s | b | a CHICAGO-KENT STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
April 10, 2023
SBA is here to keep you connected; please reach out to sba at any time!
Announcements
Ask a law librarian–or three! On Tuesdays in April from 1-3, all three law librarians – Shannon, Jean, and Mandy – will be available to help you in the Library’s 9th floor Reference Suite. This is a great time to get research assistance, tech help, or any other support the library provides.
If you aren’t able to make it during these times, please feel free to stop in during our usual reference hours, Mondays – Fridays, 9:30-5, when one of your five librarians – Shannon, Jean, Mandy, Emily, or Eric – will be able to help you. Just ask at the Service Desk. We are, as always, also available via email at refreq.
Barbri: Chicago-Kent 3Ls – BARBRI is here to help as graduation and the bar exam approach! Each of BARBRI’s three course options (gabriella.viola or by phone/text at (773) 896-3464.
Helix:
Victoria Percifield, Esq.
Attorney Regional Director for Helix Bar Review – the only not-for-profit bar review in the nation – asks that if you have any questions about our At-Cost UBE or CA Course, the MBE supplement, and free MPRE course to please email her at vpercifield.
Last Day to Register for Helix Bar Review for the July 2023 UBE or CA Course: May 15, 2023. We recommend you register before this date so that you can get your physical books in the mail by the time you begin studying!
Important Bar Exam Dates: Helix UBE or CA July 2023
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Monday, April 3 is the start of our 16-week program – perfect for the student who will be studying part- or full-time during the bar and wants to get a jump start on his/her/their studies!
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Monday, May 1 is the start of our 12-week program – ideal for the student who wants a little extra padding when it comes to his/her/their study schedule!
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Monday, May 15 is the start of our 10-week program – the traditional 10-week program is for students who will be able to study full-time after graduation!
Important PASS Class Dates: Using Helix to study for the July 2023 UBE or CA bar? We have LIVE webinars to help you PASS the bar! Get an in-depth look at the three portions of the bar exam, work on practice questions before bar prep, and get live feedback from your trusted Helix Directors!
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Saturday, April 29 – MEE or CA Essay Class
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Saturday, May 6 – MPT or CA PT Class
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Saturday, May 13 – MBE Class
Kaplan: 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 sabrina.johnson
Themis: 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.
C-K Law Group: Work on real client cases under the supervision of an attorney and get law school credit! C-K Law group is now accepting applications for the Summer 2023 semester. Summer C-K Law Group in-house clinics have a due date of Monday, April 17 at 3:00 p.m. Applications can be found here: https://kentlaw.iit.edu/law/practical-experience/legal-clinics/legal-clinic-applications-and-enrollment
Coffee ConneKtions: Coffee ConneKtions is an opportunity for alumni and students to get together and learn more about one another. Additionally, it is a chance for students to learn about the day-to-day life of a lawyer and discuss other pressing questions about the law in an informal setting. Students who wish to participate should sign up here for ONE event with an alum you are most interested in meeting with. Please do not sign up for multiple events or your registration will be deleted. The registrations are first come first serve, but you are welcome to sign up for an alums waitlist. Register here for Coffee ConneKtions
CSO Employer Coffee Breaks:
ArentFox Schiff, Tuesday, April 11, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
CSO is excited to welcome representatives from ArentFox Schiff for an Employer Coffee Break on April 11. Stop by to speak with attorneys and recruiters from the firm to hear about their practice areas and opportunities with their summer associate program.
CSO OCI Information Session, Wednesday April 12 at 3:00 pm, Room C50:
If you are a current 1L or 3L Eve student (graduating after May 2024) don’t miss this important session on the OCI process. This session is essential for anyone who wants to know more about the OCI process and recruiting efforts with large law firms.
Got Accommodations? Share your experience with the process! A group of students is evaluating the current accommodations process to look for ways to make it more clear and efficient. We have created a survey, which will be used for academic purposes in Legal Project Management & Legal Process Improvement (LAW-494-81), and your feedback would be very helpful. We appreciate your participation!
Link: https://forms.gle/KSXHsAnS2ZM3Yk9r6
Litigation-based Certificate Programs: Students who wish to refine their focus can consider earning a certificate in that area. Three of Chicago-Kent’s Certificate programs have set a due date of Wednesday, April 12 at 4:00 p.m. For more information and to apply, please visit the following:
Litigation and Dispute Resolution (LADR): https://kentlaw.iit.edu/law/academics/jd-program/areas-study/jd-certificate-litigation-and-alternative-dispute-resolution
Criminal Litigation:
https://kentlaw.iit.edu/law/academics/jd-program/areas-study/jd-certificate-criminal-litigation
Workplace LADR:
Office of Admissions:
Office of Continuing Legal and Professional Education: Please join us for the following upcoming conference(s). As faculty and staff of Chicago-Kent, you will receive complimentary registration. Enter the discount code: CKCLE1 at checkout.
