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Summer 2009 Volume 39 Number 2 JURIST Wake | Forest the magazine of Wake Forest University School of Law Wor Pro Humanitate at Students and Faculty Put the University’s Motto Into Action I; From Dean the P ro Hurnanitate constitutes budget cuts have forced us to devise more than a motto at the creative means of rendering services to Wake Forest University our community. The (Wake Forest) law School ofLaw. Our students, faculty, school students have assisted us with staffand alumni manifest this credo after-school tutoring and youth league in their tireless work in such efforts basketball. Wewould like to thankthem as tutoring students at a nearby all, not only for their assistance, but elementary school, volunteering as also for the compassion that they show guardians ad litem, or providing pro toward the children in our program. "Our educative bono legal assistance. This issue of We look forward to continuing the theJuristproudlyfeaturesthemyriad wonderful relationship that we have goals, however, are ways in which those associated with developedwiththe students oftheWake holistic, and include the law school give back to their Forestlawschool.” communities and contribute to the Our students’ work at the Hanes determined efforts common good. Hosiery Community Center constitutes to instill in our Ofcourse a strong legal foundation one of many efforts that typify the remainsattheheartofourmission. Our humanitarian spirit that permeates the students the 'citizen educative goals, however, are holistic, law school. It gives me great pride to lawyer's' obligation and include determined efforts to instill workwith suchacaringcommunitythat in our students the “citizen lawyer’s” fostersthehistoricfunctionoflawyersas to give back to obligationtogivebacktotheirrespective “counselors at law.” This unique quality their respective communities. ofWakeForest,alongwithotherexciting In an effort to exalt public service programs at the law school, takes center communities." and pro bono work as well as catalog stage in this latest issue oftheJurist. As the volunteer activities of the students you read, I am confident you will agree and faculty, we have created a Pro Bono that our law school is a true beacon in Committee that includes students and thelegallandscape. faculty members. The committee’s — inaugural offering this fall will be a Dean BlakeMorant special event that showcases the legal and non-legal charitable efforts of the law school’s constituencies. This event will highlight the importance of volunteerism and highlight its indelible intersection with professionalism. The law school’s efforts could not come at a better time. As Art Blevins, the recreation center supervisor for Hanes Hosiery Community Center, statesin aletterto thelawschool: “With the unsettled state of the economy. JURIST Wake Forest Summer 2009 Volume 39 Number 2 | Work 2 Pro Humanitate at Students, facultyand staffatthe Wake Forest School ofLaw participate in avarietyofpro bono andvolunteer activities in and aroundtheWinston-Salem community. 8 Pro Bono Committee A newly formed committee made up of Wake Forest School of Law faculty and students will document, catalog and recognize volunteerefforts ofstudents, faculty, staffand alumni. 10 News Briefs McPherson (’10) chosentobeNorthCarolinaAlbertSchweitzerFellow Threeprofessorsreceivepromotions Applicationsup 19percent HallreceivesASLME distinguishedteachingaward Hoodsconferredon 159 graduates Law school alumnus and dean selected for leadership at N.C. Bar Association AnnualPartners’ Banquetmovedto December Amine Seifertjoins OfficeofCareerServices Shores, Fulkretire 12 Faculty Notes 20 Alumni News 26 Class Notes Students and faculty put the Universitys motto into action L aura Dildine (’10), working with convicted felons as Another was helping three people \Vendy Parker and Grant well as helping to start a school complete naturalization applications to Eskelsen (’ll) are making library. becomeU.S.citizensduringtheAmerican a difference. Dildine is Parker,afacultymembersince2003, Immigration Lawyers Association’s participating in a variety ofpro bono spearheaded a volunteer effort at a local Citizenship Dayin Charlottelastyear. and volunteer activities that include elementary school that has resulted in But it’s area children who are more than 100 volunteer tutoring hours. benefitting the most from Dildine’s Eskelsenisamongthosevolunteertutors. volunteer efforts. Over the past two He uses his breaks away from learning years, she has tutored elementary and “What most is about contracts and torts to make math middleschoolstudentsatHanesHosiery funforfourth-graders. Community Center, helping to read important about Dildine says she came to the Wake pirate stories, work multiplication of the volunteer Forest UniversitySchool ofLaw to make decimals and alphabetize spelling