SEPTEMBER 2021

Dean's Dispatch, Alumni Edition, Syracuse University College of Law

From the desk of Dean Boise

After 18 months of pandemic-related public health restrictions that disrupted or canceled academic plans for so many in our learning community, it was wonderful to welcome new and returning students back to Dineen Hall last month. Together, we remain vigilant against COVID-19 for the health of the College of Law.

Many thanks to Joanie Mahoney L’90, President of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, for her inspiring address at our August 19 Convocation, which brought together 239 new J.D., LL.M, and S.J.D. students, as well as Chancellor Kent Syverud and faculty and staff.

In her remarks, President Mahoney reminded the students that, “The world needs people educated in the law more than ever [for] we have to remain vigilant and protect our democracy if we expect our children to live in the land of freedom that was described in our history books.”

Law Convocation 2021
 

LAW ALUMNI WEEKEND IS ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY …

 
LAW 20201 Header

Now that classes are in full swing, I look forward to meeting many of you in person during Law Alumni Weekend in a few weeks. Register today to join us in person or virtually! Peruse the highlights below and view the complete event schedule at alumniweekend.law.syr.edu.

Plan to use the free Whova app, a convenient way to plan your schedule, receive session reminders, and alerts. Look for instructions about downloading the app and accessing our event page when you register.

Start mingling on our Virtual Scrapbook! Add your memories, quotes, gifs, memes, pics, or videos that express your LOVE OF ORANGE!

Thursday, September 23

  • Disability Law and Policy Program Alumni Networking Event (virtual)
  • Final round of the 50th annual Mackenzie Hughes LLP Edmund H. Lewis Appellate Advocacy Competition (in person)
  • Advocacy Honor Society Cocktail Reception with Alumni and Students (in person)

Friday, September 24

  • Dean Craig M. Boise’s State of the College Address (in person and live-streamed)
  • “Virtually Litigating: Pros and Cons of Litigation Practices Developed During COVID-19” (CLE 1 credit; in person and live-streamed)

Host: Michael A. Kaplan L’11, Partner, Lowenstein Sandler LLP

  • Lunch with Judiciary and Alumni (in person)

Keynote Speaker: Hon. James P. Murphy L’84, NYS Administrative Judge, Fifth Judicial District

Featuring: David G. Savage, Supreme Court Correspondent, Los Angeles Times

  • Syracuse Law Review Open House (in person)
  • Syracuse Law Honors Awards Ceremony (in person and live-streamed)
  • Law Alumni Reunion Party (in person)
  • Fourth Annual Fireside Chat Hosted by the Black Law Student Association and Latin American Law Student Association (in person)

Saturday, September 25

  • “Supporting Veterans in Our Community and at the College of Law” (in person and live-streamed)

Plus, meet Bob Gang L’42, Syracuse Law’s oldest living alum and an Army veteran who served in WWII and the Korean War.


Thank you to our sponsors: 

SCOTUS Preview and CLE

 

College of Law News

 
Helix Bar Review Logo

In another national first for the College and one that squarely focuses on student success and career outcomes, I am thrilled to announce that—beginning with the Class of 2022—the College will offer AccessLex Institute’s Helix Bar Review free of charge to all of our students.

This groundbreaking, adaptive learning program offers the tools students need to prepare for the exam efficiently and effectively. And with this offering, we remove yet another financial barrier for our students.

National Trial League

The inaugural season of the new National Trial League, which we announced recently, is off to a great start. This fall, our 11th-ranked Advocacy Program and 11 other top national teams will compete in bi-weekly matches toward playoffs in spring. Follow along, and meet the competitors, at nationaltrialleague.org.

Lily Hughes

It is my pleasure to introduce Lily Yan Hughes, who joined us this summer as our new Assistant Dean of Career Services. Lily comes to us from previous roles as general counsel at Arrow Electronics (Fortune 150) and Public Storage (S&P 500), and law firm practice. Lily and her extensive C-suite experience working for highly regulated financial services companies and banks, real estate operating and development companies, and global tech companies will contribute timely and expert perspectives to the Office of Career Services.

Lily looks forward to partnering with our alumni as she implements a new, innovative, and comprehensive job placement and career development strategies for our students, including expanding our national network of prospective placements and overseeing our robust Externship Program.

If you’d like to interview Syracuse Law graduates for your firm, or if you could host a student in an externship, please contact lyhughes@syr.edu.

 

Alumni Engagement

 

Thank you to alums and friends who took time out of their schedules to participate in our August Orientation and JDinteractive Residency programs:

