Regent Law News

Saturday, August 20 marked Regent University School of Law’s (LAW) eighth-annual Community Service Day. More than 150 law students, ranging from incoming first-years to students embarking on their third year of studies, spent time in the community serving non-profit organizations. Photo courtesy of Victoria Rice. The initiative is particularly important to LAW dean, Michael Hernandez, who explained a new expectation for every JD student to complete 50 hours of public service during their academic careers. “Our community service days are an important part of this commitment to public service. We look forward to increasing public service and pro bono work by our students,” said Hernandez. “I am very proud of the time and effort our students, faculty and staff put into the Community Service Day. Regent Law trains servant leaders who, following the example of our Lord, are...

The Harvey Fellows Program provides scholarships to Christian students who are pursuing graduate studies at premier universities in fields considered to be underrepresented by Christians and who possess a unique vision to impact society through their vocations.   Initiated by the Mustard Seed Foundation (MSF) in 1992, the Harvey Fellows Program seeks to mark, equip and encourage individuals to actively integrate their faith and vocation as leaders in strategic occupations.  Through the program, the Foundation seeks to identify, prepare, and celebrate this generation's Daniels, Esthers, Josephs and Lydias - people of God willing and able to assume positions of leadership and influence for the cause of Christ in fields such as media, government, scientific research, industry, the arts, and higher education.   Harvey Fellows come from around the globe and work in diverse fields. Currently there are over 300 Harvey Fellows worldwide, representing twenty-four countr...

Regent Law Dean Michael Hernandez has been featured in the Oklahoma Legal Group Blog's series highlighting law school deans across the country. The full text of his interview with Adam Banner is reprinted below with permission. Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was established in 1986, and in just 30 short years, has grown to be recognized as having a faculty ranked among the top 10 American law school faculties. Regent Law is unique in providing a legal education with a Christian perspective, and its Honors Program boasts a 92.3 percent first-time bar passage rate. Its moot court program ranks 5th in the nation, and in 2015, Regent Law ranked in the top 25 percent of all law schools for graduates obtaining judicial clerkships. In 1992, Michael V. Hernandez joined the faculty at Regent Law, where he has taught courses including Appellate Advocacy, Advanced Appellate Advocacy, Christian Foundations of Law, Internation...

The first time Regent University School of Law alumnus Judge Steven Rogers ’95 ever logged onto the internet – screeching dialup tone and all – was to view his bar exam results on campus. More than two decades later, he’s bringing law to life for young students who don’t remember a world without the wide web. Judge Steven Rogers ’95 (School of Law). Photo courtesy Judge Steven Rogers. “They think, ‘It was before the internet, why would I pay attention to the Bill of Rights?” said Rogers. “It’s hard to relate these old principles to the Snapchat generation. But they affect their everyday lives.” In June 2016, Rogers was named Judge of the Year for 2016 in Florida for his work with Justice Teaching, a statewide program that matches elementary, middle and high schools with professionals in the legal field. The initiative began in 2006, by Florida Supreme Court Justice Fred Lewis. “It was a really good honor for me,” said Rogers. “To be picked out of all the judges in...

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 gave several lectures in Ukraine from April 19-26 including: Christian View of Government, Class Lecture to law students at University Shevchenko, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 19, 2016 Christian View of Government, Class Lecture to law students at University Shevchenko, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 20, 2016 Christian View of Government, Class Lecture to law students at National Academy for Public Administration,  Kyiv, Ukraine, April 20, 2016 Christian View of Government, Lecture to law faculty and students at Conference held at University Shevchenko, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 20, 2016 Christian View of Government, Lecture to law students at University Dragomanova, Kyiv, Ukraine, April 20, 2016 Christian View of Law, Lecture to law students ...

At the close of the 2015-2016 Moot Court competition season, Regent University School of Law ranked fifth in the nation for Best Moot Court Program by the annual report of the University of Houston Law. Law schools that rank within the top 16 are invited to Houston in January 2017 to participate in the national championship. Regent ranked above schools such as the University of Virginia, Baylor University Law School, Colombia University Law School, and Duke University Law School to qualify for the competition. Here is a look back on Regent Law Moot Court's 2015-2016 season:

Several Regent University faculty members were honored earlier in May for their service to their students and the excellence they exhibit in their classrooms. Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, executive vice president for academic affairs, presented the Spring 2016 Faculty Excellence Awards at the quarterly all-staff meeting. Twice each year, Regent faculty are recognized for their outstanding contributions in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service. Associate professor Kathleen McKee from the School of Law received the Faculty Excellence Award in the area of teaching. Moreno-Riaño noted that McKee holds her students accountable to master their material and the skills they need when they enter the field of law. “She is a vital contributor to the curriculum due to the time-intensive, clinical courses she teaches,” said Moreno-Riaño. “Professor McKee's teaching prod...