lists. a difference, but she didn’t want to wait This summer, Dildine, who taught at a work is not that until after graduation. In fact, the rising publichighschoolforsixyears,ishelping third-year law student says it wasn’t to collect books so that the Carter G. I participated in long after she first walked through the Woodson Charter School in Winston- doors oftheWorrell Professional Center Salem canhavealibrary. it; indeed, what is that she was balancing classes, trial “What is most important about the most important competitionsandprobonoandvolunteer volunteer work is not that I participated opportunities. in it; indeed, what is most important is that each and One such opportunity was the is that each and every one of my peers law school’s initial Innocence Project. have given ofthemselves ‘for the public my every one of Dildine, along with two other law good,’ as well,” Dildine says. “They have students, worked on a case to determine assisted clients in the Elder Law Clinic, peers have given if DNA evidence existed and, if so, ifit volunteeredatdomesticviolenceshelters, could exoneratetheirclient. worked at the Children’s LawCenter, led ofthemselves ‘for “Although our client remains agrouptorebuildNewOrleans,coached in prison, throughout our work, the basketball at Hanes Hosiery and drafted the public good,’ possibility of his innocence motivated documentsat‘WillsforHeroes.’ Noneof as well.” us,” she said. “This year, I supervised as usdoes thisworkso thatwemaybe able a case manager two Innocence Project to list another activity on our resumes. -LauraDildine (’10) teams, one of which worked diligently Instead, our work, and Wake Forest’s towrite theirclient andvisitthe scene of support ofit, is a dedication to Gandhi’s thecrimetoverifyeyewitnessaccounts.” charge -- ‘Be the change you wish to see ) in theworld.’” something that comes easily or quickly parents,” he explains. “I’ve helped throw \\’ake Forest law students aren’t the to them, usuallybecause they’re so used a Halloween party, wrapped Christmas only ones tr)ing to make a difference. to beingtoldthattheycan’t do it. When presents and made gingerbread houses. Facult)' member Parker coordinated a they do finally get it, that full-body hug The kids are shy at first, but as you just volunteereffortinthespringof2009that around your legs reminds me why I do laugh and joke with them, you can see consistedof39studentsandotherfaculty it.” themcomingoutoftheshellsthatlifehas memberswhohelpedtutorstudentsafter Eskelsen says that in addition sadly made them build up and become school at Kimberley Park Elementary kidsagain. School,just down the road from the law “And as I found myself driving school. Plans call for the program to between class and all of the other great resumein thefall. “It allows them places in Winston, I remembered “I wanted to do it partly because I that when practicing law, you are volunteered there before, and I thought to do something always serving others,” Eskelsen says. it w'as fun, and I found it personally “Opportunities abound in Winston rew’arding,” Parker says. “I also thought meaningful with to put that recognition to use. All you it was the right thing to do. And it’s a have to do is drive from downtown up their spare time good break for our students. It allows to campus, andyouseeplaceswhereyou them to do something meaningful with and to make a canmakeadifference.” their spare time and to make a positive Dildine, Parker and Eskelsen are impact.” positive impact.” among dozens of examples of why Pro Eskelsen is a rising second-year law Humanitate isn’t just a phrase at the student who was one ofthe most active - GrantEskelsen (’11 Wake Forest University School of Law. volunteers at Kimberley Park. “Some of While the University adopted the “for these students have no one at home to humanity” motto when it was founded help push them to be better,” he says. in 1834,lawschoolstudents,faculty,staff “Thesearekidswhoarecravingattention to getting away from his law books, andalumni personifyitonadailybasis. and some sortofrecognition. So, one or volunteering is a great reminder ofhow Many, like Eskelsen and Heidi twodaysaweekImakea30-seconddrive onepersoncan makeadifference. Perlman (’10), who volunteered toaworld that is alien towhat I grew up “SomedaysIvolunteernottwomiles during CommUNITY Cares Day, say with. I try to find another way to help from campus at The Children’s Home, a volunteering is a great opportunity to teach basic math concepts to these kids home for abused and neglected children take a break from their studies and help and to instill a love of reading. It’s not who have been taken away from their someone at the same time. “I did this 4 • In March, more than 75 students, more than 200 toys. Aguilar said, “It “Wewantto instillthe importance of faculty and stafffrom the law school ' is a message of hope and it blends givingbackto