2009-2010 Student Handbook
Student Bar Association Welcome
Extracurricular Academic Programs
Welcome to the University of Nebraska College of Law
I am pleased to welcome you to the University of Nebraska College of Law. The faculty and I invite you to join us in a common intellectual enterprise - the study of law. This enterprise is an exciting and unique one. Unlike students entering most other disciplines, you will not be passive recipients of accepted wisdom. From your first class you will find yourself an active participant with members of the faculty and your fellow students in an ongoing educational process. You will have the opportunity to apply your intellect to the questions, large and small, that shape our law. The enterprise is also a rite of passage, especially the first year. For decades, all across the country, almost all first-year students have taken basically the same courses; they have read classic cases about hairy hands and fleeing foxes; they have encountered professors who model their classroom (if not their lives) on Socrates. This will be a year that you will remember vividly for the rest of your life.
The legal profession is a public profession with public obligations. Your entry into law school makes you a part of that profession and you assume immediately both its stature and its responsibilities. In three short years, the extent of your knowledge and experience will directly affect not only you, but also all those you represent. Remember as you work long and diligently over the next few years - and, believe me, you will work hard - that you are preparing yourself for important and immensely rewarding responsibilities.
All of us, both faculty and staff, welcome you to the Law College and wish you success in the coming years. But permit me a bit of personal advice: Remember to savor your new experiences. Commit to law school fully, intellectually and emotionally. Relish the intellectual challenges and the lively, talented, and diverse students who share the experience with you. Law school is likely to modify your view of the world, and change your life. Enjoy the journey - and welcome to the best profession in the world.
Dean Steven L. Willborn
Student Bar Association Welcome
On behalf of the Student Bar Association and the student body, I would like to welcome you to the University of Nebraska College of Law. First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your achievements thus far, and wish you continued success throughout your law school career. This handbook is designed to introduce you to law school life, as well as to assist your academic endeavors. It contains a brief description of your future professors, information on a variety of organizations at the College of Law, the Student Bar Association, and most importantly, the Honor Code, which all University of Nebraska law students are required to follow with the utmost integrity. I encourage you to read this handbook, as the information contained in it can assist you in preparing for Orientation and in answering many of the questions you may have.
There will be ample opportunities, both prior to and after entering the College of Law, for you to become involved as a student. You have already received information regarding the Big Brother/Big Sister Program, in which I strongly encourage you to participate. This program is designed to match incoming first year students with upperclass students, so that they may help you with any questions you may have and help ease your transition into law school. I also suggest you become a member of social and philanthropic activities throughout the school year. In addition to the SBA, there are many other organizations for law students to join. You will find these organizations outlined in this handbook. There are organizations which appeal to a multitude of interests and ideologies. I encourage you to become involved in any and all of the organizations that interest you, as they always welcome new members. These organizations are also a great way to take a sometimes much-needed break from studying.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have in the upcoming months. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I look forward to meeting all of you in the fall. Congratulations once again, and welcome to the University of Nebraska College of Law.
Sincerely,
Executive President
Student Bar Association
You are about to become a first-year law student. Your success in law school will be determined more by your drive than by any previous accomplishments or supposed intellectual advantage over other students. You will find that you will have to push yourself if you want to develop the skills necessary to become a competent attorney.
The assigned readings will generally come from casebooks containing edited decisions of various courts from the United States and England. The authors have collected the cases under various headings; for example, in your Torts casebook you will find such headings as assault, negligence, or causation. The cases are grouped together in an attempt to show what the law was, what it is, and where it may be going. Do not be surprised if similar cases seem to be decided differently. As you learn legal analysis, you will be expected to develop an ability to deal with ambiguity and fine distinctions.
Your professors will conduct their classes using the "Socratic" teaching method combined with an occasional lecture. Both the subject matter and teaching method will force you to be an active participant in your education. During most class periods, a student will be selected at random and asked to discuss an assigned case. If you are the one selected, the easiest way to get over any initial jitters and to refresh your memory is to summarize your brief of the case. Invariably, the professor will then ask you several questions about the case and how the court's decision should apply to a different fact situation. How to brief a case is discussed below.
If the professor asks for volunteers, don't be bashful, jump in and get your feet wet. Despite any apprehensions you may have about talking in class, an important part of your training as a lawyer is learning how to make and defend an argument. A law school classroom is an excellent forum in which to practice. Even if you are not the one called on, you can still practice by imagining you are answering every question being asked.
The Socratic method is not an attempt to make the student look stupid in front of the rest of the class. Rather, it provides an opportunity for the student and the professor to examine on a one-on-one basis many of the conflicting legal principles at work in a case, to make some sense of them, and to sharpen everyone's analytical skills in the process.
During the first few weeks, you should attempt to develop your own approach to studying, an approach that you can use throughout the entire year. If you later conclude that your approach is not working, change it. Learning is an ongoing process. It is also a subjective process. What works well for one student may not work well for another.
Do not worry if initially it takes you a long time to read and brief your cases. The skills you will be learning are skills that come only from practice. It won't take you long to recognize a difference in your analysis of cases, but be patient and persistent as you hone your skills. Your biggest enemy will be time. Start with a schedule of how many hours a day you can study and still remain civil. Pace yourself and remember that you are trying to peak both academically and emotionally for final examinations. On the other hand, don't think you can relax until the final week of classes and then make up lost ground by cramming. It does not work. There is simply too much material, and you are not just learning to recite legal principles. You are gaining an understanding of how to apply legal principles to new fact situations.
Of special interest in the first year are the many activities sponsored by the Student Bar Association (SBA) and other student organizations. Take time out to meet and relax with your classmates and upperclass students. You will find that your classmates are fun to be with and have different backgrounds, interests, and goals.
Take care of your health. Eat well and remember that physical exercise stimulates the body and sharpens the mind. Don't sacrifice good health because of perceived time constraints.
Finally, don't forget your families and friends. You had a life before you came to law school, and you should have one in law school. There is no reason for relationships to come to an end. You can still spend time with the important people in your life and do well in law school.
A. Casebooks. These are the only books you will be required to buy for most classes and they will have most everything you need. A list of the required books is posted on the College of Law web site at http://law.unl.edu/students/academics/books. You can purchase your books at the East Campus Bookstore or at the SBA used book sale held at the Law College before classes begin.
Your assignments for the first few days of classes will be posted before classes begin on the bulletin board outside the Dean's Office, and some assignments will also be posted on the College of Law website. You will be expected to be prepared for the first day. Make sure you have read and briefed your cases. The cases you will be reading have been edited. It is seldom necessary to read the full opinion in any of the various reporters. If something important is missing from the edited opinion in the casebook, your professor will mention it in class.
Daily reading assignments vary with the professor. Some will assign three cases per class period, while others will be less specific. Generally, you will cover 30 to 45 pages of material each week per class. There is rarely any advantage to reading ahead. Instead, read the assigned cases carefully the day before class so that you understand and remember the case during the discussion in class.
B. "Brief" your cases. All students should brief every case. Briefs help you develop analytical skills and are also of great help when the time comes to review your materials and put together an outline to help you prepare for final exams.
What is a brief? Basically, it is an attempt to state in your own words what a case is all about. You should first read the case to get a sense of who the parties were, what they wanted, and how the case came out. You should then re-read the case and prepare your brief.
A brief can generally be broken down into five main sections.
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1. Facts: State as concisely as possible the facts that are essential to the decision. Initially, you will have a tendency to put down too many facts, but you will soon be able to reduce this section of your brief as you begin to develop a better sense of what is really relevant to the court's decision. Also, include the procedural history of the case in this section of your brief. In other words, who were the parties? How did the case get to the appellate court? Was there a trial? Who won?
2. Issue: Find the narrowest question the court had to decide and phrase it as the issue. The issue should include facts and a rule of law. This is one of the most difficult skills to master. It will help to consider the chapter heading in the casebook and ask yourself how the case relates to that heading. Sometimes the court will explicitly state the issue; other times you will have to read between the lines. In any event, frame the issue in your own words so that you learn to compose issues.
3. Holding: The holding is not who won or who lost. The holding is instead the general legal principle that the court used to decide the case and that other courts can use to decide other cases that present similar issues. Think of it this way: if there is one legal proposition to be learned from the case, and applied to the next case, what is it?
4. Reasoning: State why the court decided the case the way it did. In doing so, you should focus on what facts the court deemed important and what policies it looked at, if any. When you understand the court's reasoning, you will be able to evaluate the rule critically and apply it to other factual situations. And that is precisely what lawyers do.
5. Concurring/Dissenting Opinion (if any): What did the judges who concurred or dissented agree with or disagree with and why? The concurring and dissenting opinions sometimes provide the basis for future holdings and usually articulate opposing legal and policy considerations.
