Fall 2020 – Week 2

Virtual Events

Law Library Zoom Reference Hours

Law librarians now are available weekdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Zoom for drop-in research help. The Zoom link is here and also is available on the Temple Law Library homepage (click on “Research Help (Via Zoom)”).

Financial Aid Zoom Office Hours

For the Fall 2020 semester, the Financial Aid Office will have Virtual Drop-In Office Hours Mondays – Thursdays. The schedule and Zoom links for the Drop-In Office Hours are available here. We can also be reached by email at lwfinaid@temple.edu.

Student Services & Academic Records Zoom Office Hours

Kathy Wilson’s virtual office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 8-9 am. Please use this link: https://temple.zoom.us/j/99337697656. You may also contact her at kilson@temple.edu

Laura Frisby-Selby’s virtual office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 12-1 pm. Please use this link: https://temple.zoom.us/j/99337697656. You may also contact her at lfrisby@temple.edu

A Discussion with Black Trial Lawyers – Panel

On Friday, September 4th, the UCLA School of Law Trial Advocacy Program and the UCLA Black Law Students Association are co-hosting a Zoom Webinar event, A Discussion with Black Trial Lawyers. The panelists are:
• Bart Williams, partner and commercial litigator at Proskauer Rose, and Benchmark Litigation and Chambers and Partners finalist for National Trial Lawyer of the Year (2018)
• Mercedes Cook, deputy public defender in Los Angeles and former associate at Sheppard Mullin
• Olu Orange, civil rights trial attorney in solo practice, and two-time winner of California Lawyer Magazine Attorney of the Year (2015, 2017)

They will discuss and answer questions about their careers, challenges they’ve faced as black trial attorneys, and advice for overcoming those challenges. The panel is from 12-1 pm Pacific / 3-4 pm Eastern and is available at this Zoom link. All are welcome.

https://ucla.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ua26vttLRh6C-ti32p6FSA

Virtual Office Hours with Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers

LCL continues to remain available for virtual student hours via Zoom or FaceTime. You are welcome to contact Ms. Laurie Besden directly at laurie@lclpa.org. Please also refer to LCL’s law student brochure, which outlines LCL’s safe, free, confidential, and supportive services.

Employment Opportunities

Law Library Research Assistant

The Research Assistant will work in the Temple Law Library’s Public Services department, providing research assistance for faculty scholarship and participating in special projects that support reference activities. Students are expected to work approximately 10-15 hours/week during the semester, but scheduling is flexible, and the work can be performed remotely. Qualified candidates will have completed a law school first-year legal research and writing class. Work study students are preferred. The Law Library may opt to renew this position for future semesters. Interested students should contact Julie Randolph at julie.randolph@temple.edu with a cover letter and resume.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Project Board

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Project Board has been developed to help match recent law school graduates with members who are in need of limited-time legal support while the bar exam has been moved. Members can post assignments/projects and new graduates can apply for them within this platform; posting and applying is free. You may see the Project Board here.

Community Reminders

Zoom Zones – Locations & Guidelines

Zoom Rooms or Zoom Zones are designated spaces for students to use when they need to log on to an online class between in-person classes or when they need an on-campus place to study. These rooms can be found across campus and no reservations are needed to use a seat/desk. Each Zoom Room/Zone has a designated occupancy and fixed seating. Please do not add or remove seats and do not exceed the capacity of the room.

Main Campus Zoom Rooms as of 8/21/20 (this list may be updated so please check back!)

  • 1810 Liacouras Walk 110, 310
  • Alter Hall 232, 746
  • Anderson Hall 21,212
  • Gladfelter Hall 107
  • Mitten Hall 250
  • Pearson 10-B
  • Ritter Hall 108, 111, 200
  • Ritter Annex 309, 320
  • Speakman 26, 115,212
  • Wachman Hall 11, 109, 206, 207

Zoom Room Guidelines:
1. Please observe the four pillars of public health. Wear a face covering and maintain physical distancing. Wash or sanitize your hands before entering and please do not come to campus if you are not feeling well.
2. Wear headphones so that your Zoom session does not disturb others using the space.
3. Use CHAT or other features to participate in your online class while in a Zoom Room. If other students are in the Zoom Room, consider telling your professor that you are in a Zoom Room and that speaking may not be possible if other students are in the Zoom Room.
4. Power outlets are limited. Please respect others’ needs to charge devices and physical distancing when charging electronics.

