The law school community joined together on January 31^st at Northwestern Law’s Lincoln Hall in order to recognize CWC’s contributions to the innocence movement.  At the event, four exonerees, Juan Rivera, Terrill Swift, Robert Taylor and Jacques Rivera, expressed their appreciation for the center’s involvement in proving their innocence. Most of these individuals were wrongly convicted due to fabricated confessions and false witnesses.

At the end of the event, all of the exonerees in attendance were invited to the stage and over twenty men shared their name and how many years they have been in prison for crimes they did not commit.

One of the exonerees, Terrill Swift stated: “I knew I was in great hands with Northwestern. “The students who worked on my case are great, great people.”

For the full press release, go here.

IU Maurer School of Law student and one of the school’s VITA program coordinators, Daniel Huntley stated: “The VITA program helps low- to moderate-income taxpayers avoid the fees charged by commercial tax preparers while assuring that they receive any tax benefits for which they qualify, particularly the Earned Income Tax Credit. In addition, VITA offers free e-filing, which promptly sends any refund to the taxpayer without need of a high-interest tax anticipation loan.”

Further, Professor of Law Ajay Mehrotra offered that: “The VITA program is an excellent opportunity for our students to give back to the Bloomington community by using their knowledge to assist low-income taxpayers. It is also a good way for students to learn more about the federal income tax system and how it touches so many aspects of everyday life.”

The program will take place at the law school and will continue throughout the beginning of March.

For the full press release, go here.

Prepping for Law School Financial Aid Forms
by Anna Ivey

In theory, it might seem that skimming could add some degree of efficiency, but in practice this is not the case. In fact, this approach actually reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the Reading Comprehension section.

Skimming might be sufficient to absorb lighter materials, such as newspapers or magazines, but that is because those types of materials are written with simplicity in mind. A newspaper editor wants readers to know half the story by the time they have read the headline, and magazines put the most attention-grabbing pictures on their covers; these publications are trying to draw you in, to entice you to make a purchase. The makers of the LSAT, on the other hand, are well aware that they are dealing with a captive audience; they do not feel any pressure to entertain (as you may have noticed), and passages are chosen based on completely different criteria.

For many, skimming is a natural reaction to a time-constrained test, but unfortunately the test-makers are well aware of this tendency—the passages they use are chosen in part because they evade quick and simple analysis. In practice, the time “saved” on the front end skimming a passage is more than lost on the back end. In the question section, the skimmer invariably finds the need to go back and re-read, and is often not sufficiently familiar with the passage structure to locate relevant reference points quickly.

Washington University School of Law Dean Kent Syverud stated that these additions complement the “extraordinary array of international assets and programs, including our international LLM program and Transnational Law Program, faculty teaching and scholarly exchanges, student externship and summer abroad programs, and the work of the Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute.”

For the full press release, go here.

The event will host panels on issues such as food justice, sexual and reproductive rights, race and voting, education reform, developing the public interest sector as well as the repercussions of mass incarceration.  The keynote speakers featured will be Lisa Daugaard, the deputy director and supervisor of the Racial Disparity Project at the Defender Association in Seattle and Gerald López, a UCLA Law professor and founder of the Center for Community Problem Solving in New York City. In addition, co-founder and co-executive director of Make the Road New York, Andrew Friedman will also be a keynote presenter, along with Andrea Ritchie, a police misconduct attorney and coordinator of Streetwise and Safe.

The conference’s co-director, Megan Wulff ’13, states that “RebLaw is one of the rare opportunities for rebellious students and activists to reach beyond their microcosm and engage in a conversation with the greater social justice community. We leave at the end of the weekend with a sense of connectedness and purpose that gives our work renewed meaning.”

For the full press release, go here.

Superstars and Commodities
by Anna Ivey

Television line-up
A television series must be scheduled once a week for a nine-week period.  Each of the eight episodes—A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H—must be scheduled at least once, and each episode appears on the same day of the week.  The following conditions govern the scheduling of the episodes:

A is separated from B by no more than two other episodes.
At least one other episode must separate C and D, and
C must precede D.
G must be scheduled for the week after D.
C is scheduled for some week after A is scheduled.
H is scheduled for the second and ninth weeks.