6. Your Comments: Professors may not initially ask you what your impression of the case was, but they will at some point. Was the judge's decision a good one? Did you agree with the judge's reasoning? Developing a critical approach will become easier as the year progresses.
C. Be prepared for class and take notes. Set a rule for yourself that you will always go to class and always be prepared. Take about five minutes before each class to review your briefs. But whatever you do, avoid missing class; you can never really make up classes you miss. Further, class attendance is mandatory and failure to attend class or prepare all assigned work can have serious consequences. (See "Class Attendance" section.) It is important to take notes on the class discussion, including your professor's hypotheticals. You will find that your notes will be very helpful when you review your course materials and start putting together your outline.
D. Outline each course. You will be bombarded with a huge amount of information that must be reduced to a good review tool. One of the best ways of doing that is to prepare an outline for each course. The purpose of an outline is to pull the material together so that, instead of having bits and pieces of seemingly unrelated rules and ideas, you have an integrated summary of the course that you can use to study for your exams.
A convenient framework for your outline is the table of contents in the casebook or the class syllabus, if provided by your professor. Your outline should include the rules of law you have learned, exceptions (if any) to those rules, and examples from class of how those rules work. You will need to know the rules and understand how they work for your final examinations.
You should start outlining by about the fourth or fifth week of classes. Keep your outlines up to date. As memos for Legal Research & Writing become due, you will have a tendency to rationalize that you can catch up later. Fight that tendency. One of the easiest ways to discipline yourself is to outline each chapter or discrete unit of information after you finish discussing it in class. That way you can spread the work out over the semester and have the foundation you need for the material that follows.
E. Use your professors as a resource. Your professors are very accessible and will answer student questions outside of class. Don't be afraid of approaching them, either after class, in the halls, in their offices, or by e-mail.
F. Study Groups. Talking things over with your classmates is often the best way to refine your understanding of cases and issues, as well as to pick up points that you may have missed. You can do that informally in the student lounge or more formally in a study group. What goes on in a study group varies with the group. Some groups meet to discuss the material covered in each class, other groups meet to work on joint outlines, and still other groups meet for a comprehensive review before a particular final or to take practice final exams from previous years.
The best resources to develop your legal skills are listed in the previous section. There is no substitute for an outline prepared by you! While there are many supplemental study aids available for purchase, these study aids are quite expensive, so do not rush out and buy them until you have carefully assessed your own needs. The SBA sponsors a used "Study Aids" sale every year, and many study aids are available in the library. What follows is a description of the various types of study aids.
A. Hornbooks and Treatises. These books resemble traditional textbooks and attempt to provide concise, systematic statements of the law. They are probably the best and most expensive of the secondary materials. They may be of some help if you have a problem in a particular area but they cannot serve as a substitute for reading and briefing the cases in your casebook.
Your professors will often tell you what they consider to be the best hornbooks in their particular field. Copies are on RESERVE in the library and can be checked out for four hours for use in the library. Some of the more popular hornbooks are:
Civil Procedure
Civil Procedure (4th ed. 2005), Friedenthal, Kane & Miller
KF 8840 .F72 2005
Law of Federal Courts (6th ed. 2002), Wright & Kane
KF 8840 .W7 2002
Civil Procedure: Examples & Explanations (5th ed. 2006), Glannon
KF 8840 .G52 2006
Civil Procedure (5th ed. 2001), James, Hazard & Leubsdorf
KF 8840 .J3 2001
Contracts
Contracts (4th ed. 2004), Farnsworth
KF 801 .F365 2004
Calamari & Perillo on Contracts (6th ed. 2009), Calamari & Perillo
KF 801 .C26 2009
Criminal Law
Criminal Law (4th ed. 2003), LaFave
KF 9219 .L38 2003
Property
Introduction to the Law of Real Property (4th ed. 2005), Moynihan
KF 570 .M6 2005
The Law of Property (3rd ed. 2000), Stoebuck & Whitman
KF 570 .C86 2000
American Law of Landlord & Tenant (1980 & most current supplement), Schoshinski
KF 589 .S34
Torts
Prosser & Keeton on the Law of Torts (5th ed. 1984)
KF 1250 .P73 1984
B. Law Review Articles. Occasionally your professors will mention law review articles that may help you understand a particular area of the law. Although not essential to your understanding of the law, law review articles can sometimes be informative if you have the time to read them.
When you read law review articles, remember that a particular article may not be the definitive word on the subject. A law review article is only as good as the person who wrote it. In fact, you may need to read a number of articles before you can evaluate what you are reading. In any event, daily preparation should always take precedence over outside reading.
C. Gilberts, Legal Lines, and other Commercial Outlines. These publications reduce to several black letter rules what is supposed to be the law on a particular subject. Many normally gentle, considerate professors will roll their eyes and froth at the mouth at the mere mention of the name "Gilberts" or other commercial materials. You stand forewarned if you should ever be tempted to cite them as authority in one of your classes.
This does not mean they are not used. It only means that they are of limited value. Your own outline is infinitely more valuable for one very simple reason: you prepared it. Commercial outlines can help you organize your own outline and they can also help you clarify some muddy areas -- but they cannot do your thinking for you. There is no substitute for pulling the material together yourself so that you understand how things work and how they interrelate.
D. "Canned" Briefs. Commercially prepared briefs are the least respected secondary source available. Besides being inaccurate, poorly written, mechanical, and expensive, they will not help you develop your ability to analyze cases. No matter how skillfully you regurgitate the conclusions of some former law student, it will do you no good when the time comes to take your final exams.
First-Year Curriculum
During your first year, you will take six courses totaling 33 credit hours. You will take 15 hours during the fall semester and 18 hours during the spring semester. Contracts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Legal Research & Writing, Property, and Torts are all six credit hour courses, and you will take three credit hours of each course during each semester. Criminal Law is a three credit hour course you will take in the spring in addition to your five other courses. With the exception of Legal Research and Writing, your courses will be taught using the Socratic method.
Civil Procedure, Contracts, and Property are each divided into two sections of about 70 students. You will receive final grades for six credit hours in these three courses at the end of the spring semester. You will have the same professor for these courses during both semesters.
Torts will be divided into three sections in the fall semester. Each section will be taught by a different professor and will have about 45 students. You will receive a final grade for 3 credit hours of Torts in the fall semester, and you will receive a final grade for 3 credit hours of Torts in the spring semester. You will most likely have a different professor for Torts in the spring semester.
Legal Research & Writing is a skills development course. It is taught by Professor Lawson with the assistance of the library faculty and adjunct faculty members who are attorneys. During the first semester, you will focus on developing your skills in legal analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal citation. Among other things, you will be given a problem that will involve researching relevant statutory and case law, and you will write a legal memorandum that applies the law to your problem. Your instructor will critique your memorandum and offer suggestions for improvement.
During the second semester, the focus will shift from legal memoranda to appellate advocacy as you work on your moot court problem. The moot court problems are written by members of the Nebraska Moot Court Board (a student organization described in this handbook) and reviewed by your instructor. You will first write a legal memoranda, then write an appellate brief, and finally present an oral argument, all based on the same problem.
Although strong research and writing skills are essential to the practice of law, remember that Legal Research & Writing is only one course. If you put all of your time into Legal Research & Writing, your other courses are bound to suffer. It may not be easy, but you need to manage your time properly so that you give all of your courses sufficient attention.
Upperclass Curriculum
In order to graduate, you will need to take 60 hours beyond the required first-year curriculum. Although you can take some of those hours during the summer sessions, you must attend at least three semesters on a full-time basis (no fewer than 12 hours) after your first year. It is possible for a student to graduate in 2 ½ years by attending summer school after his or her first or second year of law school or both. A student cannot graduate any earlier than 2 ½ years after starting law school at the College of Law.
For the most part, you will be free to decide which courses to take during your second and third years. However, you are required to take 12 hours of the following upper-level courses: Constitutional Law I (which must be taken during the first semester of your second year), Legal Profession, a professional skills class, and a seminar with a substantial writing requirement.
Program of Concentrated Study. The Program of Concentrated Study is
designed for students who seek a particular focus during their time
at the College of Law. Programs of Concentrated Study, with specified coursework, have been
established in Litigation Skills and Business Transactions.
Information on these two programs is available on the College of Law website or from the Registrar.
A student who wishes to focus on a particular area of the law, other than Litigation Skills or Business Transactions, may work with a faculty member who teaches in the area to develop an individualized Program of Concentrated Study. A Program of Concentrated Study must consist of at least fifteen credit hours in no fewer than five upper level courses that have been identified by a faculty member as central to the identified area. Students have pursued Programs of Concentrated Study in many areas including: Agricultural Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Business Entity Taxation, Education Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Health Law, International Law, Labor and Employment Law, Real Estate Law and Sports Law. A student must declare an intention to complete an individualized Program of Concentrated Study no later than the last day on which students may add a class during the semester beginning the student's third year. Students are encouraged to declare early to minimize problems caused by course sequencing and availability. Information on individualized Programs of Concentrated Study is available on the College of Law website or from the Registrar.
