s | b | a CHICAGO-KENT STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

February 14, 2022

Announcements

Welcome back, students! Please continue to send all Newsletter submissions to sbanewsletter.

Chicago-Kent Talent Show: The Chicago-Kent Talent Show – "Chicago Kent’s Got Talent" is coming up this April 15th in the Ogilvie Auditorium and we want YOU to audition! SBA is looking for potential acts to complete the attached google form and submit an audition video less than five minutes long to jspellman by Saturday, February 26th! Accepted acts will be notified via email the week leading up to March 6th. We are excited to promote your talent to the broader Chicago-Kent community, and as a plus there are some great prizes for the winners! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to this year’s talent show committee chairman Jack Spellman at jspellman, and thank you in advance for your audition!

Google Form: https://forms.gle/3F9izgrSxSrKv4Jm9

Fitness Center Lockers: Please note that the fitness center lockers are not for overnight use. The lockers are only to be used while you are using the Fitness Center. Items left overnight may be thrown out.

Tech Guide: Attached to this email is SBA’s Tech Guide. Please reference it for any technology-related problems you might encounter this semester.

National Security Law Conference:The Future is Now: Emerging Technologies and National Security Law. The conference is hosted by the Chicago-Kent’s Center of National Security and Human Rights Law. This year’s conference will be a one-day virtual conference held Thursday, February 17, 2022.

As a student of Chicago-Kent you are entitled to complimentary registration for the conference. To receive this discount, click here to register and enter the discount code: CKCLE1 at checkout.

Registration is now open and we encourage you to invite members in your network to register for the conference.

We hope that you are able to join us this year!

Civil Rights Litigation Conference: Please join us for the 38th Annual Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation Conference on April 20-21, 2022. This two-day virtual conference will provide up-to-date information on the latest cases, trends, and strategies affecting §1983 litigation.

As a student of Chicago-Kent you are entitled to complimentary registration for the conference. To receive this discount, click here to register and enter the discount code: CKCLE1 at checkout.

We hope that you are able to join us this year!

Student Organizations

ACLU of Illinois Networking Hour: On behalf of the Chicago-Kent American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Chapter, we hope you can join us on February 24th, 2022 from 12-1 p.m. CST for a virtual event in partnership with the ACLU Next Generation Society and the Northwestern School of Law ACLU Chapter. This event will bring together law students, Next Generation Society members, lawyers, and ACLU staff to discuss their career paths, current work, and involvement with the ACLU of Illinois and other public interest groups.

The event will feature a moderated panel discussion followed by breakout rooms for small group discussion and networking. In addition, the breakout rooms will focus on and include representatives from the following sectors: law firms, government, non-profits, and in-house counsel.

Please register for the event here and the Zoom link will be sent directly to your email.

American Bar Association (ABA):

If you would like to be more involved in the ABA or make the most out of your free membership, register for an account here and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions! Some benefits of that account include:

• ABA Discounts

• Free Membership in up to 5 Sections, Divisions, and Forums

• Access to ABA Advantage Programs

• Free content

And if you go for the premium $25/year membership, you also get:

• ABA Career Forward Powered by Korn Ferry Advance

• After the Bar digital publication

• ABA Bar Bundle Prep (discounts to various prep services)

• ABA Legal Ethics Bundle (MPRE Prep)

• 90 Day Free Trial of Quimbee Gold Plan with up to 50 case briefs

• Free JD Advising 1L sheets, discounts on tutoring and law school resources

• Access to leadership opportunities and national competition

Don’t want to miss out on ABA news or events? Make sure to get your copy of the ABA Journal! It’s totally free for ABA Members. And if you want to get it straight to your phone, you can download the free ABA Journal app from iTunes, Google Play or Amazon.

Big Law is Not Your Only Option: The Solo and Small Firm Experience

This FREE program will feature an expert panel of attorneys with a vast array of experience working in different practice settings, who have all ended up in a solo or small firm. The program will include time for questions from participants. All are welcome to attend!

