Fall 2021 – Week 8

COMMUNITY REMINDERS

Mandatory Graduation Check-up

To All January, May and July 2022 Graduates

We will be having mandatory graduation check-ups the week of October 18th.  Hours will be Monday through Thursday 9 to 6 p.m and on Friday 9 to 3 p.m. Sign up for a check using this link by Monday, October 18. Reserve evening slots for evening students.

Please fill out this form and email it back to Kathy Wilson at kilson@temple.edu at least three hours before your scheduled appointment. If you need an appointment at a time other than the times listed, please contact Kathy Wilson (kilson@temple.edu).

IP Moot Court Team – Participation Information

Professor Gugliuzza, Dean Harris, and Professor Douglas, are planning on coaching up two two-student teams in the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s Patent Law Moot Court competition. This is the most prestigious IP moot court competition in the country. The materials for this year’s competition are now available on the AIPLA’s website: https://www.aipla.org/resources/programs-awards/moot-court-competition. The teams’ briefs will be due January 31 and the regional round of oral arguments will be in March. Temple’s teams have often advanced to the national round of the competition, which takes place in April. Participation in this competition can be a very valuable learning experience, but students must be ready to put in substantial effort and be strongly self-motivated. If you are interested in taking part this year, please send your resume, transcript (unofficial is fine), a writing sample (any length, any format is fine), and a brief statement of interest to paul.gugliuzza@temple.edu by Sunday, October 31.  All 2L, 3L, and 4L students who have taken (or are currently taking) Introduction to Intellectual Property are eligible to participate. Students selected will receive 3 credits of Guided Research credit in the spring semester for satisfactory work. Because the briefs are due in January, however, some work will be required during the fall semester and over the winter break. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions to Professor Gugliuzza at paul.gugliuzza@temple.edu

Moot Court Competition Team – Tryouts

Tryouts will take place during the weeks of October 11 and October 18, 2021. Interested students received a tryout packet on October 8 via email.  If you are interested in trying out, and would like to receive a tryout packet, please send a short email expressing your interest to Professor Mary Levy at marylevy@temple.edu  Questions? Contact Professor Levy via email and type “MOOT COURT TRYOUT QUESTION” in the subject line of your email.

Library Assistance – Reference Librarians

The Temple University Beasley School of Law Library actively supports the goals of the Temple University Beasley School of Law by providing exceptional library and research services through its knowledge, expertise, and resources. Reference Librarians are available for reference help via chat from 11am-1pm and 3pm-5pm Monday through Friday. We hope you will stop by!

Bike Registration – Free U-Lock

If your bike disappears and is later recovered by the police, the only way they’ll be able to get it back to you is if they have some kind of record that connects you to the bike. That’s where registration comes in.

After you complete the registration processbring your TUID and your bike to any of  these locations to complete the process:

  • Administrative Office: 1101 W. Montgomery Avenue
  • Patrol / Police Headquarters: 1801 N. 11th Street
  • Center Station: Beasley and Polett Walk

Students who register will receive a free U-Lock. Register using this link.

PA Voter Registration Deadline – October 18, 2021

The next election in Pennsylvania is November 2, 2021. Now is the time to make sure you are registered to vote, and your voter registration information is correct and up to date.

Visit votesPA.com/Register to:

  • Register to vote
  • Change your name
  • Change your address

You must make any updates to your voter registration by October 18 for them to take effect by the November 2021 election.

Pennsylvania Bar Association – Free Law Student Membership

The Pennsylvania Bar Association is the largest organized attorney entity in the state with more than 21,000 members. Of the 7,000 young lawyer members, more than 2,400 are law students.

Law student membership in the PBA is FREE.  Student members enjoy the same membership benefits, features and access to resources, as attorney members.  A quick but not complete list of law student member benefits includes:

  • Participation in an E-Mentorship Program between 2L and 3L law students and young lawyers.
  • Access to the PBA Career Center where members can post resumes and search job postings.
  • Refinancing assistance of student loans through SoFi.
  • Discounts on products including Kaplan Bar Review, Office Depot, Lenovo, Brooks Brothers and more.
  • Digital access to all PBA publications including At Issue, the YLD e-newsletter, where law students are encouraged to submit articles and be published.
  • Free and unlimited access to courses offered by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute
  • Free and unlimited membership in any PBA committee and section. Incidentally, there are more than 50 PBA committees, including LGBTQ+ Rights, Children’s Rights, Quality of Life/Balance, and Women in the Profession, just to name a few. Our 18 sections focus on practice areas such as Family Law, Administrative Law, Public Utility Law, Workers’ Comp and more.

