the competition." At the banquet, Sekulow introduced the event's featured speaker — ABC Ne...