Externships. With the approval of a sponsoring faculty member, a student may register for up to three hours of Externship credit to be earned in a field placement program in conjunction with a Seminar or Research in a Selected Field. The Externship must meet other specified conditions, and each Externship credit hour must involve at least 40 hours of field experience. A student may take only one externship for Law College credit. The Externship Policy is available on the College of Law website or from the Registrar.
Study Abroad Programs. The Law College participates in a study abroad program in Cambridge, England, with Cambridge University and three other law schools. Students may take courses at the Cambridge program or other study abroad programs offered by ABA-approved law schools, but only with the prior permission of Associate Dean Pierce. To receive credit for courses taken in study abroad programs, the student must earn a grade of C or better.
Non-Law College Courses.
A. Courses at other law schools.
Courses may be completed at other ABA-approved law schools but only with the prior approval of Associate Dean Pierce. To receive credit for courses taken at other law schools, the student must earn a grade of C or better.
B. Graduate level courses, graduate level distance education courses that satisfy the requirements of ABA Standard 306(c), and upper-level law distance education courses at other ABA-approved law schools that satisfy the requirements of ABA Standard 306(c).
A student may take three credit hours of such courses if the student receives approval from the faculty members of the Curriculum Committee upon a showing that (a) the courses will further the student's legal education, and (b) the courses will not duplicate courses available in the Law College. Three additional hours may be taken with approval by both the Curriculum Committee and Associate Dean Pierce. To take more than six hours of graduate-level courses, the student must show compelling circumstances and obtain the approval of the full faculty. Except as part of an approved joint-degree program, a student may not be given credit for more than twelve hours of graduate level courses outside the Law College. A student may not take more than four credit hours of distance education courses per semester and may not receive credit for more than a total of twelve credit hours of distance education courses.
To receive Law College credit for a graduate-level course, the student must earn a grade of B or better. The registration packets distributed each semester include information about how and when to request permission to take graduate-level courses for Law College credit.
Grades received in courses taken outside of the Law College will not be computed as part of the student's grade point average for purposes of determining class standing, graduation with distinction or eligibility for Order of the Coif.
Class Attendance
Students are required to attend classes regularly and to prepare all
assigned work thoroughly. Inadequate class attendance or preparation
may result in the student being dropped from the course or may
adversely affect the final grade the student receives in the course.
A first year student who is dropped from a course will receive a
failing grade ("0") for the course.
Withdrawal
Since all first year courses are required, first year students
cannot drop a course. First year students can, however, withdraw
from the College of Law, if for some reason that becomes necessary.
A student who wishes to withdraw from the College should contact
Associate Dean Pierce.
Honor System
The students and faculty of the College have adopted an Honor Code
to regulate academic conduct at the College. The Code prohibits any
academically dishonest conduct in connection with examinations,
papers, competitions, and other academic activity at the College.
The Code is premised on the belief that students, as potential
lawyers, should be treated like professionals (which explains why
exams are not proctored) and should be held to the same unyielding
standards of honorable conduct to which professionals are held.
Alleged violations of the Code are investigated by a Law College
faculty member appointed as prosecutor and adjudicated by the Joint
Student-Faculty Honor Committee.
The Honor Code is available on the Law College website, and you are required to read it and certify that you have read it. The substantive provisions are in section 1.020. Violations of the Honor Code carry serious consequences. The sanctions are in section 1.090.
University Code of Conduct
Law students are also subject to provisions of the University Student Code of Conduct. The Code is available on the UNL website at http://stuafs.unl.edu/ja/code.
Exams
Final exams are given in all courses except Legal Research and
Writing at the end of each semester. For 2009-2010, Civil Procedure, Contracts,
Legal Research and Writing and Property are year long courses
and students will not receive a final grade until the end of the
spring semester. Civil Procedure, Contracts, and Property, have a midterm exam at the end of the first semester and a final
exam at the end of the second semester. First year midterms generally range in weight
from 20% to 50% of the final grade, depending on the instructor.
As explained above in the First Year Curriculum section, you will receive a final grade for 3 credit hours of Torts in the fall semester and for 3 credit hours of Torts in the spring semester. Criminal Law will have a final exam at the end of the spring
semester.
Midterm and final exams must be taken at the scheduled time unless:
(1) the student has two exams on the same day (which never happens
during the first year);
(2) the student has four consecutive exams on four consecutive
calendar days (which never happens during the first year); or
(3) the student experiences a serious illness or other circumstances
beyond the student's control that affect the student's capacity to
take the exam at the regularly scheduled time. Examples of "other
special circumstances" include death of an immediate family member,
a car accident, or birth of a child.
A student seeking to reschedule an exam must contact Associate Dean
Pierce before the exam or, if she cannot be reached, then the Dean.
Exam Numbers
Each student is assigned a different exam number every semester.
Students put their exam numbers rather than their names on their
exams and exams are graded anonymously.
Grades
The College of Law uses a numerical grading scale with grades
ranging from 9 to 0. The numerical grades and their letter
equivalents are as follows.
9 = A+ 8 = A 7 = B+ 6 = B 5 = C+ 4 =
C 3 = D+ 2 = D 0 = F
Grades of 0 carry no credit. The only courses at the College that
may be taken pass/fail are Externship, Law Review (for Law Review
Editors), Moot Court (for Moot Court Problem Writers), Moot Court Team (for Moot Court Team members, and Trial Team (for Trial Team members).
A student who fails a required course but who is eligible to
continue must retake the course during the next semester or summer
session in which the course is offered. The student's transcript and
grade point average will reflect both the original failing grade and
the subsequent passing grade. A student who fails a course which is
not required may, but is not required to, repeat the course.
Rather than receiving a grade, a student may receive an Incomplete
("I"). Incompletes are discretionary with the instructor and must be
removed within one year. Otherwise, they automatically revert to a
failing grade ("0"). Incompletes are rarely given for first year
courses.
Grade Reports
Law College grade reports for the fall semester are distributed at
the College on the first day of classes of the spring semester. Law
College grade reports for the spring semester -- which list your
grades, grade point average and class rank -- are mailed to your
summer address.
Grades (but not GPAs and class ranks) are also available each
semester on the University's web site "What About Me" (WAM) at http://wam.unl.edu.
The grades on WAM should be the same as the grades on your Law
College grade report except that the Law College grade report will
have the numerical grade and WAM will have the letter equivalent. If
there are any discrepancies between your Law College grade report
and the grades on WAM, make sure you inform the Law College
Registrar as soon as possible.
Eligibility to Continue
Grade point averages are officially computed at least three times
during a student's law school career to determine the student's
class rank and eligibility to continue. The first computation will
be done when the student completes the required first year
curriculum. If the student's first year grade point average is less
than 4.000, the student will be ineligible to continue at the
College of Law.
The second computation is done at the end of the semester or summer
session in which the student has taken and received a grade in at
least 27 hours beyond the required first year curriculum. If the
student's grade point average for the courses taken since the first
computation is less than 4.000, the student will be ineligible to
continue.
The third computation is done at the end of the semester or summer
session in which the student has taken and received a grade in at
least 60 hours beyond the required first year curriculum. If the
student's grade point average for the courses taken since the second
computation is less than 4.000, the student will be ineligible to
continue.
The fourth computation, if necessary, is done when the student has
completed all of the requirements for graduation. To receive his or
her degree, the student must have a minimum grade point average of
4.000 for all courses taken.
Academic Probation
A student will be placed on probation if the student's grade point
average is at least 4.000 but not higher than 4.500 at the time of
the first or second computation. A student will also be placed on
probation if the student fails two courses at any point during the
student's law school career.
Students on probation are subject to such limitations and
requirements as the faculty or Dean may prescribe. Those may include
repeating failed courses, limitations on outside employment and
limitations on the number of hours the student can take.
Law College Graduation
Although graduation may seem a long way off, you will be surprised
how quickly the next three years will pass. Each May, the College
holds its own commencement exercises separate from the general
University commencement exercises. The Law College commencement
exercises feature a processional in academic regalia, a hooding
ceremony, and addresses by a distinguished speaker and the president
of the graduating class. After the exercises, the graduates and
their guests are invited to a reception hosted by the College.
Students who graduate in December or August may choose to
participate in the University commencement for graduate students (please double check this with the Registrar). The Law College typically holds a graduation ceremony at the Law College for December graduates.