Please visit our website for more information!

We encourage you to become a PBA member by using the link, and if you have questions, please contact Young Lawyers Division Director Maria Engles directly at maria.engles@pabar.org .

Need A Notary?  

Temple Law Library Bibliographic Assistant II, Lizzie Yazvac, is now a notary! She is offering her services, complimentary, to the Temple Law Community. Lizzie is on site Monday to Thursday 10AM-7PM.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to Lizzie at lizzie@temple.edu.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Summer 2022 – Law and Public Policy Program – Washington, D.C.

The recording for the Law and Public Policy Program (Summer 2022) can be found at this  link.  Interested students should also visit the program website: https://www2.law.temple.edu/lppp/.

PRACTICUMS

School Designed Practicum with the U.S. Department of Labor’S Office of the Solicitor

There are up to two slots available for 2L or 3L students in this Practicum for the Spring 2022 semester. The experiential learning project offered with this Practicum is with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor, Philadelphia Regional Office. The Philadelphia Regional Solicitor’s Office is responsible for most civil trial litigation and legal support for the U.S. DOL in several states including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. The Office is primarily involved in the enforcement of a number of federal laws that ensure that our region’s workers are employed in safe and healthy workplaces, are paid at least the federal minimum and overtime wage rates, and are treated without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or status as a whistleblower, a person with disability or a veteran.

In this Practicum, students will be engaged in an immersive litigation experience and be permitted a “deep dive” into complex and compelling labor cases involving FLSA, OSHA, MSHA, ERISA, and whistleblower cases, among others. Students will perform legal research, draft motions, help propound and respond to discovery, help prepare for taking and defending depositions, and prepare for and participate in settlement conferences, various in-court motions practice and proceedings, pre-trial conferences, and trial.

This Practicum is ideal for students who are committed to, or interested in learning more about, litigation and labor law. Students must commit to 10 hours per week. This placement is expected to be remote at this point.  If you are interested, please forward your resume, transcript, and a cover letter/statement of interest, addressed to “Labor Law Practicum Selection Committee – USDOL” to nurmson@temple.edu by 12:00 pm on October 27, 2021.

School Designed Practicum with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

There are up to three slots available for 2L or 3L students in this Practicum for the Spring 2022 semester. The experiential learning project offered with this Practicum is with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Philadelphia District Office Hearings Unit. Students will have the opportunity to work alongside Administrative Judges and Law Clerks who handle civil rights cases and appeals.

In this Practicum, students will research, write, and draft briefs, decisions, and orders. Students will have the opportunity to observe local hearings and settlement conferences. The EEOC Office also partners with other federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration and U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, offering selected students the opportunity to observe and connect with other organizations.

This Practicum is ideal for students who have a background in, and are committed to, the fields of employment law, employment discrimination, civil rights, and litigation. Preference will be given to students who have taken courses in the realm of employment law, employment discrimination, labor law, administrative law, and civil procedure, and students who have strong writing skills and an interest in continuing to strengthen their writing. Students must commit to 10 hours per week. If you are interested in this opportunity, please forward your resume, transcript, writing sample, and cover letter/statement of interest addressed to “Employment Law Practicum Selection Committee: EEOC” to nurmson@temple.edu by 12:00 p.m. on October 29, 2021.

FINAL EXAM INFORMATION – FALL 2021

Exam Schedule

The Fall 2021 examination schedule is now available here. This Fall, the last day of classes is Wednesday, December 1, 2021.  Exams will begin on Friday, December 3, 2021 and end on Monday, December 20, 2021.  Please be aware that the exam period is very compressed and that, under our exam conflict policy, you may be required to take an exam every other day.

If you do not see an exam listed on the “Exam Schedule Fall 2021” document, please check the “Free Slot Exams” document and the “Take-Home Exams” document.

Conflicts

Information about exam conflicts and the Exam Conflict Form can be found here. If you have a conflict please complete the form at this link and email it to Ms. Kathy Wilson (kilson@temple.edu) in Student Services (Barrack 103) by November 8, 2021.