1. Which one of the following is an acceptable schedule of episodes, in order from the first week to the ninth week?
(A)    A, H, B, C, D, G, E, F, H
(B)    B, H, C, A, D, G, F, E, H
(C)    B, H, C, E, D, G, A, F, H
(D)    A, H, C, B, E, D, G, F, H
(E)    B, H, A, C, F, D, E, G, H

2. The greatest number of episodes that can separate episodes G and B is
(A)    three
(B)    four
(C)    five
(D)    six
(E)    seven

3. If episode B is shown in the first week and episode C is shown in the fifth week, how many possible schedules could there be for the nine episodes?
(A)    two
(B)    three
(C)    four
(D)    five
(E)    six

4. If episode F is shown in the seventh week, then which one of the following must be true?
(A)    Episode A is shown in the third week.
(B)    Episode B is shown in the first week.
(C)    Episode C is shown in the third week.
(D)    Episode E is shown in the fourth week.
(E)    Episode G is shown in the fifth week.

5. If episode G is shown in the eighth week, then which one of the following could be true?
(A)    Episode E is shown in the third week, and episode F is shown in the fourth week.
(B)    Episode E is shown in the fourth week, and episode B is shown in the fifth week.
(C)    Episode C is shown in the third week, and episode E is shown in the fifth week.
(D)    Episode B is shown in the first week, and episode D is shown in the sixth week.
(E)    Episode F is shown in the fifth week, and episode D is shown in the sixth week.

Television line-up
This game uses a typical simple-line diagram with a few unusual features. There are nine spaces instead of the typical six or seven spaces. There are only eight members; normally there is the same number of members as there are spaces to fill. In this game, one member will be used twice, which is also unusual for a simple line. The biggest problems are created by Rules 1 and 2; more on that in a moment. All that aside, the puzzle is not too difficult. When diagramming, always start with the easiest rules, the anchors. Here, H is second and ninth. This simplifies the diagram immensely, since you now know that the other members are all used exactly once. Members C, A, and D all have limiting relationships. Combine these rules into a block you can apply to the diagram. Rules 1 and 2 are a little quirky. Rule 1 says that A and B have no more than two spaces between them. Note that A could be before or after B; this is very tricky. The next one is really tricky. Rule 2 says C is followed by one or more episodes before D. What exactly does this mean? It means that if, for example D is on week six, C must be on week four or earlier. This is different from Rule 1, where A and B are separated by (up to) two weeks, that is, zero, one, or two spaces could separate A and B. These unique rules require creative diagramming to capture the variability of the placements. If you are still confused, review Rules 1 and 2 until you understand how they are different. You can always turn to the answer choices for guidance as well. Rule 3 is easy; G is immediately after D. Rule 4 is easy; C is after A. This combination of rules is listed below. (Figure 1) We can make some warranted conclusions at this point. G can never be earlier than sixth. Also, D can never be first, second, third, or eighth. A can never be later than C. Since there is at least one space after C but before the DG block, A can never be later than fourth.

1. (D) – Usually the first question in the set should be answered by using each rule to eliminate one answer choice. Start with the first rule and check if it is violated in any of the answer choices. Then do the same for each of the other rules.
(A) This violates Rule 2, because at least one other episode must be between C and D.
(B) This violates Rule 4 because it shows A later than C.
(C) This violates Rule 1 and Rule 4.
(D) * This is a valid permutation.
(E) This violates Rule 3 because it separates D and G.

2. (D) – Remember, with largest number, or maximum number, questions, always start with the largest number and work down.
(A) Always start with the largest number and work down until you find the correct answer.
(B) Always start with the largest number and work down until you find the correct answer.
(C) Always start with the largest number and work down until you find the correct answer.
(D) * This is possible: B H A C E F D G H.
(E) This is impossible because there are not seven spaces between space one and space eight; there are only six spaces. Remember, H occupies space nine, so that space is not available for G or B.