Graduation with Honors
The faculty normally will award the J.D. degree with honors to
students who have achieved cumulative grade point averages as
follows:
With highest distinction - 8.00 or higher
With high distinction - 7.50 - 7.99
With distinction - 6.75 - 7.49
Transfer students must have completed at least 45 graded hours at
the College of Law to be eligible for graduation with honors.
Family Tradition Ceremony
The College of Law holds an annual "Family Tradition" ceremony to
recognize alumni who have family members graduating from the College
of Law. The ceremony is held before the May commencement. Each alum
is presented with a plaque with the graduate's and alum's names and
the years of graduation.
Pro Bono Initiative
The Law College has a Pro Bono Initiative which seeks to encourage and recognize volunteer legal services by Nebraska law students. Students who complete 50 hours or more of qualified pro bono work during their second and third years will receive a Dean's certificate upon graduation. Each year at least one student may be recognized for outstanding pro bono service.
To be recognized under the initiative, pro bono work must be:
1) Uncompensated - students may not receive either money or academic credit.
2) Law-related - the work must involve application, interpretation, instruction, or other use of the law under the guidance of a supervising attorney.
3) In the public interest - including, among other things, service to the indigent, efforts to protect essential rights and liberties, law reform projects, and projects to improve the legal profession or the public's understanding of the law. In addition to these requirements, pro bono work must be approved by the Dean's office prior to completion to qualify for this initiative. Information on the Pro Bono Initiative is available on the College of Law website or from the Registrar.
The Sounding Block
You'll find almost everything you ever wanted to know about what's going on at the Law College in The Sounding Block, the Law College newsletter for students, faculty and staff. It is distributed every other Monday by e-mail and contains information from the Dean; administrative information on such subjects as speakers and events, important deadlines, financial aid, registration, exams, writing competitions; information from Career Services and the library; information on Alumni Development; class information and information from student organizations.
Mailboxes
Each student and student organization at the Law College has a mailbox on the lower level, north of the tables in the student lounge. The mailboxes consist of filing cabinets with a file folder for each student and student organization. The mailboxes are for use by students, faculty, staff and administration. You should check your mailbox daily.
Bulletin Boards
The Law College Bulletin Board is located outside of the Dean's Office and should be checked daily. Professors use the board to post assignments and other course-related information. The Dean's Office also uses the board to post important notices.
The bulletin boards above the mailboxes on the lower level are for student organization and administration postings. The bulletin boards near the vending machines are for postings by the Career Services Office, student organizations, including a special area for the Student Bar Association, and for Editorials.
The area of the bulletin board labeled "Editorials" has been designated a limited public forum for the use of members of the law school community to communicate messages and points of view on any topic. All postings on the Editorial board must be marked with the date of the posting and signed. Postings will be removed after two weeks from the date of the posting. Any postings which do not comply with the posting policy will be removed immediately.
The bulletin boards at the south end of the student lounge, near the Law Review Office, contain information about outside scholarships and fellowships as well as postings about apartments for rent, books for sale, and services for students. All postings must be marked with the date of the posting or they will be removed.
The bulletin board on the south landing between the lower level and first floor contains information about summer study abroad and visiting programs at other law schools. The bulletin board on the north landing between the lower level and first floor contains information about essay competitions. Information about essay competitions is also published in the Sounding Block.
E-Mail
All students must have an e-mail address. The College administration, faculty and student organizations often communicate with students by e-mail. Many faculty members set up online discussion lists for their classes each semester, supplementing other forms of communication. You should check your e-mail daily.
College of Law Website
The College has a web site, located at http://law.unl.edu which we encourage you to use. It contains information for current students, the student photo directory and address book (passworded access only), as well as information about the faculty and staff, admissions, financial aid, career services, alumni, the library, and links to many other web sites. The Career Services Office posts job opportunities and other information online on ROSCOE. The Law College calendar of events is on the website home page.
Lockers
The College has enough lockers for every student who wants one. The lockers are located on the lower level in two different areas. One area is located immediately behind the concrete wall with the sculpture on it. The other area is located near the mailboxes.
In order to claim a locker, you need to find a locker without a lock on it, put your lock on it, and then put your name next to the locker number on the locker sign-up sheet in the Dean's Office. You can keep the same locker for all three years, but you must sign-up for that locker every fall.
Room Use
Students who would like to use a classroom for a study group or student organization meeting must first see the Receptionist in the Dean's Office to reserve the room and must comply with the room reservation policy. Classrooms are generally locked after 5 p.m. unless needed for a class. Students may not use equipment in any classrooms. Study rooms in the library may be reserved at the Library Circulation Desk for individual or group study.
Newspapers
Weekday newspapers are available in the library or in the machines on the lower level near the mailboxes.
Lost and Found
The Lost and Found is located in the Dean's Office.
Student Directory
The Law College publishes a directory on our web site (password protected) of the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of the faculty, staff, and students. All students will be listed in the directory unless they notify the Receptionist by August 28th that they do not wish to be listed.
No Smoking
No tobacco products may be used in any buildings or vehicles of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Use of tobacco products on the grounds of any UNL site is allowed as long as that use is at least 10 feet away from the entrance of the building.
Financial Aid
The College works closely with the University Financial Aid Office and has direct computer access to the Financial Aid Office database. If you run into problems or have questions about your financial aid, you should see Associate Dean Pierce or Beki Colberg. If you need a short term loan, you should see Associate Dean Pierce. The College makes interest-free short term loans which can come in very handy if your student loan check is late or if you run into an unexpected emergency. The University Financial Aid Office also makes short term loans but charges interest and sometimes requires a co-signer.
If you have any outstanding student loans and need to have them deferred, make sure you get the deferral forms from your lender and take them to the Registrar of the Law College in the Dean's Office in Room 103G.
Transcripts
When you need a transcript from the Law College, you should fill out the Transcript Request Form in the Registrar's office. Transcripts are free.
Faculty Committees
Students serve on a number of the faculty committees at the College. Serving on one of these committees provides students with the opportunity to become more involved in the life of the College and to work closely with the faculty on matters of importance to the College.
Each fall, the SBA appoints the student members of the faculty committees. First year students are eligible for appointment on all committees except the Grade Appeals and Honor Committees. The faculty committees on which students serve and a brief description of each committee's function are listed below.
Appointments Committee. This committee reviews the resumes of candidates for faculty positions, interviews the candidates, and makes hiring recommendations to the full faculty.
Building Committee. This committee sets the policies governing the use of the Law College facilities.
Curriculum. This committee studies and makes recommendations to the faculty concerning the Law College curriculum and also acts with respect to student petitions on some individual curricular matters. Student members do not participate in any decisions involving individual students.
Grade Appeal Committee. This committee consists of three tenured members of the faculty and two student members from the second and third year classes. The committee adjudicates any grade appeal that a student may file against a faculty member. The student members are selected in the spring.
Lectureship Committee. This committee chooses the speakers for and administers the College's endowed lectureships. The committee also sponsors other lectures at the College.
Library Committee. This committee discusses the current operations of the library with the Director of the Law Library, is involved in long-range planning for the library, and participates in the appointments process for librarians.
Student Awards & Assistance Committee. This committee is
responsible for Law College grants and academic awards. Student members participate in setting general policies but do not participate in any decisions involving individual students or awards.
Student-Faculty Honor Committee. This committee is composed of three members of the faculty and two students from the second and
third year classes. The committee adjudicates alleged violations of the Honor Code. The student members are selected in the spring.
The Career Services Office (CSO) is dedicated to providing students and graduates with the information and tools necessary for successful career development. The CSO is not a placement office, instead, our goal is to help individuals understand the legal job market, conduct effective employment searches, prepare application materials, develop networking and interviewing skills and connect with employers. In addition to one-on-one counseling, the CSO hosts on-campus interviews each spring and fall, sponsors a number of informational seminars throughout the year, and sponsors student participation in a number of regional and national career fairs. Please visit our web pages to learn more about the services we offer. Click here for more information.
Extracurricular Academic Programs
Client Counseling Board
The Client Counseling Board supervises the law school's client
counseling competition. The Board's primary duties consist of
preparing problems for the competition, selecting judges from the
Bar and from counseling professions, providing training sessions for
competitors, selecting and training clients, and supervising each
competitive round.
Invitations to serve on the Board are given to students based on
their dedication to and participation in Board activities. No
experience in client counseling is required. Students may elect to
participate on committees or contribute to organizational activities
commensurate with their abilities and interests.
Participation on the Client Counseling Board offers students a
unique opportunity to work with lawyers and counselors in the
community. Participation on the Board also better prepares students
for successful competition. Students may compete and serve on the
Board simultaneously. For further information, contact Professor
Alan Frank or Professor Craig Lawson.