Evening Division Saturday Exam Option

All evening students may move an exam from the originally scheduled date to a subsequent Saturday.  (You are not permitted to take an exam before the originally scheduled date).  If you are an evening student requesting to take an exam on Saturday please fill out the form that’s located here.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES & TA POSITIONS

Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame Summer 2022 Internship Program

Members of the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame will host a Temple Law student for an internship at either the Lanier Law Firm (Houston, Tx) and the Levin Papantonio Firm (Pensacola, Fl.). The host firm will pay an hourly rate at or above $25 an hour. The internships will run from around July 1 through August 14 – either a 6 or 8-week commitment. Firms will determine the exact length/dates of the internship. Additionally, the Hall of Fame will provide a $1,000 stipend to offset travel costs, as well as assistance locating housing in the host’s city. Assistance with housing costs will also be available to eligible candidates.

The host firms represent some of the most well-known personal injury/mass tort law firms in the country. Each has a unique practice and interns will get the chance to see what life is like in a firm outside of Philadelphia. Each of the host firms is committed to providing a real working internship offering tangible and substantive experience that will be valuable and worthwhile.

Applications will be made through the Career Planning Manager. The deadline to apply is October 21, 2021 at 11:30 pm. You will apply with a cover letter, resume, law school transcript and writing sample. The cover letter should be addressed to Ms. Sharon Boothe, Vice President of Programs, Levin Papantonio, 316 South Baylen Street, Pensacola, FL 32502. In page two of your cover letter, please indicate your order of preference of firms, if any.

TAs Needed – Fall 2021 Integrated Trial Advocacy (ITAP) and Advanced Trial Ad (ATA)

Upper level students interested in applying to be a TA in ITAP or ATA should email Mary Beth Wilson at mwilson6@temple.edu ASAP. Payment is $12/hour. Work Study is preferred, but not required. As of now, Fall classes are being held in person and there is a mask mandate in our classrooms. If for any reason we are forced to change to an online class format (Zoom), you are expected to continue your appointment in this format.  Class assistants will:

  • attend each class and play the witness role(s) as needed;
  • act as liaison between the Trial Ad Office, instructors, and students, i.e. contacting students with changes in assignments, dates, or other information; handouts, student feedback forms processing, etc.;
  • make sure all forms are distributed, completed, and returned as instructed.

NOTE: This appointment fulfills one of the requirements for the ‘Trial Advocacy Certificate’ program.

WELLNESS PROGRAMMING

Weekly Wellness Tip – Mindful Mondays – Every Monday!

We invite everyone to participate in a 20-minute guided mindfulness meditation practice.  Mindful meditation involves paying attention on purpose to the present moment without judgment.  No experience is necessary.  Join Professor deGuzman at noon in K5A every Monday at noon.

Financial Wellness – Learn About MAX

Law school is a major commitment – not only mentally and emotionally, but financially as well. MAX by AccessLex is a free finance program specifically designed for law students. Find out more information at this link: https://www.accesslex.org/max-by-accesslex

Social Wellness – Join A Student Organization!

As the National Institute of Health explains, “[s]ocial connections might help protect health and lengthen life. Scientists are finding that our links to others can have powerful effects on our health. Whether with family, friends, neighbors, romantic partners, or others, social connections can influence our biology and well-being. Look for ways to get involved with others.” One way to get involved with others is by joining a student organization! Temple Law has over 30 organizations for you to join. If you need assistance, connecting with a specific group, please contact Director Walden at walden@temple.edu.

Brain Tips from the Center for Thriving in Law

Three Ways to keep your mind clear and focused all day:

  1.  Hydrate – The brain depends on water to function – Water provides the electrical energy the brain needs to think. Fatigue is often an outcome of dehydration. STUDY: 1% dehydration causes a 5% decrease in cognitive function. Sip water throughout the day to stay alert, clear and focused. Avoid soda, which is loaded with sugar and salt, both of which contribute to dehydration and fatigue.
  2. Move – Sitting is the new smoking – Small actions make a big different. Stand. Stretch. Move. Every hour. Walk the hall. Take calls standing. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. Ten minutes of movement 3x/day = 30 minutes at once. Move to alleviate brain fog, improve problem solving, and reverse the metabolic dysfunction caused by sitting.
  3. Breathe – Breathing promotes mental clarity & focus – Breathing oxygenates the blood to the brain increasing mental clarity and focus, lowers stress by triggering the release of a cascade of chemicals that clam the mind and body. Inhale through the nose to a count of six or eight, hold for a few seconds and exhale slowly for the same count.

