College of Law | University of Illinois

The University of Illinois has issued a final report upon the completion of its inquiry into student profile data reported and/or publicly disseminated by the College of Law. 

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The University of Illinois College of Law has announced that it raised $50,198,446 in the University of Illinois’ recently completed Brilliant Futures Campaign, surpassing the College’s $50 million goal. The campaign, which concluded on March 31, 2012, targeted five areas: (1) endowed faculty positions, to recruit and retain world-class scholar-teachers; (2) scholarships, to recruit and support outstanding students; (3) funding for the College’s cutting-edge, interdisciplinary programs; (4) facilities improvements; and (5) the College’s Annual Fund, which provides unrestricted support for the College’s operations and initiatives. The announcement was made by Dean Bruce P. Smith at the College’s Annual Alumni Luncheon at the University Club in Chicago on April 19.
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The College of Law is pleased to announce the launch of an innovative Chicago Program, designed to enrich the College’s curriculum, expand professional opportunities for students, and involve alumni and other practitioners more closely in the College’s educational mission. The Program has four principal objectives: (1) to provide enhanced skills-related training; (2) to broaden exposure to specialized areas of legal practice; (3) to orient students to the global legal market; and (4) to facilitate connections between students, alumni, and prospective employers in Chicago, the nation, and the world.

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Professor Benson, an expert on sexual orientation and the law, spoke with the Illinois News Bureau about the ramifications of President Obama’s support for same-sex marriage. She said, “This is the first time a president of the United States has publicly stated his support for same-sex marriage. … President Obama’s stance, then, may actually be politically unpopular. However, it is a moment when the president is making a strong statement to his citizens that he will not tolerate discrimination, and that is something to be celebrated."

Read the interview

Professor Kaplan, an expert on taxation and retirement issues, was interviewed by the Illinois News Bureau about the controversial bill headed to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk that requires retired state of Illinois employees to begin paying premiums for their health insurance on July 1.

Read the interview

Law Students Melissa Marrero (Class of 2013), a former varsity and professional tennis player from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Sara Lancaster (Class of 2014), a basketball player from San Antonio, Texas; and Keithan Hedrick (Class of 2015), a football player from Charleston, Illinois, were named 2012-13 Avery Brundage Scholarship recipients.

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The Rickert Awards are the most prestigious awards bestowed to students at the University of Illinois College of Law and recognize excellence in student achievement.

Congratulations to the Rickert Award recipients of the Class of 2012!

Since the 1960s, the College of Law has honored each year a select group of alumni who have achieved great distinction in their professional and civic endeavors. On April 19, the College honored four recipients at the College’s Annual Alumni Luncheon at the University Club in Chicago:  Karen Anderson, ’77, formerly at the Chicago Board of Education and Vedder Price; Orrin Edidin, ’86, President of WMS Industries, Inc., an internationally recognized leader in electronic game entertainment; Roger Page, ’74, retired Vice Chairman and national director of the Washington National Tax Practice at Deloitte; and Chulasingh Vasantasingh, ’74, Attorney General of Thailand. 

See pictures of the winners and other alumni from the luncheon.

The College of Law is pleased to report that Ed Walters, the CEO and Co-Founder of Fastcase, Inc., will deliver the 2012 University of Illinois College of Law Convocation Address. Fastcase, a pioneer in cost-effective legal search, is the developer of the world’s first mobile legal research app (for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch). The company has revolutionized solo, small firm, and public interest practice by providing low-cost access to fundamental legal research sources, and free access to members of over 20 state bar associations (including the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)). 

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Please join the College in congratulating the recipients of the 2012 Lisnek Awards: Erin Cox, '12; Sarah Fischer, '12; JR Glenn, '12; Adam Hearn, '13; and Jessica Rhoades, '13. 

The Dr. Paul M. Lisnek Excellence in Trial Advocacy Awards honor students each year at the College who demonstrate excellence in trial advocacy. The student recipients are selected by a panel of faculty and scored on their performances.

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According to a new study by Professor Paul Heald, there are twice as many newly published books available on Amazon from 1850 as there are from 1950 because of the strange distortions of copyright protection.

Read more at The Atlantic

Law Professor Jay Kesan, director of the Program in Intellectual Property and Technology Law and leading national scholar in the areas of technology, law, and business, explains what steps the government should take to improve the cybersecurity infrastructure in the U.S. One recommendation is to focus more on denying the attackers success from their attacks through passive means, like firewalls, intrusion-detection systems and antivirus software, or active means, where the system ejects the intruder. 

