New JMPLHS Executive Board elected for 2012-2013

In keeping with the drafting of new by-laws for the John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society (JMPLHS) at F&M, elections were held on March 20th for the Executive Board positions of Chair, Secretary-Treasurer, Admissions Director, Events Director, and Public Relations Director. Members of JMPLHS had the chance to review statements of interest and to ask questions of the candidates before casting their votes and electing the following students:

Chair: Akbar Hossain '13
Secretary-Treasurer: Ian Cummings '14
Admissions Director: Amanda Duckworth '13
Events Director: Elizabeth Murray '13
Public Relations Director: Michelle Carroll '13

These students will work to enhance JMPLHS and the entire pre-law program at F&M during the upcoming academic year.

Legal Film Series concludes TONIGHT (3/21) with "To Kill a Mockingbird"

The Legal Film Series at F&M (sponsored by the Center for Liberal Arts & Society and the John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society) concludes TONIGHT, March 21, with "To Kill a Mockingbird." The film will start at 7:30pm and will be showing in the Ware College House Great Room. Click here for more information.

Considered by many to be the best legal movie ever made, this film is based on the Pullitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee. Gregory Peck won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Atticus Finch, a courageous small-town attorney who battles prejudice in the Depression-era south.

Greg Randall Lee, J.D., who teaches law at Widener University School of Law, will introduce the film and answer questions and talk to students.

Guest Post: An F&M alumnus' reflection

By Sean Quinn ’97, Trial Lawyer at Sheridan & Murray, LLC (Philadelphia)

Fifteen years ago this coming May, I graduated from Franklin & Marshall. I was 22 years old and I thought that I had it all figured out. My plan: go to law school, make law review, land a high-paying corporate law position at a big firm, play lots of golf, and make tons of money. Easier said than done, but what did I know….that was my plan.

I started law school that fall. I was a proud member of Penn State Law’s first class of students. I was prepared and ready to work hard to achieve the goals that I had set for myself. Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Property, Contracts, Torts, Research & Writing didn’t stand a chance. I was going to excel no matter what class they threw at me. I saw those classes as hurdles that I needed to clear before I could get to the corporate and business law classes that would spur my career as a big-time corporate lawyer.

Then a funny thing happened though, I found myself drawn to the litigation classes like Torts and Civil Procedure, and hating transactional law classes like Contracts and Property. I blamed it on my professors and was confident that my zeal for corporate and business law would return during the second semester. Well, that didn’t happen and it caused me to reflect on my plan and my future.

I realized, for the first time, that my plan was doomed. It became apparent to me that my plan was predicated solely upon potential earnings, and not my interests and talents. Litigation was where I was meant to be. I thought to myself: how did I not know this sooner?

My plan had changed, and I quickly refocused the direction of my education. I took every litigation and advocacy course available. I competed for moot court and was named captain of our national trial team. I worked tirelessly outside of the classroom as well clerking for a local law firm, interning for a civil trial judge, and externing for the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office.

I found my passion and calling in litigation. Over a decade later, I remain proud to be a trial lawyer.

If I could give you only one piece of advice as you move on to law school, it would be to do something that you are passionate about. It is the key to a successful career.

-Sean Quinn ‘97

Sean E. Quinn, Esquire
SHERIDAN & MURRAY, LLC
1600 Market Street, Suite 2500
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-977-9500
squinn@sheridanandmurray.com
LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/7tyo4lc
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/squinn71

Legal Film Series continues TONIGHT (3/2) with "The Paper Chase"

The Legal Film Series at F&M (sponsored by the Center for Liberal Arts & Societyand the John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society) continues TONIGHT, March 2, with "The Paper Chase." The film will start at 7:30pm and will be showing in the New College House. Click here for more information.

This film famously depicts the first-year law student experience and is a must-see for any potential law students. Food will be provided by New College House and a discussion of the film will follow. All are welcome to attend.