SCHOLARSHIPS & WRITING COMPETITIONS

Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section Scholarship Program

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section is offering scholarships to Law Students interested in Family Law to attend the annual Conference in January held at the Philadelphia Loews Hotel. The Scholarship Award covers 100% of the student conference registration fee (typically $495) and includes attendance at all CLE courses, two receptions, and two breakfasts during the Conference. The Scholarship Award also includes a stipend of up to $500 for reimbursement of travel and lodging expenses. To apply, submit the Scholarship Application to Pamela Kance, Section Relations Coordinator, PA Bar Association, P.O. Box 186, Harrisburg, PA 17108 or by email to pam.kance@pabar.org. The application deadline is November 19, 2021. Want more information? Review this FAQ.

American Kennel Club Companion Animal Law Writing Contest

The American Kennel Club® (AKC) is pleased to announce the fifth annual Companion Animal Law Writing Contest! The contest begins on August 23rd and is opened to all students currently enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school.

The contest will offer a first-place prize of $2500 and a second-place prize of $500.

Students are asked to choose between two topics: The impact of “lawyers for dogs” laws on animal cruelty cases or the constitutionality of mandatory spay/neuter laws.  This year’s topics offer students the unique opportunity to discuss legal perspectives on issues currently in the news and at the forefront of animal law.

Entries will be judged by legal and public policy professionals with experience in laws impacting companion animals.

Contestants can enter now through April 1, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. EST. To learn more about the contest, including official rules and policies, please click here.

James W. Stoudt Memorial Scholarship

The James W. Stoudt Memorial Scholarship of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation provides three, $3,000 scholarships, two of which are specifically dedicated to the support of historically underrepresented minority law students of African-American, Hispanic-American or Native American ancestry. Named after one of the Foundation’s most devoted supporters, the James W. Stoudt Memorial Scholarship is open Pennsylvania residents in their second year of a full-time law school program or third year of a part-time program.

To be eligible, applicants must be or become law student members of the Pennsylvania Bar Association which is free for law students choosing to become electronic members, demonstrate financial need and good academic standing and submit an application that includes: proof of residency; an unofficial copy of a current academic transcript; a maximum of two recommendations; and a 500-word essay that describes how the applicant plans to demonstrate his/her potential for making a contribution to society and the legal profession.

Applications are due December 1, 2021. The application and FAQ can be found on the scholarship website.

Metzer Social Justice Grant

Meltzer Social Justice Grants offer stipends of $1,000 to $3,000 to students who design and carry out innovative social justice projects. Applications are welcomed on a rolling basis as long as funding is available, and can be for work planned to occur this fall; over the course of both semesters; or in the spring semester. Information on the types of projects supported and application procedures are available in the Meltzer Grants Announcement.

Judicial Council Scholarship

The NBA Judicial Council was founded in 1971 as a division of the National Bar Association, the oldest and largest association of minority judges and lawyers in the country. The Judicial Council’s mission objectives include increasing the presence of judges of color in the Federal and State judiciaries. Therefore, in keeping with our mission and objectives, we have established a scholarship program to award eligible people who are members of a racial or ethnic minority that has been underrepresented in the legal profession. If you are interested in learning more about the Judicial Council Scholarship or applying, you may access the criteria and download the fillable application here.

TEMPLE 10-Q

The Temple 10-Q is the electronic newsletter turned blog about business law at Temple Law.  The Temple 10-Q features regular contributions by alumni, students, and faculty on various aspects of their business law work, features about accomplishments by community members, and announcements about upcoming business law events of interest. The goal of The Temple 10-Q is to build a community around the business law work at Temple Law.  The editors, Professor Jonathan Lipson, Professor Andrea Monroe, and Professor Jonathan Broder hope The Temple 10-Q helps to energize Temple’s business law community by creating a forum through which they can educate and inform.  We hope you enjoy the most recent edition which can be found at this link.

BAR EXAM & MPRE INFORMATION

Community Fund for Black Bar Applicants

The Black Bar Applicant Fund is committed to providing at least $500 to black bar applicants across the country. Apply for funding at this link.

PABOLE Presentation Recording

If you were unable to attend the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners presentation on September 30 and would like a link to the recording, please email Director Walden at walden@temple.edu.

Judicial Council Bar Review Scholarship

To assist law students of racial and ethnic minorities in securing their law licenses by passing the bar exam, the Judicial Council is offering a limited number of Bar Review scholarships in the amount of $2500 for graduating law students. If you are interested in learning more about the Judicial Council Bar Review Scholarship or applying, you may access the criteria and download the fillable application here.