  • First, a truly impressive line-up of alums who shared their experiences and insights with our incoming class during Orientation 2021.
  • P.J. Jayachandran L’98, Chief Supply Chain Counsel for Colgate-Palmolive, who shared his expertise with JDi students in the Residency course “The Corporate Lawyer in a Sustainable World.”
  • Discussing state and federal courts with JDi students on August 18: Hon. David E. Peebles L’75 (Chief US Magistrate Judge, Northern District of New York); Hon. Mae A. D’Agostino L’80 (US District Judge, NDNY); Hon. James P. Murphy L’84 (Administrative Judge, 5th Judicial District); Hon. Glenn T. Suddaby L’85 (Chief US District Judge, NDNY); Donald C. Doerr L’88 (District Executive, 5th Judicial District); Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks L’91 (US Magistrate Judge, NDNY); and Hon. Joseph E. Lamendola (NYS Supreme Court Judge, 5th Judicial District).
  • From Bond, Schoeneck & King: Kim Wolf Price L’03 (Attorney Professional Development and Diversity Officer); Kate I. Reid L’11 (Member); Stephanie H. Fedorka L’17 (Associate); Sanjeeve K. DeSoyza (Member and Co-Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee); and Candace Gomez Roberts (Member)—addressing “A Lawyer’s Duty: Equity, Inclusion, and Justice” on August 19.
  • DLA Piper’s Frank Ryan IV L’94 (Americas Chair, Global Co-Chair, and Global Co-CEO) and Jackie K. Park (Partner and US Co-Managing Partner), who introduced new students to “Trends in the Legal Profession” on August 20. Pictured top right: Frank Ryan with moderator Lily Yan Hughes.
Law Alumni at Orientation 2021
 
 

Student News

 
Judge Ramon Rivera

I was thrilled to welcome the Hon. Ramón Rivera L’94 back to his alma mater on August 30. Judge Rivera administered an oath to a lecture hall full of clinic students who—now that they are sworn in—can advise and assist clients from our community under the supervision of clinical faculty.

Ryan Marquette

Syracuse Stories interviewed 3L Ryan Marquette in August to learn about the work he has done on behalf of veterans both on and off campus and his plans to enter the US Army’s Command and General Staff College once he graduates—and after he earns the rank of major later this year.

Tiffany Love

In July, SU News caught up with JDinteractive student Tiffany Love. She discussed how, as a military spouse, our online law degree program has given her the flexibility she needs to follow her passion for the law. Read her story here.

 

Faculty & Department News

 
The Specter of Dictatorship book

In his new book, Professor David Driesen analyzes the chief executive’s role in the democratic decline of Hungary, Poland, and Turkey and argues that an insufficiently constrained presidency is one of the most important systemic threats to democracy.

Suzette Melendez

In July, I was proud to appoint Professor Suzette Meléndez as our new Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion. In this position, Professor Meléndez will work with me, our Inclusion Council, and across the entire College to lead ongoing efforts to foster an inclusive learning community.

Otto

Congratulations to Professor Richard Risman and Director of Information Technology Joel Whitney, who received Syracuse University Center for Disability Resources awards in July for their work to support and empower students with accommodation needs.

Scholarship with Impact

Our expert faculty have been busy all summer providing news analysis and commentary. In fact, the complete list of recent news clips is very long, so let me offer some top highlights from the summer:

 
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How You Can Make a Difference

 
Scene from the 2019 Mackenzie Hughes Moot Court

Alumni engagement is one reason for the Advocacy Program’s formidable growth and success, and we are always looking for volunteers—especially judges and evaluators—to assist our intra-mural and hosted competitions.

This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mackenzie Hughes LLP Edmund H. Lewis Appellate Advocacy Competition. That’s a remarkable run, and there’s no better time to sign up to volunteer by emailing Lisa Ladew in the Office of Advancement and External Affairs.

 

For Your Calendar

 
Boost the Cuse 2021

Save the Date for October 7 to make a gift in support of our extraordinary students during the University’s annual 24 hours of giving. Let’s pull together on the day and be “Forever Orange”!

Thanks to our Board of Advisors and SULAA Board, who once again are teaming up to offer a dollar-for-dollar match for all Boost the ’Cuse gifts up to $10,000.

Are you a VIP (Very Influential Person)? Sign up to help Boost the ’Cuse and receive cool Orange swag!

Cheers for a Cause 2021

The College once again is sponsoring the Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY volunteer celebration, which this year honors one of our own: 3L Elizabeth Boswell, a VLPCNY Access to Justice Fellow. “Cheers for a Cause” takes place on September 30 at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased via the VLPCNY website.

 

And Finally …

 

I recently joined law school deans across the nation in support of US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s call for the legal community to assist individuals at risk of being displaced in the looming eviction crisis. Visit our news pages to read the law deans’ statement, as well as AG Garland’s call to action.

Bridgehampton Law Alumni Group

I greatly enjoyed a summer visit with alums in Bridgehampton, NY, hosted by Adam Miller L’95. Thank you also to guests Ronald Kremnitzer L’77, Larry Bambino L’82, Marty Feinman L’83, Adam Leitman Bailey L’95 and Jennifer Beth Rosenthal ’02, and Jeannine Lostritto ’90 and Glenn Lostritto, the parents of 1L Sunny Lostritto.

 

For More Information

 

Questions? Please contact Sophie Dagenais, Assistant Dean for Advancement and External Affairs, at sdagenai@syr.edu or 315.443.4536, or Kristen Duggleby, Director of Alumni Relations at klduggle@syr.edu or 315.443.9532.

Contact us at 315.443.1964 or LawAlumni@syr.edu to send us your news. Remember, you can also update your contact information on ’Cuse Community.

I’ll keep you updated on our news in future editions of the Dean’s Dispatch, and for those of you who use social media, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram for timely updates and photographs.

You also can connect with me on my own LinkedIn account.

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