theircommunityfrom and Kimberley Park Elementary in with the University’s motto, ‘Pro the start,” said Ann Gibbs, Associate SchoolinWinston-Salemparticipated Humanitate! And with the difficult DeanforAdministrative andStudent in the second annual CommUNITY times familiesface economically, this Services. CaresDay,whichwasledbymembers message has become more relevant DanielUmlauf(’10) foundedagroup oftheYouthAdvocacyGroupandthe thanever.” called the Disaster Relief Network, Environmental Law Society. About • Morethanhalfofthelawschool’s460 which traveled to New Orleans to 250 man-hours of donated time students participated in the annual workwith the Pro Bono Project over resulted in the planting ofnewtrees, Public Interest Law Organization spring break 2009. “The clients that new flowerbeds and a garden for the (PILO) Charity Auction that raised the Pro Bono Projectworks with face children to growtheir own food and nearly$14,000inOctober2008.Each anumberofissues includingdivorce, learnaboutfood-sourceissues. year, PILO sponsors an auction to custody, bankruptcy, fraud (Katrina- • Also in March, law school student help fund scholarships for students related), succession etc.,” said John volunteers in conjunction with Legal who work during the summer in Byron (’ll), who went on the trip. AidofNorthCarolinaofferedfreetax publicinterestpositions. “The experience was rewarding and preparation for eligible taxpayers in • Each incoming first-year class has the potential to be a sustainable Forsyth, Davie, Iredell, Stokes, Surry participates in a Community endeavorforWakelawschool.” andYadkincounties. Service Project at a local Habitat Students involved with the Domestic • Law students played Santa Claus for Humanity building site as part Violence Advocacy Clinic raised in December 2008 for patients at of orientation, and this year was no more than $2,000 during the annual BrennersChildrenHospital,whichis exception. The students, along with raffle event. The moneywentdirectly partofWakeForestUniversityBaptist some faculty members and the dean, to shelter residents who are tryingto MedicalCenter. JoshuaAguilar (’10), worked in groups of 40 over a two- obtain independence from abusive who organized the toy drive, and day period, laying down law books relationships. Dean Blake Morant helped deliver and picking up hammers and nails. last year and it was a lot offun,” she said assistance, members of the law school We would like to thank them all, not during the March event. “I love kids so community are committed to giving only for their assistance, but also for I get a chance to playoutside with them backtothelocalcommunityand staying the compassion that they show towards and plantsomebulbs.” connectedthroughvolunteerefforts. the children in our program. We look Mike Miller, who organized both “Commitment to common good forward to continuing the wonderful CommUNITY Cares Day and coached has been a profound characteristic at relationship that we have developed oneoftheyouthbasketballleagueteams, Wake Forest,” Dean Blake Morant says. with the students oftheWake Forestlaw amonghis othervolunteerwork, says it’s “It’s in the DNA of the law school, and school.” important to get involved outside oflaw I am gratified to know that we have school. “Plusit’salotoffuntohelp show such committed public servants in our PhotoCaptions youcareaboutthecommunityandmake studentbody.” new,diverse friends.” The law school’s efforts have not • LawprofessorWendyParkerhelps Whether it is acting as a guardian gone unnoticed by the surrounding studentsatKimberleyParkElementary Schoolwith theirhomeworkinanafter- ad litem, tutoring elementary school community. Art Blevins, the recreation schooltutoringsession. (Page3) students or providing pro bono legal center supervisor for Hanes Hosiery Community Center, where law students • GrantEskelsen (’11)teachesbasic assist with after-school tutoring and mathconceptstostudentsatKimberley “Commitment youth league basketball, wrote in aletter ParkElementarySchool, whileJanelle to the dean thatas aresultofthe current Neubecker(’09)shareshercomputerskills common withanothergroupofstudentsduringthe to economic crisis, budget cuts have forced after-schooltutoringprogram. (Page4) the center to devise creative means of good has been providingservicestothe community. • LawstudentsworkonaHabitatfor “The staff, patrons and children Humanityhomeduringorientation. a profound of Hanes Hosiery Community Center (Page5) characteristic at would like to commend the volunteer • Makinglandscapingimprovementsat services of the Wake Forest law school KimberleyParkElementarySchoolwas Wake Forest” students with our Fall/Winter youth justoneofmanyvolunteertaskslaw programs,”hewrote. students,facultyandstaffundertook -Dean BlakeMorant “These students have donated their duringthesecondannualCommUNITY time and efforts to help make sure that CaresDayinMarch. (Above) our activities are of the highest quality. 