Read more at the Illinois News Bureau

As part of a class led by Professor Heidi Hurd, agroup of University of Illinois law students witnessed more than just a bit of rural agricultural ingenuity Saturday afternoon when their bus stopped at the Danny Kluthe farm north of Dodge. They watched a pickup truck run on compressed bio-methane produced from animal waste. 

Read more at West Point News

The College of Law welcomed Professor Eldar Shafir of Princeton University as the David C. Baum lecturer on March 28.

Watch his lecture, "The Psychology of Scarcity and Its Implications," in which he discusses decision making in the context of poverty, how it limits the life choices of the impoverished, and what that means for civil liberties.

Prabha Parameswaran, JD ’93 and BS (finance) ’89, has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the College of Law Alumni Loyalty Award. 

In its first year, the Alumni Loyalty Award honors alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership through their service to the College of Law community. The recipient is selected by the Law Alumni Board.

Please join the College of Law in congratulating Prabha on a much deserved recognition!

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The American College of Bankruptcy has selected Justin R. Bernbrock as the Distinguished Law Student for the Seventh Circuit for 2012. Only one student is selected from each Circuit, and students undergo a rigorous nomination process.

“I am personally humbled by this award, and I am proud of what it confirms: The University of Illinois College of Law offers the country's preeminent course of instruction in bankruptcy law,” said Justin Bernbrock, Class of 2012.

Professors Charles Tabb, Ralph Brubaker, and Robert Lawless – all American College of Bankruptcy fellows – nominated Justin.

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In its annual ranking of “Go-To Law Schools,” the National Law Journal has ranked the University of Illinois College of Law 16^th in the number of alumni associates promoted to partner in 2011. The College of Law tied with the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Emory University School of Law.

“Illinois graduates are a mainstay of our hiring every year. Illinois grads know what to expect from private practice. They hit the ground running as associates, and it is no surprise to me that they frequently become partners at terrific firms like Schiff Hardin,” said Matthew Fischer, Hiring Partner at Schiff Hardin LLP.

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Sam Mendenhall, ’91, a litigation partner at Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago, has been given with the 2012 Chicago Illini of the Year award. He was honored at a celebration in Chicago on February 29, 2012 hosted by the University of Illinois Alumni Association and the Chicago Illini Club.

Of the award, Sam says: “I am very honored and humbled to receive such a prestigious award. The University of Illinois, and the College of Law, have a long-standing tradition of turning out leaders, both in the workplace and the community. I am proud to be considered a part of this rich tradition.”

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The University of Illinois has issued a final report upon the completion of its inquiry into student profile data reported and/or publicly disseminated by the College of Law. 

Read more

Law Students Melissa Marrero (Class of 2013), a former varsity and professional tennis player from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Sara Lancaster (Class of 2014), a basketball player from San Antonio, Texas; and Keithan Hedrick (Class of 2015), a football player from Charleston, Illinois, were named 2012-13 Avery Brundage Scholarship recipients.

Read more

The Rickert Awards are the most prestigious awards bestowed to students at the University of Illinois College of Law and recognize excellence in student achievement.

Congratulations to the Rickert Award recipients of the Class of 2012!

The College of Law is pleased to report that Ed Walters, the CEO and Co-Founder of Fastcase, Inc., will deliver the 2012 University of Illinois College of Law Convocation Address. Fastcase, a pioneer in cost-effective legal search, is the developer of the world’s first mobile legal research app (for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch). The company has revolutionized solo, small firm, and public interest practice by providing low-cost access to fundamental legal research sources, and free access to members of over 20 state bar associations (including the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)). 

Read more

Please join the College in congratulating the recipients of the 2012 Lisnek Awards: Erin Cox, '12; Sarah Fischer, '12; JR Glenn, '12; Adam Hearn, '13; and Jessica Rhoades, '13. 

The Dr. Paul M. Lisnek Excellence in Trial Advocacy Awards honor students each year at the College who demonstrate excellence in trial advocacy. The student recipients are selected by a panel of faculty and scored on their performances.

Read more

As part of a class led by Professor Heidi Hurd, agroup of University of Illinois law students witnessed more than just a bit of rural agricultural ingenuity Saturday afternoon when their bus stopped at the Danny Kluthe farm north of Dodge. They watched a pickup truck run on compressed bio-methane produced from animal waste. 

Read more at West Point News

At the annual Defenders of the Innocent Awards Reception on April 9, 2012, the University of Illinois College of Law, Professors Steven Beckett and Andrew Leipold, and participating students will be honored along with Southern Illinois University School of Law and Scott Turow, a lawyer and advocate for the abolition of the death penalty system in Illinois.