Trip to Temple Law hopefully the first of many

A group of F&M students traveled to Temple University's Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia on Tuesday to expose undergraduates and potential applicants to the inner-workings of one of Pennsylvania's premier legal education programs. Attendees took a tour of the law school, met with the Assistant Dean of Admissions and F&M alumni currently at Temple Law for an information session and Q&A, and sat in on two classes: Constitutional Law and Property Law.

The trip was designed to give underclassmen the opportunity to see what law school is like and to make a more educated evaluation of whether applying and, subsequently, attending law school is right for them. Upperclassmen had the chance to look at a regional institution that might be of particular interest to them as they are currently in the midst of the application process.

Beth Throne, F&M's Associate Vice President for Student and Post-Graduate Development (and an alum of both F&M and Temple Law) organized the trip and sees it as being the first of many such excursions to law schools throughout Pennsylvania and even New York and Washington, DC. There is no better way to learn about law school and to see if it's right for you than to visit the institution and experience its academic and social culture by interacting with students and sitting in on classes. Stay tuned for more opportunities for trips like this in the future which will only serve to benefit F&M's pre-law community.

Legal Film Series continues TONIGHT (2/17) with "Philadelphia"

The Legal Film Series at F&M (sponsored by the Center for Liberal Arts & Societyand the John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society) continues TONIGHT, February 17, with "Philadelphia." The film will start at 7:30pm and will be showing in the Brooks College House Great Room. Click here for more information.

This screening is also part of the Multi-Faith Week of Meaning and Culture sponsored by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at F&M. Food will be provided and a discussion of the film will follow. All are welcome to attend.

Ware Institute summer internships offer legal service opportunities

From Susan Dicklitch, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the College, Professor of Government, and Director of the Ware Institute for Civic Engagement at Franklin & Marshall College: 

On behalf of the Ware Institute for Civic Engagement, I'm pleased to announce that the Public Service Summer Internships (PSSI) applications are now available on our website. Every summer for the past sixteen years, Franklin & Marshall has awarded stipends to well qualified students (rising sophomores, juniors and seniors) to work in local public and/or community service organizations.

During this nine-week program (June 6 - August 3) students work full-time in paid internships throughout Lancaster City and County in such areas as human services, county government, law and justice, education, health care and economic development.

Participants are paid a $3,300 stipend. Housing is not provided. Four days a week are spent at the internship site. Each Wednesday, the PSSI members come together as a team to participate in weekly seminars, engage in group discussion and reflection, and perform community service.

You can find links to agencies we've previously worked with on the PSSI web page. Placements are selected based on a combination of community requests and student interest with a focus on key community partners. As of today, we've received intern requests from the following agencies:

• Church World Service: working with resettled refugees assisting with cultural orientation
• Domestic Violence Services - Legal Clinic: work to support representation of domestic violence victims in a civil setting
• Domestic Violence Services: assisting at the shelter and with the children's component
• Fulton Theatre: a variety of options
• Lancaster General Health - Community Wellness: promotion of public health initiatives and focusing on deliverables for a Community Transformation Grant.
• Milagro House: work with senior service coordinator on delivering services and executive director on marketing and outreach.
• Project Access Lancaster Co. (PALCO): evaluating program
• Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center: marketing and planning fundraising events

If you have any questions about specific agencies please make an appointment with Lisa Wolfe (lisa.wolfe@fandm.edu) to review the requests.

Follow the link below to the PSSI web page to find out more and for the link to the online application.

PSSI LINK to web page and application

You are also required to have a faculty or professional staff recommendation with your application. The link below should be given to the faculty or professional staff who will complete the online form on your behalf.

PSSI Faculty or Professional Staff Recommendation link

The deadline for submitting both the application AND the faculty recommendation is Friday, February 24 by midnight.