Client Counseling Competition
The Client Counseling Competition provides students with the opportunity to cultivate communication skills, especially skills of interviewing, counseling, analysis, and problem-solving. The purpose of the competition is not only to promote skills essential to students' future careers, but also to select a team to represent the Law College in the National Client Counseling Competition.
In 2009, the Law College team of Amy Bartels and Adam Bates won not only the National Client Counseling Competition, but the Louis M. Brown International Competition as well, besting teams from 18 countries from around the world. The Law College team was the first team representing the United States to win the International Competition since 1996.
A team from the Law College has competed in the regional competition each year since 1975, winning the regional competition 11 times, including 8 in the last 14 years, and the national competition 3 times. College of Law teams have also finished second twice and third twice in the national competition.
Each competitive session replicates an initial client interview. Students are given a brief memo about a client who is consulting them with a particular problem. After some background preparation, the students, acting together in teams of two, interview the client. The client is an actor who is given a role to play, provided with detailed background information, and able realistically to portray a client. Each team is evaluated on the basis of its ability to establish a rapport with the client, to elicit pertinent information, to make sound practical and legal judgments, and to recommend appropriate courses of action.
While the regular competition is open to second and third year students only, a special first-year competition is held in the spring. No prior experience in client counseling is required. Competitors will find the competition to be an invaluable opportunity to develop important, and often neglected, skills. They will also find an unusual opportunity to work closely with the student and faculty advisors to the competition.
Faculty Advisors:
Professor Alan Frank
Professor Craig Lawson
National Moot Court Team
The National Moot Court Team actually consists of two teams of three
students each and represents the College in the Annual National Moot
Court Competition sponsored by the Association of the Bar of the
City of New York. Each year, approximately 190 teams representing
approximately 130 law schools enter the competition. For purposes of
the competition, the country is divided into 14 regions. Only 28
teams -- the first and second place teams from each region --
advance to the National Rounds in New York City. The Regional Rounds
are held in November, and the National Rounds are held in January.
To date, the College has compiled an impressive record in the
competition. The College first advanced to the National Rounds in
1953 (the first year in which the College participated in the
competition) and has advanced 26 times since then. In fact, the
College has advanced to the National Rounds in 7 of the last 10
years -- most recently, in 2006 (Sean Conway, Allyson Mendoza and
Mackenzie Sorich).
The College won the National Rounds in 1953 (William Grant, Ronald
Hunter, and Eleanor Knoll), and finished second twice, in 1956
(Patrick Healey, James Knapp, and Jerrold Strasheim) and in 1961
(Richard Peterson, Richard Shugrue, and Robert Weigel). The College
last won a national brief award in 2002 (Matt Graff, Tom Kelley, and
Monica Smith -- Second Best Brief in the United States) and last won
a regional brief award in 2002 (Matt Graff, Tom Kelley, and Monica
Smith--Best Brief, Region 9).
The major reasons for the College's success over the years are the
ability and hard work of its students. The faculty advisors to the
National Moot Court Team, Professors Lenich and Lyons, select the
members of the team from the second year students who participate in
the Allen Moot Court Competition held at the College each spring.
The members then represent the College during their third year.
Although being a member of the National Moot Court Team involves a
considerable amount of work, it also offers students a unique
opportunity to sharpen their oral and written advocacy skills.
National Trial Competition
The College of Law has participated in the National Trial
Competition since 1977. The Competition is sponsored by the Texas
Young Lawyers Association in order to emphasize and promote trial
skills. The College is represented by two teams of students who
present full jury trials, in competition with students from other
law schools, at regional and national contests. A Nebraska team has
qualified for the national competition several times, most recently
in 2007. The team coaches are Professor Richard Moberly, Professor Steven Schmidt and
Associate Dean Glenda Pierce.
Nebraska Law Review
In 1922, the faculty of the University of Nebraska College of Law
announced the publication of the first The NEBRASKA LAW BULLETIN,
the expressed object of which was "to state and criticize Nebraska
law in selected fields, in such a way as to be of service to the
profession." Throughout its years of publication, the NEBRASKA LAW
REVIEW has maintained its emphasis upon Nebraska law, although the
scope of its inquiry has broadened considerably. The REVIEW now
strives to publish articles that are timely, interesting, and
informative for practitioners and scholars on both local and
national levels.
Each volume of the NEBRASKA LAW REVIEW is published in four
quarterly issues. Publication of the REVIEW is solely the
responsibility of its student members. Candidate members are
selected through two different methods, outlined below. Candidates
are elevated to full membership when they have successfully
completed a set of responsibilities, which includes writing a
publishable article and checking for accuracy and proper citation
form of footnotes in articles that will be published in the REVIEW.
All members continue to check footnotes, read manuscripts, and
participate in general editing throughout their membership.
The first method of candidate membership selection is by invitation,
extended by the NEBRASKA LAW REVIEW to those students who, at
the completion of their first year, rank scholastically in the upper
10% of their class. Although the GPAs of those in the upper 10% of
each first year class fluctuate year to year, in the past several
years, students in the top 10% have generally had GPAs of
approximately 7.2 and above. However, 10% is only a general guide.
Invitations may be extended to more or fewer than those in the top
10%, depending on the number of students tied for the same GPA near
the tenth percentile.
The second method of candidate membership selection is through a
write-on competition sponsored each Summer and Winter by the
NEBRASKA LAW REVIEW. Specific guidelines for preparing the
manuscript are provided by the NEBRASKA LAW REVIEW. All students
have the opportunity to participate in the write-on competition at
three different points during their time at the College: after the
first year, during the second year, and after the second year. Each
participant has about six weeks to complete the manuscript. The
current set of full members evaluates the manuscripts and offers
membership to those whose manuscripts meet the standard of
"demonstrated excellence." No fixed percentage of manuscripts are
accepted or rejected. The members may select all, none, or any
number of the write-on competition participants for candidate
membership on the NEBRASKA LAW REVIEW.
An Executive Board is elected each year from among the second year
members of the NEBRASKA LAW REVIEW. Each Executive Board is
responsibe for overseeing the publication of one full volume of the
NEBRASKA LAW REVIEW. The primary functions of the Executive
Board are to solicit and edit materials to be published in the
REVIEW, to supervise the writing of student articles, and to oversee
the cite-checking and editing done by the members. Members of the
Executive Board also continue to research and write articles for
publication and assist in the general management of the NEBRASKA
LAW REVIEW.
Click here to visit NEBRASKA LAW REVIEW's web site.
Nebraska Moot Court Board
The Nebraska Moot Court Board is composed of students selected
either on the basis of first or second year grades or notable
aptitude and ability demonstrated in a write-on program. The members
of the Board play a vital role in the academic life of the Law
College. Members assist in the administration of the First Year Moot
Court Program, which is part of the course in Legal Research and
Writing, and supervise upperclass Moot Court Competitions in the
fall and spring. Students who accept invitations to become candidate
members of the Board write problems suitable for use in the First
Year Moot Court Program and the fall upperclass competition. Members
also serve as judges for some of the oral arguments. Senior members
of the Board supervise the work of the candidate members and assist
in the administration of moot court activities at the College of
Law. Senior members of the Board are also selected to compete at an
intercollegiate competition.
As the word "moot" suggests, the cases argued in a Moot Court
Competition are hypothetical, involving unsettled issues. Students
work on these issues in two person teams. The problems used in the
First Year Program and the fall upperclass competition may involve
either state or federal law. With the permission of the Young
Lawyers Committee of the New York City Bar Association, the Board
uses the prior year's National Moot Court Competition problem as the
problem for the Spring Allen Moot Court Competition. That problem
involves complex issues of federal law, either constitutional or
statutory or both.
The Board established the Fall Grether Moot Court Competition as
a tribute to former College of Law Dean Henry M. Grether, Jr.
(1966-77). The Fall Grether Moot Court Competition is open to all
second and third year students. The final argument of this
competition is argued in front of the Nebraska Court of Appeals.
Special recognition is provided to the best forensic performance in
the preliminary round and best oral advocate in the final round of
the competition.
The University Board of Regents and the Law College Faculty
established the Spring Allen Moot Court Competition as a memorial to
the first graduate of the College of Law, Thomas Stinson Allen. Its
prime purpose is to give students working experience in the
preparation of appellate briefs and in the argument of appellate
cases. Students work in two person teams, presenting oral arguments
to panels of judges sitting as the Supreme Court of the United
States. Each team argues at least twice in a preliminary round.
Eight teams then proceed to a single elimination quarter-final
round, from which four teams go on to a semi-final round. The two
winning teams from the semi-final round present the final argument
before three judges of the Nebraska Supreme Court. The best oral
advocate in the final round of the competition is awarded the Roscoe
Pound Award and provided a cash prize from the Nebraska Trial
Attorneys Association. The team with the best brief in the
competition receives the Kenneth L. Noha Best Brief Award.