Legal Tech Fictional Writing Competition

Science fiction story telling allows us to imagine possibilities outside of what exists today and re-imagine new possibilities in the law, legal access, and racial justice.

The ABA’s Young Lawyers Division and the Access to Justice Tech Fellows are hosting the Legal Tech Fictional Writing Competition for law students. The goal is to get law students to think critically about how technology will impact the future practice of law, and access to justice in a fun engaging way. The resulting stories will prompt conversations in the legal field about the upcoming changes in a new and creative way.

Think you can write a compelling short story in 1,500 words or less? Enter the Legal Tech Fictional Writing Competition for your chance to win $1,000 in cash, and get published in the American Bar Association magazine. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, March 1st, 2022

Art and Cultural Property Law Society: Navigating a Career in Art Law. On March 4th at noon, the Art and Cultural Property Law Society will hear from Coco Soodek, a Chicago-based lawyer who has assisted large and small clients in art law and business matters for over twenty years. She will explain her path into art law, how she grew her career, and what steps students can take to enter the field. The event will be Zoom only; please find the link on the SBA calendar.

Black Law Students Association (BLSA):

Black Legal Scholars on IG (@ckblsa): Throughout Black History Month, every Wednesday and Friday, Chicago-Kent’s BLSA chapter will honor a Black legal scholar advancing the rule of law and making strides on behalf of Black Americans in their day-to-day work.

Panel Discussion and Debate on Critical Race Theory: On Tuesday, February 15th, 2022 from 12 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. CST via Zoom, please join ACS, BLSA, and FedSoc for a panel discussion and debate on Critical Race Theory. The conversation will be moderated by Chicago-Kent Professor Nancy Krent and law students will have the opportunity to hear from Northwestern Law Professor Paul Gowder; Chicago-Kent alumna Deborah Caldwell-Stone from the Freedom to Read Foundation; Chicago-Kent Professor Sheldon Nahmod; and Devon Westhill from the Center for Equal Opportunity.

Young, Gifted, & Black Alumni Panel: On Monday, February 21st, 2022, at 6 p.m. CST via Zoom, please join BLSA and the Career Services Office (CSO) for an alumni panel discussion featuring past presidents of BLSA for career advice and other thoughts about navigating law school and the legal profession. The panel discussion will be moderated by Michael Wilder and the panelists include alumni BLSA members Ashley Davidson, Jewell Ewing, Micah McClendon, and Bryant Roby.

Ida Platt Forum: In honor of Black History Month, the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at the Chicago-Kent College of Law is proud to announce a new program entitled the “Ida Platt Forum” in celebration of the first African-American woman to be licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois. The event will focus on race, advancing the rule of law, and feature trailblazing Black women making strides within the legal profession.

In the first iteration of the program, we have invited the Honorable Ann Claire Williams (Ret.), one of only two people of color to ever serve on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The panel will be moderated by Associate Professor of Law Kimberly Bailey, another phenomenal Black woman in her own right. Topics of discussion will include being working moms as Black women, navigating the complexities of the law, their commitment to public service and civic engagement, advice to law students/young lawyers, and her path to the federal bench. You can register for the event, which will take place on Thursday, February 24th, 2022, at 6 p.m. CST via Zoom here.

My Black Is Beautiful 2: Save The Date for Monday, February 28th, 2022 in the evening. To close out Black History Month, BLSA is excited to announce the return of My Black Is Beautiful 2 for the fourth year! This event will celebrate Black art and culture in its various forms. Attendees will have the chance to enjoy singers, poets, rappers; view Black artwork; and shop with Black vendors. More details to follow in the coming weeks!

Chicago Bar Association (CBA): Are you looking to expand your professional network? Maybe you’re searching for a mentor or just want to be more involved and get your name out there. Through the Chicago Bar Association, you can establish yourself and develop professional relationships throughout the Chicago legal community. Law students can become members for just $12/year. Memberships include entry to networking events (galas, holiday parties, outings, and more), access to fascinating educational events and materials developed by top attorneys, and the opportunity to make new friends with other law students and professionals. Learn more and sign up for your membership here.