The Clinton Global Initiative University

The Clinton Global Initiative University was established by President Bill Clinton in 2005 in hopes of gathering global leaders to ‘devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.’ The program accepts applications from individuals and student groups throughout the world, and every year, nearly 1,000 student leaders are chosen to attend a conference, where they make a ‘commitment to action’ for their ideas.

For those interested in making a difference, or impacting the lives of others through innovative ideas, this is a great opportunity. The main focus areas for the program include: education, environment and climate change, poverty alleviation, peace and human rights, and public health. Applicants propose a commitment that they are passionate about, and are selected based on focus area. Here’s a great video that summarizes the program really well.

This year’s conference will be taking place at the George Washington University, on March 30th-April 1st, in which Jon Stewart, Chelsea Clinton, and President Bill Clinton will be making guest appearances. Christian Hartranft '12 Akbar Hossain '13 of the John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society were selected as two of the participants for the Clinton Global Initiative 2012! They will be representing Franklin and Marshall College amongst hundreds of other student leaders and innovators from all over the world.

Government and Law Internship Panel TONIGHT at F&M

Trying to find a summer internship in government or law? Be sure to stop by this discussion tonight in Bonchek College House!

The Government Club and John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society at F&M will be co-hosting a panel for those interested in learning about legal and government orientated internship opportunities and how to go about getting them TONIGHT, February 8, at 6pm in Bonchek College House. The event will consist of a moderated panel of upperclassmen who have had a variety of internship experiences with a Q&A session, followed by an open forum to allow attendees to connect with individuals who might be able to help with their particular needs. Beth Throne, J.D., '95, Associate Vice President for Student and Post-Graduate Development, will also be there to answer any additional questions about institutional support for internship-seekers at F&M. More information can be found below.

Government and Law Internship Panel
Wednesday, February 8, 6:00pm (TONIGHT)
Bonchek College House Great Room

Franklin & Marshall College 

Moderator: Caitlin Krutsick '13

Panelists: Christian Hartranft '12 (interned for the U.S. House of Representatives and for the State of Delaware in the Office of the Public Defender), Laurie Barth '12 (interned in the White House in the Executive Office of the President and for NASA), Alexa Moser '12 (interned with the Republican National Committee), Amanda Duckworth '13 (participated in American University's Washington Semester program and interned in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia)

This event is only open to members of the Franklin & Marshall College community. Pizza and soda will be provided. Sign up to attend by visiting the Facebook Event.

Group working to protect workers' rights at F&M

A student group has begun an investigation at F&M into the treatment of employees of the college's custodial and food services staff, both employed by outside contractors Aramark and Sodexo. They are examining both college policies and Pennsylvania law and working to ensure that these contract employees are treated in accord with state and federal regulations (both Aramark and Sodexo have a history of workers' rights violations). Many of these employees do not receive benefits and experience very little job security. This project involves both legal research and a continued discussion of how workers are (and should be) treated by both society and the law.

Students interested in participating in this project should contact Laura Morse '12 at laura.morse@fandm.edu. The Workers' Rights Group also meets at 11:30am on Tuesdays in Stager Hall room 112.

Legal Film Series kicks off TONIGHT (1/29) at F&M

The Legal Film Series at F&M (sponsored by the Center for Liberal Arts & Society and the John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society) kicks off TONIGHT, January 29, with "A Civil Action." The film will start at 7:30pm and will be showing in the Bonchek College House Great Room. Click here for more information.

John Capowski, J.D., who teaches civil procedure, evidence, and litigation at Widener University School of Law, will introduce the film and stick around to answer questions and talk to students. See you there!

New LinkedIn group established to connect F&M legal alumni

Are you on LinkedIn? Many students are hesitant to join the social networking site - commonly referred to as "Facebook for adults" - without a prompt, but it might not be a bad idea, especially if you want to network with F&M alumni in the legal profession.