Read more

The American College of Bankruptcy has selected Justin R. Bernbrock as the Distinguished Law Student for the Seventh Circuit for 2012. Only one student is selected from each Circuit, and students undergo a rigorous nomination process.

“I am personally humbled by this award, and I am proud of what it confirms: The University of Illinois College of Law offers the country's preeminent course of instruction in bankruptcy law,” said Justin Bernbrock, Class of 2012.

Professors Charles Tabb, Ralph Brubaker, and Robert Lawless – all American College of Bankruptcy fellows – nominated Justin.

Read more

University of Illinois College of Law students will be heading to Malawi over spring break to obtain a stronger understanding of how microfinance works in communities of Africa. In preparation for their trip, they are collecting supplies to donate to local primary schools.

The 15 students going on the college-sponsored trip, led by Professor Christine Hurt, will be going to Blantyre, the commercial capital of Malawi; Zomba, Urbana's sister city and the former (colonial) capital; and Lisanjala, a small village. 

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Read the News-Gazette coverage

The University of Illinois has issued a final report upon the completion of its inquiry into student profile data reported and/or publicly disseminated by the College of Law. 

Read more

Since the 1960s, the College of Law has honored each year a select group of alumni who have achieved great distinction in their professional and civic endeavors. On April 19, the College honored four recipients at the College’s Annual Alumni Luncheon at the University Club in Chicago:  Karen Anderson, ’77, formerly at the Chicago Board of Education and Vedder Price; Orrin Edidin, ’86, President of WMS Industries, Inc., an internationally recognized leader in electronic game entertainment; Roger Page, ’74, retired Vice Chairman and national director of the Washington National Tax Practice at Deloitte; and Chulasingh Vasantasingh, ’74, Attorney General of Thailand. 

See pictures of the winners and other alumni from the luncheon.

Prabha Parameswaran, JD ’93 and BS (finance) ’89, has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the College of Law Alumni Loyalty Award. 

In its first year, the Alumni Loyalty Award honors alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership through their service to the College of Law community. The recipient is selected by the Law Alumni Board.

Please join the College of Law in congratulating Prabha on a much deserved recognition!

Read more

Clients of Jim Murphy, ’85, partner at Thompson Coburn LLP, named him as a top client service leader in a recent in-depth survey of corporate counsel by BTI Consulting Group. BTI also named Murphy as a 2012 BTI Client Service All-Star.

The consulting group created the list by asking general counsel and their direct reports to name — unprompted — the attorneys who drive superior client relationships.

Murphy practices in Thompson Coburn’s Banking and Commercial Finance Group. He earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Illinois Law in 1985.

Sam Mendenhall, ’91, a litigation partner at Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago, has been given with the 2012 Chicago Illini of the Year award. He was honored at a celebration in Chicago on February 29, 2012 hosted by the University of Illinois Alumni Association and the Chicago Illini Club.

Of the award, Sam says: “I am very honored and humbled to receive such a prestigious award. The University of Illinois, and the College of Law, have a long-standing tradition of turning out leaders, both in the workplace and the community. I am proud to be considered a part of this rich tradition.”

Read more

The University of Illinois has issued a final report upon the completion of its inquiry into student profile data reported and/or publicly disseminated by the College of Law. 

Read more

Professor Benson, an expert on sexual orientation and the law, spoke with the Illinois News Bureau about the ramifications of President Obama’s support for same-sex marriage. She said, “This is the first time a president of the United States has publicly stated his support for same-sex marriage. … President Obama’s stance, then, may actually be politically unpopular. However, it is a moment when the president is making a strong statement to his citizens that he will not tolerate discrimination, and that is something to be celebrated."

Read the interview

Professor Kaplan, an expert on taxation and retirement issues, was interviewed by the Illinois News Bureau about the controversial bill headed to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk that requires retired state of Illinois employees to begin paying premiums for their health insurance on July 1.

Read the interview

Law Professor Jay Kesan, director of the Program in Intellectual Property and Technology Law and leading national scholar in the areas of technology, law, and business, explains what steps the government should take to improve the cybersecurity infrastructure in the U.S. One recommendation is to focus more on denying the attackers success from their attacks through passive means, like firewalls, intrusion-detection systems and antivirus software, or active means, where the system ejects the intruder. 

Read more at the Illinois News Bureau

In an op-ed piece in The New York Times that delves into the issues of hate crime legislation, Professor Heidi Hurd provides commentary. 