For any questions or for help organizing a group to attend a CBA event, reach out to our school’s CBA representative, Rana Salem (rsalem).

Kent Justice Foundation (KJF): Join KJF at Portillo’s!

Date: Thursday, February 17

Time: 5:00-8:00pm

Location: Portillo’s (520 W. Taylor St.) – just a short hop south of campus

How it works:

-If you go inside for dine in or take-out: show the attached flyer

-If you order online for pickup: enter PORTILLOS43 in the "Apply Offer" box before checking out

KJF will get 20% of the proceeds, all of which will go towards funding students who do unpaid public interest internships this summer!

Labor & Employment Law Society:

Primer on Labor and Employment Law: Interested in exploring labor and employment but not sure where to start? Join us Wednesday, February 16th at 3:00 p.m. on Zoom for a QUICK 30-minute presentation on the different areas of labor/employment law and the various career opportunities available to you! Attendees will be automatically entered into a raffle for one of two $15 gift cards.

Networking Workshop: Looking for a summer job? Want to learn how to connect with attorneys? Join us on Wednesday, February 23rd at 3:00 p.m. to learn about cold-emailing practitioners for informational interviews or coffee meetings, what to ask once you meet them, and how to maintain those relationships! Attendees will be automatically entered into a raffle for one of two $15 gift cards.

CPR Webinar – Forced Arbitration, Workers, and Marginalized Communities – Tuesday, Feb 15

The next time you take a job, sign a lease, buy a product or service, receive health care, or move a relative into a nursing home, take a close look at the contract. The fine print likely requires you to file any legal claims in a rigged system of arbitration rather than an impartial court of law — tilting the outcome against you before the process even starts.

The use of these clauses is widespread and growing — and dismantling our system of justice right under our noses.

Who pays the highest price? Those of us who are already disadvantaged due to racism, sexism, classism, ageism, structural discrimination, and other systems of oppression.

In a new report, the Center for Progressive Reform shines a light on the especially pernicious effects of forced arbitration clauses on people of color, women, low-income people, residents of nursing homes, and other historically marginalized groups. Entitled Private Courts, Biased Outcomes, the report is the first to examine how this practice favors corporations over marginalized workers and consumers — robbing them of their right to seek justice.

What’s the solution? It’s not “buyer beware.” It’s structural legal reform.

Our report could not be more timely. On Monday, the House passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it has bipartisan support and could come up for a vote within days. Our report explains why legislation like this is so important.

We must restore our right to hold corporations accountable in the courts and revive civil justice — aka, the “great equalizer.” If we don’t, equity for all will fall farther out of reach.

Join our campaign for workers’ and consumers’ rights for all.

Read the report. Register for our February 15 webinar co-hosted with the Workers’ Rights Institute at Georgetown Law, and subscribe to our email list. And be sure to like and share on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Join us for justice!

GRITS Labor Panel – “Labor Organizing and Worker Power in a Post-Pandemic Texas” – Friday, Feb 18, 2 PM CT.

Registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_EVHw34cBks-gbPUkQYBQ-dMxXyvvVEFjTOkmheY_AN05Yg/viewform

Zoom link: https://utexas.zoom.us/j/95050347783

Speakers:

1. Kim Kelly: Journalist, Teen Vogue

2. Bo Delp: Executive Director of Texas Climate Jobs Project

3. Lauren Simmons-Mitchell: Lead Organizer of We Dream in Black, National Domestic Workers Alliance Houston Chapter

4. Gina Dvorak: Unite Here Local 23 Organizer

The onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020 and its devastating effects on working people have exacerbated existing tensions between workers and employers, with stagnant wages and growing corporate profits continuing to stratify haves and have-nots. In turn, labor unions are now looked on with the most favorability they have enjoyed since 1965, with two-thirds of the U.S. population’s approval. As recent as October 2021, media outlets and many unions used #Striketober and the “Great Resignation” to describe a large number of strikes, walkouts, and collective actions at John Deere, Kellogg, and many other employers across the country. In this panel, we will examine how the pandemic has changed the dynamics of labor organizing, the future of labor movements in right-to-work states like Texas, and the role of labor lawyers in this dynamic and urgent fight for workers’ rights.