Sean Quinn, a 1997 F&M alum and graduate of Penn State (J.D.) and Temple University (LLM) law schools has started a "Franklin & Marshall Lawyers Network" on LinkedIn which aims "to promote professional networking and referrals amongst the F&M alums in the legal profession." The group will bring lawyers and others interested in joining the field together to network, learn, and share experiences. The network is already growing - be sure to check it out if you're a graduating senior looking for a job in a law firm (or looking for advice on law schools) or if you're already an alum and are looking to network and expand your career opportunities.

Internship Panel at F&M on February 8

The Government Club and John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society at F&M will be co-hosting a panel for those interested in learning about legal and government orientated internship opportunities and how to go about getting them. The event will consist of a moderated panel of upperclassmen who have had a variety of internship experiences with a Q&A session, followed by an open forum to allow attendees to connect with individuals who might be able to help with their particular needs. Beth Throne, J.D., '95, Associate Vice President for Student and Post-Graduate Development, will also be there to answer any additional questions about institutional support for internship-seekers at F&M. More information can be found below.

Government and Law Internship Panel
Wednesday, February 8, 6:00pm
Bonchek College House Great Room

Franklin & Marshall College 

Moderator: Caitlin Krutsick '13

Panelists: Christian Hartranft '12 (interned for the U.S. House of Representatives and for the State of Delaware in the Office of the Public Defender), Laurie Barth '12 (interned in the White House in the Executive Office of the President and for NASA), Alexa Moser '12 (interned with the Republican National Committee), Amanda Duckworth '13 (participated in American University's Washington Semester program and interned in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia)

This event is only open to members of the Franklin & Marshall College community. Pizza and soda will be provided. Sign up to attend by visiting the Facebook Event.

Legal Film Series at F&M during the Spring 2012 semester

A series of legal films will be shown at Franklin & Marshall College during the Spring 2012 semester. Each film will be shown in one of the College Houses (unless otherwise noted) and the screenings will be open to the public. The series is sponsored by F&M's Center for Liberal Arts & Society, John Marshall Pre-Law Honor Society, and College House system. The schedule and description of the films are below. You can also visit the series' website here for more information.

"A Civil Action" (1998)
Sunday, January 29, 7:30pm
Bonchek College House Great Room

A real-life legal thriller based on the book by Jonathan Harr, John Travolta stars as a small-time tort lawyer who risks everything in his lawsuit against two of the country’s largest corporations. Did the companies’ toxic waste cause the deaths of several children in the community? F&M alumni (hydrogeologists) were involved in the actual case, which presented complex issues of scientific proof and legal causation.

"Philadelphia" (1993)

Friday, February 17, 7:30pm
Brooks College House Great Room
A lawyer becomes a client after being fired from his law firm because he has AIDS. Homophobia is on trial in this powerful film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Tom Hanks (who won the Academy Award for Best Actor) and Denzel Washington. Bruce Springsteen also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the title score, "Streets of Philadelphia."

"GATTACA" (1997)

Wednesday, February 22, 7:30pm
Lisa Bonchek Adams Auditorium, Kaufman Hall
What if your options in life were limited by your genes? In this futuristic film starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Jude Law, the legal system serves society’s interests in protecting “superior DNA,” and not the rights of the individual. Come see why film critic Roger Ebert considered GATTACA “one of the smartest and most provocative of science fiction films, a thriller with ideas.”

"The Paper Chase" (1973)

Friday, March 2, 7:30pm
New College House Seminar Room
The experience of being a first-year law student is immortalized in this film starring John Houseman as an intimidating professor of contract law. “You come in here with a skull full of mush,” says Charles W. Kingsfield, Jr., on the first day of class, “and you leave thinking like a lawyer.” Woe to anyone who comes unprepared to Professor Kingsfield’s class!

"To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)

Wednesday, March 21, 7:30pm
Ware College House Great Room
Considered by many to be the best legal movie ever made, this film is based on the Pulitzer Prize- winning novel by Harper Lee. Gregory Peck won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Atticus Finch, a courageous small-town attorney who battles prejudice in the Depression-era south. This film also reminds us that the best lawyers are also great teachers.