39th Annual Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation Conference l April 27-28, 2023
Liability arising out of §1983 claims continues to present challenges for courts across the country, and the Supreme Court has a large impact in this dynamic area of law. Join us for this two-day in-person conference to get up-to-date on the latest cases, trends, and strategies affecting §1983 litigation. You have the opportunity to examine both the law of §1983 as well as the litigation strategies that underlie successful cases. Experts in the field address the most important issues and provide wisdom for you as you tackle this year’s cases, whether you represent plaintiffs or defendants. As always, the conference provides an analytical approach to problems and offers practical advice about how to solve them.
Public Lecture with Professor Richards: The 2022 Roy C. Palmer Prize on Democracy, Civil Liberties, and the Rule of Law was awarded to Neil Richards, Koch Distinguished Professor in Law; Director, Cordell Institute at Washington University St. Louis School of Law, for his book, Why Privacy Matters (Oxford University Press).
The annual prize is to honor a work of scholarship that explores threats to, or supports of, the liberal democratic constitutional order and to encourage and reward public debate among scholars on current issues affecting the rights of individuals and the responsibilities of governments throughout the world.
Professor Richards will visit Chicago-Kent on Wednesday, April 12th. The public lecture will be at 3 pm in the auditorium. Please use this link to RSVP for the public lecture.
2023 Public Interest Awards: Join us for an inspirational evening on Wednesday, April 19th, at our annual Public Interest Awards! We will honor students and a public interest partner that have devoted their time over the past year to engaging in public interest and pro bono.
Pre-Reception: 5:00pm – 5:30pm (lobby)
Awards: 5:30pm – 6:30pm (auditorium)
Reception: 6:30pm – 8:00pm (lobby)
It’s free to attend, please RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZPtpbP-e9crPdr7pKQVSA7nGW3zgis-1AHCiexCdMz9qbxg/viewform?usp=sf_link.
Student Volunteers Needed for Commencement: It’s almost time to celebrate our Class of 2023 graduates! Join us as a volunteer at the 2023 Chicago-Kent College of Law Commencement Ceremony:
Date: Sunday, May 14, 2023
Faculty Arrival Time: 1:15 pm
Ceremony Start: 2:30 pm
Location: UIC Dorin Forum – 725 W. Roosevelt
For your wonderful act of service and as a token of appreciation for volunteering, at the time of your commencement you will receive ONE additional ticket. You must complete your full volunteer time slot in order to receive your additional ticket.
Sign up to volunteer HERE by April 5!
What’s Next for 2L’s? Current 2L’s are invited to join CSO for a presentation centered in career planning and moving into year 3. Learn about strategies on how to best position yourself for post-grad employment and success!
Date: Tuesday, April 18
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Room CK20
Resources
Mental Health Tip of the Week: Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others
Every student is different and has their own unique character and experiences. Therefore, the performance of other students (whether real or assumed) should not be your measuring stick. Wondering why someone else seems to always have it together or always scores the highest is not an effective use of your time and energy, and the concern that you should be like someone else can quickly devolve from a competitive spirit to extreme disappointment in yourself. No two students are the same. Push yourself to be the best you can be and look to others only for inspiration.
Quiet Study in Library: As our community returns to in-person study and instruction at the Conviser Law Center, the Law Library, in conjunction with the Student Bar Association, wants to remind students that the Law Library is a quiet study space. Talking is discouraged in open seating areas where, if necessary, conversations should be brief and very quiet. For group study and discussion, the Law Library offers ten study rooms students can reserve at the Service Desk on the 9th floor.
Exit Escort Service: In the evening hours, a Public Safety officer is available to provide a walking escort for those with concerns about their personal safety. This service applies to any location within a two block radius of the Conviser Law Center, including Union Station and many adjacent parking locations. Please see the officer(s) on duty at the front desk, or call the Public Safety number, 312-906-5030. Please also see the below survey!
Student Organizations
Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Restructuring Association:
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Coffee with BIRA (Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Restructuring Association)
Stop by the SPAK on Monday, Apr 10th 11AM-1PM for free coffee and donuts!
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Bankruptcy & Restructuring Happy Hour (joined by our distinguished bankruptcy alums!)
Network with our amazing restructuring alums from various big-mid size firms at our Happy Hour on Wednesday, Apr 19th 6-8PM. Drinks and light snacks will be provided! Please RSVP using the provided QR code.
BLSA Community Service: Middle School Legal Summit
On Friday, April 21, 2023 from 8:30AM – 1:00PM BLSA will be hosting a legal summit for students at McNair Elementary. These students experience various difficult circumstances in their personal life. The goal of bringing them to campus is to encourage them and provide examples of success to inspire their trajectory. Volunteers would be responsible for leading group discussions to handle a legal or constitutional issue. You can sign up here to volunteer.