National Lawyers’ Guild: CK-National Lawyers Guild Brown Bag Lunch, Tuesday, Feb. 15 12:00PM Room 704 & Zoom. Co-Sponsored with Immigration Law Society.

NLG Brown Bag Lunch Series with Attorney and Teacher Susan Gzesh: Come together with veteran radical attorneys! Learn how they shaped their careers, the movements they have been a part of, and their advice for law students now. This is an opportunity for students to come and ask practicing attorney’s questions about movement lawyering, and social justice lawyering in today’s landscape. Bring your lunch and your questions!

Susan Gzesh is a Senior Instructional Professor at the University of Chicago and of counsel to Hughes, Socol, Piers, Resnick, and Dym. Susan has chaired the NLG National Immigration Project and worked in the NLG National Office. Susan now teaches courses on contemporary issues in human rights, the human rights of aliens and citizens, human rights in Mexico, and the use of international human rights norms in the United States. Her research interests bridge human rights and migration policy. Susan has practiced in Chicago, working at the Legal Assistance Foundation, the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and at two law firms. She has represented individual immigrants and refugees, as well as political candidates and religious organizations.

Bring a lunch, some snacks provided

SBA’s Diversity Committee: Mayer Brown Webinar: Race and Justice in America Speaker Series: In Conversation with Common – February 15, 2022

In celebration of Black History Month, Mayer Brown invites you to the first event of our Race and Justice in America Speaker Series. We are thrilled that artist and activist, Common, will join us in a virtual conversation on February 15 at 12pm EST. The Race and Justice in America Speaker Series will build upon matters discussed during our 2021 Black in America Speaker Series, and explore, among other things, justice issues and movements that impact diverse populations.

About Common

An Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy-award winning rap artist, poet, actor, and producer, Common is also a dedicated community activist. During the program, we will discuss how activism connects with his art, the influence of music on culture and justice movements, and his own advocacy work around mass incarceration, education, and mental health. We will also discuss how to keep momentum for the promises and commitments made to advance racial equity in the United States. The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A.

Register here.

Society of Women in Law (WIL): General Body Meeting – On Tuesday, February 22, at 1:00 PM, the Society of Women in Law will host its Spring 2022 General Body Meeting. The Executive Board will introduce themselves, share plans for this semester, and lead a fun "speed dating" activity for members to get to know one another better. This event will be hosted on campus in Room C50, and on Zoom via this wil with any questions you might have.

Upcoming Events

More events may be found on the SBA calendar. Please make sure you are accessing via your Kent email address.

Important Dates to Remember

Black History Month – February

Each February, Black History Month honors the struggles and triumphs of millions of American citizens over the most devastating obstacles — slavery, prejudice, poverty — as well as their contributions to the nation’s cultural and political life. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, African Americans make up about 14 percent of the U.S. population. National African American History Month was the inspiration of Carter G. Woodson, a noted scholar, and historian, who instituted Negro History Week in 1926. He chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and the abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to“seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of [B]lack Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” To learn more we suggest visiting the DuSable Museum, the first independent museum celebrating Black culture, here in Chicago.

Resources

Writing Competitions: Interested in submitting a paper to a competition? The law library has created a guide to student legal writing competitions. For more information, please see the library blog post about the guide.

From ASP: 1Ls: Listen from students and faculty on what strategies they used for academic success: https://youtu.be/wQquU7OyoTI

From Career Services:

Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section’s Practice Tracks sessions. Spots fill up fast, so sign up quickly.