Immigration cases and the inadequacies of legal representation; F&M doing its part

A recent New York Times article highlights the glaring inadequacies that exist in the United States immigration system with respect to legal representation for immigrants facing deportation. It discusses the frustration that immigration judges, in particular, express due to what they describe as "inadequate" services provided by attorneys representing immigrant clients.

Here's the link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/nyregion/judges-give-low-marks-to-lawyers-in-immigration-cases.html?_r=1&ref=legalprofession

The article reads "immigrants received 'inadequate' legal assistance in 33 percent of the cases between mid-2010 and mid-2011 and 'grossly inadequate' assistance in 14 percent of the cases, the judges said. They gave private lawyers the lowest grades, while generally awarding higher marks to pro bono counsel and those from nonprofit organizations and law school clinics." The information cited comes from a report published in the Cardozo Law Review of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in Manhattan, the full text of which can be found here: http://www.cardozolawreview.com/content/denovo/NYIRS_Report.pdf

While this article emphasizes an important problem with the legal aspects of this nation's immigration system, it also makes note of the interesting fact that pro bono attorneys - mostly those from non-profit organizations and even law schools - do a much better job, according to both immigration judges and success rate statistics, than do lawyers hired by immigrants. One judge who participated in the study, "blames predatory lawyers who are not familiar with immigration law for much of the poor representation. The immigrants who hire them often do not speak English and are unfamiliar with the court system, making them particularly vulnerable. 'They are easy prey for ambulance-chasing-style lawyers who do not adhere to the highest standards of responsibility,' said the judge."

F&M students are doing their part to remedy the inadequacies of the American immigration system through a course called "Human Rights-Human Wrongs," co-taught by Dr. Susan Dicklitch, the director of F&M's Ware Institute for Civic Engagement, and an immigration attorney who works out of Baltimore for a non-profit immigrant assistance organization. This course was highlighted in a recent U.S. News and World Report article (which can be found here: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/04/18/10-college-classes-that-impact-the-outside-world?PageNr=1).

I was lucky enough to be able to participate in this course this past semester, and was one of several students who worked with attorneys to prepare cases on behalf of immigrants facing deportation. HR/HW is a one-of-a-kind undergraduate experience that is challenging, eye-opening, and rewarding. It also inspired me to begin a research project this semester on the topic of immigrant legal representation. Any F&M  student interested in pursuing a career related to any aspect of the legal system should consider it, as it also provides students with a very useful legal background and a plethora of legal research skills.

As the NYTimes article and the Yeshiva University report indicate, immigration courts are in desperate need of quality legal representation for indigent immigrant clients. What better way to contribute to the legal system as an undergraduate than to check out the unique opportunities to learn and to help offered at F&M?

"Liberal arts to law school?"

In this post (http://www.wellheeledblog.com/2006/12/14/law-school/) from another blog, the writer reflects on his decision to go to law school after receiving an undergraduate degree from a liberal arts college. He criticizes the belief that he held, and that was also encouraged by others, that law school is a natural next step - a "default option" - after a liberal arts education, and encourages others who don't have the necessary background, interest, and skills to re-think the law school route.

This is good advice, especially for those of us at a liberal arts college like Franklin & Marshall. We are often told, when we indicate that we have an interest in going to law school, that a liberal arts undergraduate education is a fantastic, if not ideal, preparation for a law degree. While this may true, many of us often extrapolate from this understanding that we are therefore guaranteed to succeed, or that law school is, more or less, an ideal choice for us.

It is important to understand that law school is not for everyone. Just because you enjoy and are good at reading complicated texts and thinking critically (valuable, liberal arts-instilled skills in their own right) doesn't mean that you will like or do well in law school. Law school requires certain interests, skills, and knowledge from its students that not everyone possesses. Whether or not you think you have the necessary background and the desire to go to law school, this is important to consider.