Students can also find open seating and study spaces in other campus buildings including the Howard Gittis Student Center and Charles Library.

Grading Policy for Fall 2020

Please note that the grading policy for fall 2020 remains unchanged; courses will be graded as listed in the course description’s grade mode. Contact Dean Bretschneider should you have any questions at jennifer.bretschneider@temple.edu.

Qwickly Requirement

All students will need to use the attendance tracker Qwickly. This is a very easy process and can be done on Canvas. The primary reason for documentation of attendance through Qwickly is to facilitate contact tracing by the University if a student or instructor tests positive for COVID-19. Either your faculty member (or TA) will take attendance manually and enter your presence in class *OR* the faculty member will initiate a check-in session on Qwickly and you will need to mark your attendance using Canvas on your computer or the Canvas app by clicking “Check In“.

Law Library Seating – Reservation Only

Starting August 24th, you must reserve your seat in the Temple Law Library. The link to the seat reservation system will be available through the Temple Law Library website (https://www.law.temple.edu/library/find-a-resource/) and you can reserve your seat up to a day in advance. You have a choice of carrel, table, or soft seating, and all library levels are available. Find more details on the law library’s Online Learning Guide (https://guides.temple.edu/lawlibraryonline/welcomeback).

Zoom Attendance

A reminder that students need an adjustment from Student Services or an accommodation from DRS in order to attend classes this semester remotely via Zoom.

OWL cards

Did you get your photo taken for your OWL card but have been unable to pick it up? We can help! Let us know at mai.le@temple.edu

Political & Civil Rights Society – Staff Editor Application

Interested in becoming a staff editor for the Temple Law Political and Civil Rights Society? You may find the application, due September 11th, here.

Mentee for the Appellate Project

The Appellate Project started out of a simple belief: that our highest courts are strongest when they reflect our communities. Although appellate cases impact our everyday lives, people of color remain greatly underrepresented as both appellate attorneys and judges. The mentee application for the Appellate Project is now open for students, and submissions are due by September 18. More information can be found here.

Voting!

Get registered, get informed, got mobilized with Temple Votes!

Here are the relevant official dates and USPS recommended dates for PA:

  • Voter registration: By Oct. 19 (online, and if by mail, registration must be postmarked by this date).
  • Ballot-by-mail request: Students can submit their mail-in ballot request now. USPS recommends ballots be requested no later than Oct. 19; PA requires ballots be requested no later than Oct. 27.
  • Return ballot-by-mail: USPS recommends ballots be mailed in no later than Oct. 27 in order to be received by Nov. 3, the required deadline currently under PA law. Ballots can also be dropped off at the voter’s county board of elections through November 3. Addresses for each county can be found here: https://www.votespa.com/Resources/Pages/Contact-Your-Election-Officials.aspx.
  • Election day: Nov. 3, polls open from 7am to 8pm (voters voting for the first time at a given polling location will need an approved form of identification.)

Classes in Paley Hall

Students should report to Room 205 of Paley Library, now also known as “Samuel Paley Hall”, at 13th Street and Polett Walk, adjacent to the Charles Library and is #45 on this campus map.

Lockers

In order to maintain social distancing to protect the health and safety of our community, lockers may not be used during the Fall 2020 semester absent an accommodation from Disability Resources and Services.

Pennsylvania Bar Association – Free Membership 

The PBA is FREE for law students. There are great benefits for law students to sign up for the PBA now while in law school. Sign up using this link: https://www.pabar.org/site/Law-Student-Signup/Law-Student-Application

No Textbooks on Library Reserve

Textbooks will not be on reserve this semester, as all books returned to the library must be quarantined for a minimum of three days, which makes a traditional reserve collection unfeasible during this time. Textbooks will be part of the normal circulating collection during COVID for safety. We encourage for safety reasons for students to buy their own textbooks. We apologize for this inconvenience.