Chicago Bar Association (CBA): Are you interested in what career opportunities are available working for the government? Join the CBA Young Lawyers Section for its Government Services Career Fair, where you will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from various local government agencies. The program will begin with a 1-hour panel (4:00-5:00 pm) with speakers from Chicago Public Schools and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, followed by a fair featuring the following agencies (5:00-7:00 pm):
• City of Chicago Office of the Inspector General
• Cook County Bureau of Human Resources
• Illinois Human Rights Commission
• Illinois Office of the Comptroller
• Internal Revenue Service
• Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor
• Office of the State Appellate Defender
• Chicago Board of Education
• Illinois Attorney General’s Office
• Office of the Cook County Public Defender
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region V
• And more!
This is an in-person event hosted at The Chicago Bar Association building (321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604).
Cost: $0 CBA CLE Advantage Plan Member & Law Student Member/$0 Member/$12 Non-member (Not a law student member yet? Join now for only $12 to attend this event and gain access to many more!)
Register using this link today!
Chicago-Kent Law Review Informational Sessions: The Chicago-Kent Law Review’s Summer Write-On Program will be from May 14th, 2023, to May 28th, 2023. More information is forthcoming, but please save the date. We will hold three informational sessions before the Write-On. The sessions will cover the Write-On, general information about Law Review, and some Bluebook basics.
Informational Sessions:
Tuesday, April 11th at 12:00 PM in Room 165
Thursday, April 13th at 1:00 PM in Room 165
Wednesday, April 19th at 8:00 PM via Zoom (Zoom Meeting Link)
If you can’t make it, don’t worry. We will distribute a recording of the session before the Write-On!
Chicago-Kent Law Review: Publication Party & Panel – April 25th! Join Chicago-Kent Law Review for a luncheon celebrating our student publishers. If you’re interested in Law Review, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the publication process and the work you’ll do as a junior associate! Our student publishers have researched and written about various salient legal issues. They are excited to share their work with the CK Community! The event is from 12 pm – 1 pm in Morris Hall. Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP here by April 18th, 2023.
Chicago-Kent Trial Team: Come meet the Chicago-Kent Trial Team, learn more about tryouts, and have a slice on us! We hope to see you there! Questions? Email: cktrialtryouts
Chicago-Kent Trial Team Tryouts: Are you interested in receiving individual instruction on trial skills, making invaluable career connections with practicing attorneys, and having tons of FUN? Join Chicago-Kent’s nationally ranked Trial Team!
Who: Tryouts are open to any student not graduating this year.
When: Tryouts will be April 26th and April 27th from 4pm-9pm. Callbacks will be held April 28th, starting at 4pm.
Where: Marovitz and Kohen Courtroom
How: Sign up for a time slot by clicking here. You must sign up by April 24th.
What: Just prepare (for either side of the case — see below for detailed instructions): a 3-5 minute Opening Statement, a 10-15 question direct, a 10-15 question cross, and a 3-5 minute Closing Argument. If you would like to meet with a trial team member for some help before tryouts, please sign up here.
Informational packets with everything you need to know and the problem Ricki Rhodes v. Los Diablos Correctional Center and Pat Mercer are available by clicking here (information handout) and here (Los Diablos case).
Contact: cktrialtryouts with questions!
Christian Legal Society: Are you a Christian looking for a community on campus? Are you curious about Christianity and want to learn more about it? Join Christian Legal Society every other week for a short devo and time of prayer. Our next meeting is April 11th at noon in room 660. See you there!
Corporate Law Society: Please join CLS for free Potbelly sandwiches this Tuesday, April 11 from 12-1pm in the fifth floor student lounge. Shelby Smith, CK’s Lexis student rep, will be giving a brief presentation on how to use Lexis in the most cost-effective and efficient manner for business and transactional sectors.
Please RSVP here.
ELS Earth Day Fundraiser: The Chicago-Kent Environmental Law Society (ELS) would love for you to join us for our Earth Day Fundraiser Lunch on Friday, April 21. A lunch reception will be held in Morris Hall on the 10th Floor of the library along with a raffle for environmentally related prizes!
The event will be an opportunity to mingle with current Kent environmental law students, alumni, and other professionals in environmental law. ELS will also be thanking Prof. Keith Harley for his integral role in the Chicago-Kent’s Environmental Law Certificate Program!
All proceeds from the event go directly to ELS’s Public Interest Scholarship which is awarded to a student who dedicates their summers to unpaid, public interest work in environmental and energy law. Thanks to our generous donors last year, we were able to raise $1000 to support one student, but our goal is to be able to support even more students this year!
Please RSVP and purchase your event ticket using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/ckELS2023. Student tickets for lunch and raffle tickets are only $25!