What is Practice Tracks?

The Young Lawyers Sections is excited to host Law Practice Tracks virtually during the month of February 2022. This is a valuable opportunity to connect with young lawyers in the Chicago area for networking, for mentorship and to ask questions about the day-to-day practice of law in a small group setting. No matter what your schedule, we have a session that fits in your calendar! Connect with someone who practices in an area you are interested in, or a setting you would like to learn more about, to gain insight into what area you would like to pursue. Find out what the day-to-day life of an attorney is actually like with Law Practice Tracks.

How do I Sign Up?

So that as many CBA Law Student Members as possible can take advantage of this opportunity, please do not sign up for more than 3 sessions. You will be emailed the Zoom link for your virtual Law Practice Tracks session prior to the event, along with a sample list of questions and other resources to prepare you for the meeting.

Click here to see the schedule and sign up.

Questions?

Email acruz with questions.

Commercial Bar Exam Preparation Courses:

Chicago-Kent 3Ls – BARBRI is here to help as graduation and the bar exam approach! Each of BARBRI’s three course options (Mallory.guerreso or by phone/text at 815-791-3485.

Helix Bar Review by AccessLexSM offers comprehensive online courses for the entire Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) portion of all bar examinations, and the Multistate Professional Responsibility (MPRE) examination. Our new and innovative course platform is designed to keep you focused and engaged while ensuring you cover each testable substantive area of law on the exam. We incorporate workshops and webinars designed to teach you skills and strategies necessary to perform well on each part of the exam and at your peak on exam day. Engagement, efficiency, and effectiveness of study as the key elements for your bar preparation period and Helix Bar Review. When you study with Helix you surround yourself with a Team of bar examination experts, all licensed attorneys with years of bar preparation experience, at no additional cost to you. AccessLex Institute, for over 40 years, is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting law students from admission to law school to admission to the legal profession. For more information – including at-cost pricing and FAQs, visit Helixbarreview.org or drop us a line at Connect@Helixbarreview.org.

Kaplan Bar Review offers both live and on demand course options for bar seekers all in one package. With Kaplan Bar Review you receive a full-service bar course that contains over 4,500 MBE questions including NCBE released questions, unlimited essay grading + an essay bank, a pass guarantee or your money back if you do 75% of the course and so many other great features. You can do 100% of Kaplan Bar Review On Demand; or you can attend live streaming lectures at no charge. The lectures are recorded and available on-demand as well. For more information about course options for Chicago Kent students please reach out to Victor.Piemonte. Our books ship when you enroll for the summer course and our best pricing goes thru February 24th, 2022 for 2L’s and 3Ls. Thank you.

Themis Bar Review is designed to help you pass the bar exam. Using the most current research on memory retention and comprehension, we have built an online, on-demand lecture-based program. Our course offers innovative tools, including an Adaptive Calendar and Study Pacer that, together, help keep your study schedule on track. Pair those with a dedicated Personal Success Team, unlimited essay grading, and dynamic illustrations to reinforce rules and rationales, and you have resources that work for every type of student and every learning style. However you plan to study, you can trust that our transparent, expertly developed methods will help you walk into the bar exam with confidence."

Birthdays & Special Days – February

February 1	Patrick Owens, 2L
February 2	Maeghan Hoal, 2L
February 4	Sophia Lischewski, 2L
February 11	Ryan Martin, 2L
February 16	Patrycia Piaskowski, 2L
February 16	Anastasia Redmond, 2L
February 19	Cassidy Aranda, 1L
February 25	Chloe Bell, 3L
February 25	Professor Laurie Silvestri
February 27	Christian Sanchez, 3L
February 29	Anna Ylitalo, 1L

*if you wish to share your special date with the student body, click here

Film Clapper Talent Show Flyer (3).pdf
ACLU Networking Hour Flyer.pdf
SBA Zoom_Hybrid Problem Help Guide.pdf