“You can’t choose not to be prejudiced or biased — at least not willy-nilly, on the spot. … We pass moral judgments all the time against bigots and chauvinists and homophobes and so forth. But this is a question not of what we should morally blame people for, but of what we should deprive them of liberty for.”

In her 2001 an article entitled “Why Liberals Should Hate ‘Hate Crime Legislation,’” Professor Hurd wrote: “The law now regulates not only what we do, but who we are.”

Read The New York Times article

Kurt Lash, the Alumni Distinguished Professor of Law and leading scholar on constitutional law spoke with the News Bureau on the upcoming health care law clash in the U.S. Supreme Court. He said: 

“The opponents of the law are correct in claiming that Congress has never exercised this kind of power before under the Commerce Clause, which means that this case is not directly controlled by any prior judicial precedent. ... What makes this case difficult is the means Congress has chosen to advance its overhaul of the health care industry – a requirement that most people purchase health insurance."

Read the entire article 

At the annual Defenders of the Innocent Awards Reception on April 9, 2012, the University of Illinois College of Law, Professors Steven Beckett and Andrew Leipold, and participating students will be honored along with Southern Illinois University School of Law and Scott Turow, a lawyer and advocate for the abolition of the death penalty system in Illinois.

Read more

Lesley Wexler, the Thomas M. Mengler Faculty Scholar, has been selected as an academic fellow of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. As part of the honor, Professor Wexler will be participating in a 10-day program in Israel with other leading U.S. academics exploring how the country combats terrorism.

The Wall Street Journal published an article on the CME Group, Inc. being issued grand-jury subpoenas one day after the MF Global collapse. CME continues to receive heat about their audit uncoving nothing "amiss" just days before MF Global declared bankruptcy.

Regarding the grand jury, Professor Leipold said: "Grand juries have enormous investigative powers. My instinct is that setting one up the next day [after MF Global's bankruptcy] is pretty fast for anybody to move." 

Read the WSJ article (subscription may be required)

Explaining the negative effects of copyright extension and the not-so-threatening reality of the public domain, Professor Paul Heald goes on NPR. Listen to the interview.

Professor Charles Tab, the Alice Curtis Campbell Professor of Law and fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, published Credit Bidding, Security, and the Obsolescence of Chapter 11, which was recently listed on SSRN’s Top Ten download list.

In multiple media, Tabb has also been examining the Supreme Court’s oral arguments on April 23 in the case of Radlax Gateway Hotel, et al., v. Amalgamated Bank (11-166). At issue in the case was whether a debtor may pursue a chapter 11 plan that proposes to sell assets free of liens without allowing the secured creditor to credit bid.

Kurt Lash spoke on the History of the Privileges or Immunities Clause at Stanford University School of Law, and engaged in a panel discussion on the Fourteenth Amendment with Columbia Prof. Philip Hamburger and Stanford Prof. Michael McConnell.  The Program was hosted by the Stanford University Center for Constitutional Law.

Professor Michael H. LeRoy published "The Narcotic Effect of Antitrust Law in Professional Sports: How the Sherman Act Subverts Collective Bargaining" in the Tulane Law Review. 86 Tul. L. Rev. 859 (2012).

Professor David Schraub published The Perils and Promise of the Holder Memo, 2012 Cardozo L. Rev. De Novo 187.

Professor Ralph Brubaker published "The Erie Doctrine, Code Common Law, and Choice-of-Law Rules in Bankruptcy (Part I)" in Bankruptcy Law Letter. 32 No. 4 Bankruptcy Law Letter 1 (2012).

Professor Jay Kesan with co-author Rajiv Shah published, "Lost in Translation: Interoperability Issues for Open Standards" in I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society, Volume 8:1, 2012.

Professor Paul Diehl has published:

• A book, International Mediation, (with J. Michael Greig) (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2012); "International Organizations" (with AndrewOwsiak) in The Encyclopedia of Globalization, ed. by GeorgeRitzer. (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012)
• “The Rivalry Process: How Rivalries are Sustained and Terminated” (with Gary Goertz) in What Do We Know About War 2^ndedition, ed. by John Vasquez, (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2012), pp.83-109
• “Demanding Peace: The Impact of Prevailing Conflict on the Shift from Peacekeeping to Peace building” (with Alexandru Balasand Andrew Owsiak) Peace and Change, 37, 2 (2012): 195-226.

Professor Richard Ross will be a visiting professor of law at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel in May 2012.