If you are unable to attend, please consider making a tax deductible donation to help us support more students this year using the event link above. Donations directly towards our scholarship are always greatly appreciated. Your contribution, no matter the size, is vital to helping our students succeed.
We can’t wait to see you at the fundraiser!
Federalist Society:
HLLSA Judge’s Night: Judge’s Night is an annual event where Chicago-Kent has the pleasure of honoring a Hispanic/Latinx Judge that has done extraordinary work within the community. This year we are honored to celebrate Judge Martha-Victoria Jimenez. Please join us in the celebration with music, food, drinks and networking! All guests must RSVP here!
Muslim Law Student Association: We are happy to announce that MLSA is hosting an Iftar (breaking of the fast) event on Wednesday, April 12 at 7 pm. The event is open to all Chicago-Kent students! We welcome all to share this important Ramadan experience with us and enjoy some yummy food from Dawali.
Please fill out this RSVP form and share it with your friends. The hard deadline for this form is Friday, April 7 at 3 pm. The classroom location is TBD. We will share location information with you closer to the event date.
Thank you and we hope to see you there!
Parents and Caregivers of Chicago-Kent (PACCK): Every 4th Monday, PACCK will be hosting a student lunch support hour from 12-2pm in the game room on the fifth floor. Food will be served. All are welcome; however, we highly encourage the attendance of parents and caregivers. Come eat and chat with parents and caregivers as we uplift and support one another. Please know this is meant to be a safe space where you are supported. Spread the word. PACCK specializes in supporting law students who have an extra responsibility of providing care to others. We’d love to see you there.
Public Policy Law Society: On Monday, April 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Public Policy Law Society is hosting a Public Policy Alumni Panel! The panel will take place in Morris Hall on the 10th Floor of the Conviser Law Center.
The panel will feature a discussion between several Chicago-Kent alumni with extensive experience in public policy. Panelists will include:
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul
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Illinois Dept. of Insurance Director Dana Popish Severinghaus
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Illinois Commerce Commission Chairperson Carrie Zalewski
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Turing Strategies Partner Lindsay Anderson
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EquiTrust Chief Legal Counsel Paul Miller
Food will be provided. The event/food access will start at 5:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to mingle and settle in during this time. The actual panel will begin at 6.
Please RSVP here.
Sack Supper Stuffing with SBA: Come join the SBA Philanthropy Committee as we make 150 sack suppers for two Night Ministry stops the evening of April 25th. There are two opportunities to volunteer: April 24 from 5-6 pm or April 25 from 11 am to 1 pm. Both sessions will be in the Spak. If you have any questions, please reach out to Janie Sanford at jsanford1.
South Asian Law Student Association (SALSA): SALAAM NAMASTE! Whether you are South Asian or simply a fan of South Asian culture (and food!), S.A.L.S.A. is the group for you! Join us for philanthropy, socials, and networking events. Email: salsa.
SALSA Fireside Chat: Join Us for CHAI, SAMOSAS, and RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES! Come join us on Tue., 4/11, in the afternoon, in-person or by Zoom as we discuss THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES. Register today by email: salsa.
Women in Law (WIL):
Upcoming Events
APRIL 10: Public Policy Alumni Panel
APRIL 10: Coffee w/ BIRA
APRIL 11: Christian Legal Society Bi-Weekly Devotional
APRIL 11: Law Review Informational Session
APRIL 11: SALSA Fireside Chat
APRIL 11: CK Trial Team Info Session
APRIL 11: CSO Employer Coffee Break w/ ArentFox Schiff
APRIL 12: Gun Policy and the Second Amendment After the Supreme Court Decision in Bruen
APRIL 12: Women Lawyers Panel & Networking
APRIL 12: MLSA Iftar Event
APRIL 12: OCI Information Session
APRIL 12: Public Lecture w/ Professor Richards
APRIL 13: HLLSA Judges’ Night
APRIL 13: CBA Government Services Career Fair
APRIL 13: Law Review Informational Session
APRIL 18: What’s Next for 2L’s? Presentation
APRIL 19: Bankruptcy & Restructuring Happy Hour
APRIL 19: 2023 Public Interest Awards
APRIL 19: Law Review Informational Session
APRIL 21: ELS Earth Day Fundraiser Lunch
APRIL 21: BLSA Community Service Opportunity
APRIL 21: ELS Earth Day Fundraiser
APRIL 24-25: Sack Supper Stuffing w/ SBA Philanthropy Committee
APRIL 25: Chicago-Kent Law Review Publication Party & Panel
APRIL 26-27: CK Trial Team Tryouts
MAY 14: Commencement
More events may be found on the SBA calendar. Please make sure you are accessing via your Kent email address.
Birthdays & Special Days – April:
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4/1 |
Isabelle Abbott, 3L |
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4/27 |
Brianna DeFrank, 1L |
*if you wish to share your special date with the student body, clickhere