Help with Voter Protection

The PA Democratic Party is looking for law students to help with voter protection! The right to vote is currently under attack, and they are working to make sure that every eligible Pennsylvania voter can vote and have their vote counted. Please see here for information regarding Election Day opportunities, and then go to www.padems.com/voterpro to sign up! Students with additional questions, or who may be interested in a student leadership role with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s Voter Protection Division should contact Brian Maguire at 570-274-5260 or by email at tuf59909@temple.edu.

Free E-Book: Successful Lessons from Successful African American Lawyers

For a limited time, Successful Black Lawyers is providing free full-color pdf versions of the book, “Successful Lessons from Successful African American Lawyers: Practical Wisdom for Those on the Path to Lawyerhood” edited by Evangeline M. Mitchell, Esq., particularly for those unable to purchase the book. Their goal is to give away the full-color e-book for free to at least 10,000 aspiring Black lawyers. Here’s a link to an article about the book: www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4747547 and here’s the link to the website to download the free e-book: www.successfulblacklawyers.com/#get

Black Lawyers in America – Video

Recording of Session One: The Foundation.

Systemic Racism in US Law & Politics – Video

If you missed CSRR’s Teach-In Series on Systemic Racism in US Law and Politics, they are available for viewing here. Thank you to Professors Vernellia Randall, Benjamin Davis, Jeena Shah, and Anthony Farley for sharing their expertise at this monumental political moment.

Wellness Resource Center – Video

Check out this video from the Wellness Resource Center on Self-Care and New Routines. This program is designed to explore tips and strategies to take care of your mental well-being.

Stipends for Summer & Fall – Meltzer Social Justice Projects

The Sheller Center has received a generous contribution to support stipends for students interested in engaging in social justice projects this summer and/or fall. All students at the Law School (not just those connected to the Sheller Center) are eligible to apply to this fund, in accordance with these guidelines. As you’ll see, the focus is on student-led projects aimed at benefiting disadvantaged communities in Pennsylvania, conducted in partnership with a community, policy, or advocacy organization and under the guidance of any faculty member. We are looking forward to seeing your applications!

JD Spring Semester Abroad Program in Japan

For over 26 years, Temple University’s international law program in Japan has offered law students a unique opportunity to study in Tokyo for an entire spring semester. The law program in Japan is designed to educate the next generation of lawyers to practice in the global marketplace and to provide aspiring lawyers with the opportunity to become intimately familiar with the international practice of law and legal community. The program also provides participants with an invaluable chance to experience Asia and an opportunity to become distinguished in a competitive legal market. The Spring 2021 application is due October 15, 2020. You may find details here.

Scholarships

Law Student Diversity Scholarship Competition

DRI announces its 15th annual Law Student Diversity Scholarship Competition in which two $10,000 scholarships will be awarded. The program is open to students who will be in their second or third year of law school in the 2020-21 academic year. Eligible are African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, LGBT and multi-racial students. Also eligible are female law students, regardless of race or ethnicity and law students who come from backgrounds that would add to the cause of diversity, regardless of race or gender.

The goal of these scholarships is to provide financial assistance to two worthy law students from ABA-accredited law schools to promote, in a tangible way, the DRI Diversity Statement of Principle. To qualify for this scholarship, a candidate must be a full-time student. Evening students also qualify for consideration if they have completed one-third or more of the total credit hours required for a degree by the applicant’s law school.

Click here to access the scholarship application and information. Applications must be received by DRI no later than August 31, 2020.

Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania Legal Education Fund Scholarship

The 2020 Scholarship of the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania Legal Education Fund is now open! All applications must be received on or before 11:59 pm on September 13, 2020. Application information may be found here.

Bar Exam & MPRE Information

Bar Exam Tips

With a little over a month remaining until the October bar, this can feel like a challenging time to keep up your studying stamina, but continue to be persistent in your studying. Continuously, and systematically, preparing for the bar with focus and determination should be your mindset. Stick with your study schedule, follow the recommendations of your bar course, and continue to assess your knowledge gaps, and you should feel prepared for the bar.

Keep a look out for bar tips delivered to you each week this semester in the Post! 

The 2020 MPRE 

Please visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners website for the most current information concerning the MPRE.