Click here to visit the Moot Court web site.
THE NEBRASKA TRANSCRIPT
Published twice a year, THE NEBRASKA TRANSCRIPT keeps College of Law
alumni, students and faculty aware of developments and events at the
College and in the legal profession. More than 6,000 copies of each
issue are distributed to the College's alumni, students and faculty,
and to other law schools and libraries.
THE NEBRASKA TRANSCRIPT's editorial staff includes a Student Editor
who assists in the creation of story ideas, finds and assigns
student writers for articles, and makes sure the articles are
submitted in a timely fashion. Students are also encouraged to write
for the THE NEBRASKA TRANSCRIPT. A position with THE NEBRASKA
TRANSCRIPT offers law students an opportunity to interact with
professors, members of the legal profession, and prominent guest
speakers. In addition, THE NEBRASKA TRANSCRIPT enables law students
to write articles that will be read by local, state, and national
members of the legal profession.
If you would like to become involved with THE NEBRASKA TRANSCRIPT or
have suggestions for future articles, please contact the THE
NEBRASKA TRANSCRIPT's editor, Professor Alan Frank.
Click here to visit
THE NEBRASKA TRANSCRIPT's web site.
The Student Bar Association (SBA) is the student government at the Law College. The SBA contains an Executive Board, which is comprised of five executive officers, and Class Officers, which includes a president, vice-president and two class representatives from each class. The SBA serves a variety of purposes, which include: representing the student body to the faculty and administration, organizing community service and academic activities, and hosting family events and parties at various times throughout the year.
The SBA's most visible role is in its service to the student. For example, the SBA holds book sales before each fall and spring semester. The book sales give students the chance to buy and sell books and study aids used during the previous year or semester. Students can realize significant savings on books by purchasing them at the SBA book sale instead of the campus bookstore. In addition, for the books that one cannot find at the SBA book sale, all SBA members get an 8% discount on new books at the campus bookstore.
Service to the students also involves socialization. The SBA holds events that are designed to facilitate camaraderie and professional networking, such as: Meeting of the Minds, which brings the faculty and students together for a night of good spirits and good conversation; Barrister's Ball, which is the law school's formal party; and Mel Shinn Activity Day, which pits law students and faculty in "athletic" competition. Aside from these big events, the SBA holds an annual golf scramble and routinely hosts parties and Friday-Afternoon-Clubs (FACs) throughout the semester.
Along with the SBA's social directives, it strives to provide services for the benefit of the community. Programs like Project W.I.S.H.L.I.S.T., which provides needy youngsters with warm clothes for the winter, and Canned Immunity, which combines a law student's need for a reprieve from the Socratic Method with a canned food drive to support the Lincoln Food Bank, are intended to allow the collective effort of the school and aid the community at-large.
In short, the SBA is here to help all law students. Your participation, whether it is through service or suggestion, will aid us in meeting this goal. In the coming year we urge you to attend the SBA meetings, run for an office, volunteer for a student-faculty committee, or just stop by the office and chat. An overwhelming majority of the law student population belongs to the Student Bar Association. Membership dues are our main source of revenue and consist of a one time payment of $85.00. Of this $85.00 payment, $20.00 goes toward your first year dues in the American Bar Association and the rest will cover your SBA dues for your entire three years of law school. You may sign up before school or after school begins. If you have questions concerning membership, feel free to consult anyone on the SBA Executive Board.
We look forward to meeting you!
Agricultural Law Association
The Agricultural Law Association (ALA) is a subdivision of the Environmental Law Society (ELS). The ALA works with the ELS to bring quality programming and speakers to the law school on agricultural, environmental, water and other related legal issues. The ALA also works in conjunction with ELS to do community service events and to run the law school's recycling program.
In 2006-07, students attended the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) conference in Savannah, Georgia. The AALA is the only national professional organization focusing on the legal needs of the agricultural community. Crossing traditional barriers, it offers an independent forum for investigation of innovative and workable solutions to complex agricultural law problems. This role has taken on greater importance in the midst of the current international and environmental issues, reshaping agriculture, and the impending technological advances which promise equally dramatic changes. Law College ALA members have the option of joining the AALA and receiving the Agricultural Law Update, a monthly newsletter containing short reports and summaries of significant developments in agricultural law. More information about the AALA may be found at http://www.aglaw-assn.org/.
The ALA is serviced by the ELS officers:
Allies and Advocates for GLBT Equality
Allies and Advocates for GLBT Equality is an organization whose primary focus is to further equality for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders by raising awareness and educating others as to legal issues affecting the gay community. It is a broad-based organization that is open to members of all sexual orientation.
Faculty Advisor: Professor Craig Lawson
American Bar Association-Law Student Division
The Law Student Division (LSD) of the ABA is the national student wing of the ABA. It has over 50,000 members from ABA-approved law schools throughout the nation. The LSD offers many benefits to its members and a chance to make a difference during your law school career.
The benefits offered by the ABA/LSD include free subscriptions to the ABA Journal and Student Lawyer, free membership in the ABA for one year after graduation, free study aids, discounts on hotel and car rentals, a health insurance program and much more. Visit www.abanet.org for more details on these benefits.
The ABA/LSD also offers many opportunities to become involved locally, regionally and nationally. In recent years, UNL law students have served as ABA entity liaisons and circuit lieutenant governors. Entity liaisons serve as the student representatives to the ABA's sections, divisions and forum committees. There is an entity for nearly every area of practice, and the liaison is invited to participate in the entity's activities throughout the year, making this position an exceptional national networking opportunity.
Lieutentant governors administer the work of their circuit's activities, including regional meetings and work-a-day programs. This year, a UNL law student, Nic Sikora is serving as the ABA-LSD governor. For more information on leadership opportunities in the ABA/LSD, visit www.abanet.org/lsd/leadership/home.html.
There are opportunities throughout the year to go to conferences across the nation. Each year, UNL participates in three ABA/LSD conferences: the regional fall roundtable, circuit spring roundtable and summer annual confernece. In recent years, students have enjoyed such destinations as St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco, and Honolulu, while participating in interesting legal programming and networking with attorneys and law students from across the nation.
When you join the Student Bar Association at UNL, a complimentary year of membership in the ABA/LSD is included. Applications for membership will be available during orientation and throughout the year. If you have any questions or would like to become involved in the ABA Law Student Division, contact the ABA/LSD representative.
American Constitution Society
The mission of the American Constitution Society is to harness values of compassion and respect for each individual, and to re incorporate them into American law and politics, in order to build a stronger and more decent national community. We believe that the Constitution, and by extension, many other areas of American law, can be understood only by reference to principles of decency, reason, humanity and compassion. We believe that those who enforce the law must have concern for the way in which it affects the lives of the people who make up the nation in which we live. We seek to restore the fundamental principles of respect for human dignity, protection of individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice to their rightful place in American law. We want to strengthen the intellectual underpinnings of and the public case for a vision of the law in which these values are paramount. Our goal is a rekindling of the hope that by reason and decency, we can create an America that is better for us all.
Big Brother/Big Sister Program
For New Students
Delta Theta Phi sponsors a voluntary all-school program designed to give new law students a second or third year student to contact who can answer their questions about law school, Lincoln, and the first year experience.
Applications are sent with registration materials in May, and the information from the application is used to pair up entering students with an experienced law student with similar interests to help introduce new students to what opportunities the University of Nebraska College of Law has to offer. The College will send you the name and contact information of your law student "sibling" so that you may contact them as you prepare to begin your law school career.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to meet and get to know your Big Brother or Big Sister throughout orientation week. Scheduled get-togethers include an ice cream social provided by Delta Theta Phi and a pizza lunch during the first week of classes. Of course, it is likely you will see them roaming around the building between classes as well. Even though the program is optional, it is highly recommended.
If you are interested in participating in the program as a new student now (and hopefully as a Big Brother or Big Sister in the future), please fill out the form which was included in the registration packet from the College. If you have any questions about the program, please contact us. We look forward to meeting you!
Black Law Students Association
The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) was established in 1967 at New York University Law School. The purpose of NBLSA is to promote the professional needs and goals of Black law students. Professional competence and a commitment to the needs of the Black community is the foundation upon which NBLSA was built. The founder, Mr. A.J. Cooper, and other students envisioned BLSA to be a catalyst of change in the legal system. This commitment has since reached astronomical bounds. In its short duration, NBLSA has had its influence felt on one generation of law students.
Currently, NBLSA has over 200 chapters throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. This represents almost every ABA accredited law school in the nation, plus several non-accredited institutions. NBLSA is the pre-eminent articulator of Black law students' concerns from coast-to-coast.