3. (C) – This question requires you to invest some time to find all the possible permutations. When B is first, A can be third or fourth. When C is fifth, the only way to accommodate D and G is to put them seventh and eighth. Solving for A on space three, we find two permutations. (Figure 2) Solving for A on space four, we find two more permutations, again involving E and F, the free agents. Thus, there are four permutations.
(A) See the analysis.
(B) See the analysis.
(C) * See the analysis.
(D) See the analysis.
(E) See the analysis.

4. (C) – With F on seven, you know a little bit, but not much. What can be eighth? Not A, B, or C, due to space constraints. Nor can D or G, because of the effect of Rule 3. Thus, only E, the other free agent, can be on space eight. Now things are becoming clearer. You must accommodate the block of C, D, and G. You can put G sixth, D fifth, B fourth, C third, and A first. Can it be done any other way? No. Because of the interplay of all the rules, this is the only permutation that works.
(A) See the analysis. If A were third, then there would not be room to accommodate all the other members.
(B) See the analysis.
(C) * This must be true.
(D) E must be eighth.
(E) G must be sixth.

5. (C) – This question follows a similar line of inquiry as the previous question. Putting G eighth requires D to be seventh. C cannot be sixth. C can be fifth, fourth, or third. (Figure 3) From there you can find several permutations.
(A) E can be third, but not when F is fourth.
(B) E can be fourth, but not when B is fifth.
(C) * C can be third when F is fifth.
(D) B can be first, but D must always be seventh because G is eighth.
(E) F can be fifth, but D must always be seventh.

There are nearly 50 student-led professional, cultural and social clubs on the Michigan Law campus.  The school’s professional student organizations aim to help their members network, conduct job searches and learn about the specific area of law in which they are interested.  Students who plan to pursue careers in environmental law or policy, for instance, are invited to sign up for the Environmental Law Society (ELS).  ELS is primarily intended for law students, but all University of Michigan graduate students with a passion for conservation are welcome to join.  Members of ELS often attend environmental conferences or moot competitions together.

The cultural and identity groups that exist at Michigan Law offer an additional level of support to students who identify with a particular faith, ethnicity or nationality.  The Latino Law Students Association, for one, aims to increase the Latino presence in the legal world by providing its members with professional resources and networking opportunities.  The Black Law Students Alliance (BLSA), too, hopes to enhance the professional opportunities of its members, but also organizes a number of social events that benefit the entire Michigan community.

When students need a break from legal pursuits, they can turn to one of the school’s social club opportunities, such as Running Club, the Michigan Law Culinary Club and Headnotes, the law school’s only a capella group.  Michigan Law also maintains a student newspaper, Res Gestae – Latin for “Things Done,” which is always looking for new contributors who have a way with words and humor.

Michigan Law students also maintain six scholarly journals: The Michigan Law Review, Michigan Journal of International Law, Michigan Journal of Gender & Law, Michigan Journal of Race & Law, Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review and University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform.  Membership in all six journals is open to any Michigan Law 1L who is interested in joining.  The only journal with a selection process is the Law Review, which selects its 45 new members each year using a combination of criteria that are weighed equally: writing ability, strength of legal reasoning, diversity and academic performance.  This sets Michigan Law’s membership criteria apart from many of its peers, many of which put greater weight on grades in selecting at least a portion of new law review members.

For more information about extracurricular clubs and journals at other leading law schools, such as NYU School of Law and Harvard Law School, be sure to read the Clear Admit Law School Guides!

Duke Law Professor Donald Beskind ’77 stated that Wintersession “is one of the most important things Duke Law School does for students in preparing them for the actual practice of law.” Beskind joined the Duke Law Faculty in 2010 after working in private practice for over 30 years.

Furthermore, the skills offered to students are essential in their development as legal professionals. Senior lecturing fellow at Duke and partner at Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice in Raleigh, Marilyn Forbes led the Deposition Practice course and commented on the importance of being able to conduct a deposition “It’s a critical skill for law students to have. Jury trials, especially on the civil side, are really disappearing. I think most litigators, in the course of their careers, will take hundreds of depositions and only have ten to 15 big trials.”

Overall, Duke Law students felt that Wintersession provided them with a chance to gain practical skills that would help them immensely in the future.

For the full press release, go here.