6 i “Wake Forest . me helped my cultivate desire to serve the public and me allowed to my facilitate P ublic service has long been to facilitate volunteering for anyone - an integral part of the legal students, facultyand staff- who wanted classmates’ profession. Many firms and togiveback. bar associations encourage and Although I thoroughly enjoyed the service interests” even require attorneys to participate guardian ad litem program, coaching a in pro bono publico work. The team of 13-15 year olds to a basketball -MikeMiller(’09) University’s motto, Pro Hurtianitate, championship, and assisting kids of all guides many of the activities that ageswiththeir homework, thehighlight exist at Wake Law. ofmyYAGexperiencewasthesuccessful While the law school has always execution of two CommUNITY Cares CommUNITY Cares Day 2008 was a offered a wide range of public interest DayeventsatKimberleyParkElementary success. About 35 volunteers worked opportunities, I and some of my fellow School. hand-in-hand with the Kimberly Park studentssawtheneedtodo alittlemore. Kimberley Park is flooded with students and staff weeding, tilling, I teamed up with Britt Harlow (’08) excited, happy, energetic students and planting and mulching as well as and Josh Knipp (’09) to form the Youth staff. However, directly outside the laughing. In March, CommUNITY AdvocacyGroup (YAG), amoreservice- school’swalls, abandoned cars,boarded- Cares Day 2009 built on that inaugural intensive group. We envisioned this up houses, and free-floating trash serve effort,attractingmorethan75volunteers. group as an umbrella organization as reminders of life’s difficulties as the The ultimate moment ofrealization that to staff all the youth-related service children walk to and from school. We our efforts were worthwhile occurred opportunitiesavailableforlawstudents. thoughtthekidsdeservedbetter. when I overheardastudentexclaim, “It’s We wanted the group to be active Inthe earlymonths of2008, asmall likewehaveawholenewschool!” in the community. During the past two groupofYAGvolunteersbeganplanning WakeForesthelpedme cultivatemy years, the YAG has collaborated with a day of school beautification to show desire to serve the public and allowed the Forsyth County Guardian ad Litem the youngsters that their community me to facilitate my classmates’ service program, Kimberley Park Elementary believedinthem. interests. I look forward to continuing School, Hanes Hosiery Community Thanks to funds donated bythelaw thespiritoftheProHumanitatemottoas Center and Winston-Salem TeenCourt school, local merchants and individuals, Ientertheworkingworld. New committee will document, catalog and recognize volunteer efforts W hether it’s providing enriches the lives of everyone who opportunities, students can make more free tax advice, participates. purposeful choices about where to acting as a guardian “The Wake Forest School of Law committheirextratime,” shesaid. ad litem, tutoring has a long and distinguished history of In addition to surveying students children after school or helping at service to community,” says Dean Blake and facultyabout their currentpro bono a tVrod bank on the weekends, the Morant. “This special nature ofour law and volunteer work, the committee has ^indents, faculty and staff at the schoolwillnowtakegreaterprominence surveyed alumni to find out about their Wake Forest University School of as we recognize the importance of the pro bono and public service activities to Law give freely oftheir spare time to ‘citizenlawyer.’ ” includeinthe catalog. pro bono and public service efforts. Professor Suzanne Reynolds is “We hope that we can assist Thankstoanewlyformedcommittee heading the Pro Bono Committee our alumni in their pro bono work ofstudents and faculty, those efforts will that plans to catalog all pro bono and by connecting them with students now be documented, cataloged and volunteer activity being done by those interested in their particular projects,” recognized. connectedwith thelawschool. Reynoldssaid. TheProBonoCommitteeisplanning “The committee will provide agreat Informationgatheredinthesurveys an event forthefall semestershowcasing servicebyservingasa centralrepository will be used to develop a catalog that ::ic legal and non-legal charitable efforts for all the pro bono and volunteer work students can use for Public Interest Law of '-lie law school’s students, faculty, staff beingdonebythelawschool,” shesaid. Organizationgrants, Reynoldssaid. andalumni. A central repository will also Plans also call for recognizing Paculty and students will talk help students make informed choices, volunteer efforts with an award for aixiut how public service work furthers Reynolds said. studentprobono/prohumanitateworkas ^t-idenN’ development as lawyers and “By providing a catalog of wellashighlightingsomeoftheactivities