NBLSA is continually implementing programs to better enable Black law students and attorneys to effectuate change in and assistance in their communities. Some national programs are the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, the Sandy Brown Memorial Scholarship, National Job Fair, National Law Day, National Youth Lecture Series, and the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Weekend.
In realizing that there was a need for a sense of community and a desire to balance the scales of justice, eight Black students at the University of Nebraska College of Law re-activated the local chapter in 1993.
The UNL chapter of BLSA has a strong commitment to the objectives of the organization. We strive to initiate change within the legal system that will make it more responsive to the needs and concerns of our people. BLSA focuses on scholarship, academic excellence, and career-orientation. We sponsor programs such as academic workshops, career information seminars, Black motivational speakers, mentorship programs and a "Diversity Day" Program for high school students of color within the Lincoln community. Our objective is to have a strong academic and political presence at the UNL College of Law and provide a motivational environment where Black law students will excel, while maintaining our sense of identity and our ties to the Black community. A first year representative will be elected in the fall.
Faculty Advisors: Professor Anna Shavers and Professor Catherine Lee Wilson
Christian Legal Society
Christian Legal Society (CLS) is an organization of law students who share a commitment to Jesus Christ and a desire to serve Him in every aspect of their lives. The group desires to encourage students in their faith by providing them with opportunities to examine the relationship between faith and current legal topics and to develop meaningful friendships with fellow law students. In furthering this goal, the group is involved with the national Christian Legal Society and a network of local Christian attorneys in Nebraska.
CLS meets at the law school once a week during the semester, and these meetings vary in format -- from Bible studies to special speakers. The group also holds activities outside of school, such as prayer meetings and social events.
Christian Legal Society will post information on the student organization bulletin board to keep interested students aware of speakers, meetings, and upcoming events. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the group's officers.
Community Legal Education Project
The Community Legal Education Project (CLEP) at the College of Law provides law students with an opportunity to teach law and legal issues to children in the community. CLEP students go into local elementary, middle school, and high school classrooms once a week for six weeks to teach prepared lessons about the law. The curriculum sometimes includes a mock trial.
CLEP has drawn an enthusiastic response from law students, cooperating teachers and participating children. The time commitment involved is minimal and the project provides a welcome break from studying, and is a great resume builder. There is no cost to participate.
Faculty Advisor: Professor Alan Frank
Delta Theta Phi
The Delta Theta Phi Fraternity, founded in the year 1900, is one of the three leading professional law fraternities in the world. Since its inception, membership has grown to over 100,000 lawyers and has included many distinguished persons in government, business, international affairs, the judiciary, and the general practice of law including, Calvin Coolidge, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sandra Day O'Connor and Harry Blackmun. Students who join any of the 65 active chapters can benefit greatly through the acquaintances and friendships made at Delta Theta Phi functions.
The Roscoe Pound Senate, founded in 1922, is the UNL Law College Chapter of Delta Theta Phi. Roscoe Pound Senate alumni include John Hendry, former Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice; Ronald Luedtke, former Nebraska Lieutenant Governor; William Blue, former Lancaster County District Court Judge.
Delta Theta Phi activities include community service projects, seminars on outlining and oral arguments, and a Big Brother/Big Sister program for new students. The Big Brother/Big Sister program matches incoming law students with upper class mentors, and is open to all law students. Membership in Delta Theta Phi provides access to a wide variety of resources, including outline files, a subscription to our national newsletter The Paper Book, and the opportunity to submit articles to the Adelphia Journal, the only nationally recognized and registered law review maintained and published by a law fraternity.
Delta Theta Phi is a non-exclusive law fraternity that seeks to blend social, educational and professional activities for its members with a strong focus on their academic needs.
Faculty Sponsor: Bill Lyons
Environmental and Agricultural Law Society
The Environmental Law Society (ELS) advocates public service and environmental awareness. The ELS hosts speakers and career panels to promote interest in environmental issues and career opportunities. The ELS, inconjunction with ists sub-organization, the Agricultural Law Association, participates in community service events, including the Susan G. Komen for the Cure walk, the law school recycling program and the University-wide service program known as the Big Event.
The University of Nebraska ELS is a member of the National Association of Environmental Law Societies (NAELS), which is a student-run, non-partisan group formed in the late 1980's by a group of students from numerous law schools whose goal was to create a student-run organization that unified individual ELS's by sharing ideas, supporting each other, and gathering a central repository of information about environmentally-related activities at law schools. NAELS' goal is to help individual ELS's prepare each generation of leaders in environmental law with the tools to practice solution-oriented environmental law, lead organizattions, engage in the political process, and launch environmental law careers.
NAELS includes individual ALA's from over fifty law schools. One of NAELS's member schools hosts the NAELS annual conference each spring. For example, in 2004, Lewis and Clark Law College presented "Public Lands Management at the Crossroads: Balancing Interests in the 21st Century". Registration is free to ALA members.
Designated UNL ELS members paricipate in the NAELS annual conference each spring, which features speakers working on enviornmental issues at the hightest levels of our legislature and judiciary. Former Vice President Al Gore was the keynote speaker at the 2007 NAELS conference at Gerofge Washington University. UNL students have served on the NAELS board of governors in recent years and numberous national leadership opportunities are available. For more information about NAELS, visit its website at www.naels.org/.
Faculty Advisor: Professor Sandi Zellmer
Equal Justice Society
The Equal Justice Society (EJS) is committed to increasing the awareness of the Law College community to the rewards, challenges, and opportunities of working with legally under-represented and unrepresented groups. This is done through the Nebraska Fund for Clerkships in the Public Interest (NFCPI), educational programs and speakers, and community outreach. By providing information, inspiration and opportunity, EJS hopes to challenge future lawyers to dedicate themselves to the development of a more just society. EJS recognizes that positive social change can and should be promoted by the legal profession and encourage future lawyers who will not work in the public interest field to provide pro bono legal services.
EJS defines public interest broadly to include traditional civil rights organizations as well as firms or agencies that provide representation in consumer, animal and environmental rights, international law, immigration law, human rights law, criminal law, employment law, and representation of the poor via legal services corporations and public defender offices.
EJS has contracted with Bar/Bri to sell and to administer the Bar/Bri bar review course. All proceeds of this arrangement and other fund raising activities help support NFCPI and allow students to clerk at public interest organizations in the summer.
The Federalist Society
The Federalist Society is the gathering place for conservative and libertarian law students and professors, and promotes conservative and libertarian voices within the law school community.
In addition to our lively discussions on important current topics, the Federalist Society has sponsored a host of national speakers, including the Hon. Robert Bork, Clint Bolick (lead counsel on the Wisconsin School Choice Case), and 8th Circuit Judge Arlen Beam. During the 2000-2001 school year, the Society co-sponsored a debate on the tobacco litigation, featuring Bob Levy of the CATO Institute and Vince Powers, President of the Nebraska Trial Lawyers Association. The Society also sponsored discussions with Judge Alex Kosinski (9th Circuit Court of Appeals) and Justice John Gerrard of the Nebraska Supreme Court.
The Federalist Society is a national organization whose members are committed to the conservative and libertarian values of limited government, separation of powers, and judicial restraint. An editorial from the Wall Street Journal identified four current or former U.S. Supreme Court Justices as members (Scalia, O'Connor, Thomas, and Kennedy), and further stated that as many as 24 Bush administration members or advisors belong to the Society. The Society's national leadership includes Judge Bork, Senator Orrin Hatch, Industrialist Joseph Cannon, and former White House Cabinet member Edwin Meese.
Membership in the Society is only $10. Members receive the Society's national newsletter (The Federalist Paper), the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, and may join two of the Society's practice groups.
Faculty Advisor: Professor Rick Duncan
International Law Student Association
The International Law Student Association enables law students who are interested in international law and international trade to continue their education in this field beyond the classroom. Activities include: sponsoring the Jessup International Moot Court Competition; counseling on graduate level and summer programs in international law, internships and career opportunities; and interdisciplinary programs sponsored by the College of Business Administration, the College of Agriculture, the Institute of International Affairs and other UNL colleges and departments involved in international relations and trade issues.
Faculty Advisor: Professor Matt Schaefer
J. Reuben Clark Law Society
The J. Reuben Clark Law Society (JRCLS) is an international association of law students and attorneys that focuses on maintaining religion and
ethics within the practice of law. The JRCLS includes active chapters throughout the United States and seven other countries.
The JRCLS sponsors law student chapters of LDS law students and others interested in the mission of the Law Society. The JRCLS promotes public service, loyalty to the rule of law,
and appreciation for the religious dimension in society and in a lawyer's personal life. Members of the JRCLS are committed to, and strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
The mission statement and purpose of the JRCLS is: We affirm the strength brought to the law by a lawyer's personal religious conviction. We strive through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law.
Members of the Society share former Utah Supreme Court Justice Dallin Oaks' determination that the fairness, decency, integrity, virtue, and love of truth taught at the hearthstones of thousands of homes throughout the land shall have a concentrated
impact on the legal profession and the nation's laws. It is in these homes, led by God-fearing parents, that young men and women who
[enter the legal profession] have already gained that intangible moral instinct that will bear its fruits in the legislative halls, the courtrooms, the offices, and other private and public places. By broadly encouraging the teaching of religious and moral values within the legal profession,
the Law Society hopes to have a lasting impact on the development of moral foundations among attorneys and throughout society.
Involvement in the University of Nebraska Chapter includes weekly organized discussions, monthly pot-luck gatherings which include a featured speaker, and service projects.
Law School Democrats
The Law School Democrats promote democratic values and candidates by sponsoring various speakers as well as providing a forum for political discussion. We seek to get law students more politically active by involving them in campaigns, voter registration and policy matters. All law students are welcome to attend our meetings to listen and discuss political matters.
Multi-Cultural Legal Society
The Multi-Cultural Legal Society is a joint student-faculty organization which seeks to foster the unity, academic development, social and political consciousness, and vitality of minority students at the College of Law. The Society also seeks to increase the representation of minorities in the legal profession and pursues an intensive program for the recruitment of minority students.
The Multi-Cultural Legal Society is active in sponsoring speakers and programs to educate the law school community on minority-related political and legal issues.
The Multi-Cultural Legal Society is open to all members of the law school community. Multi-Cultural Legal Society does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, culture, religion, sexual orientation, or physical limitation. We are an equal opportunity organization. Those interested in obtaining additional information should feel free to contact any of the Society's members.
Faculty Advisors: Professor Anna Shavers and Professor Catherine Wilson
National Native American Law Students Association (NNALSA)
The UNL Chapter of the National Native American Law Students Association aims to provide a forum for the exploration of legal problems relating to laws affecting American Indians, to promote unity, communication and cooperation among American Indian law students, and to foster communication between American Indian law students and the Indian people, Indian lawyers, fellow law students, and the general public.
Faculty Advisor: Sarah Gloden
Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys/
American Association for Justice
Trial Work • Litigation • Oral Argument
If you see yourself doing actual trial work in a courtroom, zealously advocating for your client, rather than sitting in a dull, stuffy office for 10-12 hours a day, then membership in the student chapter of NATA/AAJ is right for you.
Members receive free admittance to all NATA/AAJ sponsored educational seminars and programs. In addition, your membership entitles you to receive several major professional journals that are specifically geared towards trial attorneys. It also looks great on your job applications!
The UNL Chapter of NATA/AAJ strives to bring only the best trial attorneys in the state to be guest speakers at our events. We hold several smaller events every semester with guest speakers from a wide range of specialties including criminal law, personal injury, family practice, business, domestic violence, immigration law, and other fields. At these events, lawyers talk to a small group of law students about their careers in their particular specialty, assisting students in deciding on their career choices. We do this in order to supplement the students' theory-oriented education with a glimpse of the real world from highly successful practitioners.
The Nebraska Entertainment and Sports Law Association
The Nebraska Entertainment and Sports Law Association (NESLA) is a recently created student organization with the goal of helping Nebraska students break into the ever-changing worlds of Entertainment and Sports Law. NESLA sponsors speakers throughout the year with topics ranging from Intellectual Property to NCAA violations and compliance rules. The group offers significant networking opportunities in the local Sports and Entertainment Law communities as well as the chance to attend national conferences that feature prominent guests from the recording industry, sports agencies, and numerous other related fields.
NESLA is also in the process of creating The Nebraska Entertainment and Sports Law Jouirnal. This journal will allow students to publish scholarly articles alongside some of the leading authorities in Entertainment and Sports Law. NESLA membership is open to all students. For more information feel free to contact any of the officers.
The Nebraska Fund for Clerkships in the Public Interest
The Nebraska Fund for Clerkships in the Public Interest (NFCPI) is a student-run, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to removing financial barriers which prevent UNL law students from taking volunteer or low-paying public interest summer clerkships. Providing grants for clerkships creates opportunities for rewarding professional experience for law students, and provides valuable legal services for traditionally underrepresented groups and interests.
If you are interested in supporting this work, helping to administer the fund, or applying for a grant, please contact the Public Interest Office, Room 08 (lower level).
Phi Alpha Delta International
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International is a professional service organization composed of pre-law students, law students, legal educators, attorneys, judges, and government officials. Phi Alpha Delta was founded in 1902 for the purpose of promoting professional competency and achievement within the legal profession. It was also the first law fraternity to admit women.
Since the beginning, Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) has experienced astounding growth and today is the world's largest law fraternity with over 200 pre-law chapters, 183 law school chapters and 95 alumni chapters in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
The Manoah Reese Chapter was re-chartered at the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1971. PAD is one of the largest organizations at the College of Law and is the largest law fraternity with over 70 members. The chapter possesses educational resources for its members, a networking system for employment as well as a social atmosphere to enjoy.
Lifetime dues to the international organization are $70. Chapter dues are in the amount of a one-time $15 payment. The dues are used to pay for the services and programs the fraternity offers.
Republican Law Students Association
Republican Law Students Association's purpose is to foster and encourage the activies of the Republican Party and to promote its ideals. Additionally, we serve as a quasi-lobby in an effort to influence governmental affairs on the local, state and national levels. RLSA brings in various Republican speakers to the law school. Membership is open to anyone claiming affiliation with the Republican Party.
Faculty Advisor: Professor John Lenich
St. Thomas More Society
The St. Thomas More Society is a student organization that seeks to integrate the practice of the Catholic faith with the practice of law. We are part of a nationwide tradition of St. Thomas More Societies established at American law schools. Membership is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about Catholic perspectives on legal issues.
The St. Thomas More Society seeks to provide a sense of community and spiritual support to Catholic law students, faculty, and staff at the College of Law. We sponsor social events, speaker programs, community service projects, opportunities to attend Mass and pray as a group, and intellectual discussion groups. We also jointly sponsor an annual social event with the local Catholic Lawyers Guild, whose members consist of Catholic attorneys practicing in Lincoln, Omaha, and the surrounding areas.
The St. Thomas More Society works closely with the Newman Center on the UNL City Campus (St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, northeast corner of 16th and Q Streets) and its pastor, the Rev. Robert Matya. The faculty sponsor for the organization is Professor Colleen E. Medill. The student officers of the organization are:
If you would like to be notified via e-mail of upcoming St. Thomas More Society events, please contact Professor Medill at cmedill2@unl.edu to be added to the organization’s e-mail distribution list.
Faculty Advisor: Professor Collen Medill
Student Animal Legal Defense Fund
The UNL College of Law's SALDF is dedicated to providing a forum for education, advocacy and scholarship aimed at protecting and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system, and raising the profile of the field of animal law. SALDF works in affiliation with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), a nonprofit group of attorneys and animal advocates dedicated to defending animal abuse and exploitation throughout the United States (www.aldf.org). Backed by more than 100,000 members and supporters, the ALDF takes direct legal action on behalf of imperiled animals everywhere - in laboratories, on farms, in the wild, and in communities.
Faculty Advisor: Professor Craig Lawson
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
VITA, sponsored by the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association, is part of the nationwide taxpayer assistance program of the Internal Revenue Service. Students from the Law College provide individuals with limited financial resources and physically challenged individuals free assistance in preparing their income tax returns.
The law student VITA volunteers assist clients with the tax law governing the returns the clients will file, guide clients through the process of preparing their returns and, in most instances, prepare clients' returns using software provided by the IRS. Thus, VITA offers law students the opportunity to get one-on-one experience working with a variety of taxpayers. The Law College VITA program includes training and reference materials. Thus, even if you have had no experience in preparing income tax returns, you can participate.
Our VITA program won the VITA Site of the Year award in 1991, our second year of operation. Building on that tradition, we continually try to reach new taxpayers and facilitate interaction between students and taxpayers. We invite second and third year students to volunteer for the Law College VITA program.
For more information contact the faculty advisor, Professor Bill Lyons.
Women's Law Caucus
The Women's Law Caucus is a professional organization, open to both men and women, that is dedicated to advancing skills which are important in the practice of law. A major goal of the Caucus is to promote the advancement of women in the law through support, dialogue, and special programs. The organization also strives to remain flexible to the changing needs and interests of its members.
The Women's Law Caucus holds regular monthly meetings throughout the year. Plans for this year include a reception for students and lawyers from the community, speakers, and several fund raising events.
For more information about the Caucus, feel free to leave a note for any of the board members in their mailboxes.
