Author: Amber Bethune

An Unofficial Overview of Temple Law’s Competitive Offerings

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Introduction Being on a law review, moot court, or trial team gives students valuable advocacy practice and looks great on a resume, however competition can be fierce. Thankfully, Temple has numerous opportunities to participate in these prestigious offerings. With five moot court teams, two law reviews, a trial team, and a patent drafting competition, there are many options for students to choose from. Academic credit is provided for participation. Note that all of these are subject to change, and Temple may not participate in all competitions every year. Where to begin? Read all about them below! Law Reviews Temple has two law reviews: The Temple Law Review and Temple’s International and Comparative Law Journal. The Temple Law Review was founded in 1927. It is a student-edited, quarterly journal dedicated to providing a forum for the expression of new legal thought and scholarly commentary on important developments, trends, and issues in the law. Students must compete in the write-on competition to be considered for membership. This competition usually takes place about a week after spring finals. …

Studying for my LL.M. at Temple Law School Japan

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I came to Temple University, Japan (TUJ) with no defined plan for the future. I had just finished a study-abroad year in Bristol, England, did not want to go back to my home country of France and wanted to become even more internationally minded . Studying for my LL.M. at Temple University, Japan was perfect for this! I was able to study both American and international law and discover a new culture. Studying at TUJ, interacting with the teachers and the legal community there allowed me to find several internships and the area of law I wanted to specialize in. I took part in an arbitration class offered by TUJ and decided that this was what I wanted to pursue, which led me to relocate to Seoul. Thanks to the TUJ staff and professors, I was able to receive great legal education, pass the California Bar, while at the same time enjoy and discover Japan!

Spring Semester in Japan – Experience It for Yourself

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Hi, my name is Christina Snyder. I graduated from the Fox School of Business at Temple University in 2013, the Beasley School of Law at Temple in 2018 and I am currently pursuing my Tax LLM at Temple Law. Safe to say I love Temple and Philadelphia. However, during my spring 2018 semester I found a new love, Japan. I had the opportunity to participate in the Temple Law School Study Abroad program at their Temple University Japan campus for my last semester of law school. Although nervous about living in a foreign country with a very different language and culture the staff at Temple Law School (both campuses) assured me everything would go great and boy, were they right. Although I was there to study I had the time of my life. Education didn’t happen just in the classroom. Most of the classes are held one day a week in the evenings. This left plenty of time for traveling, exploring and eating. The law program arranged a number of group trips including a sumo …

Japan Study Abroad – A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

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My semester at Temple University Law School’s Japan campus was by far the best experience I had during my time in law school. TUJ’s study abroad program provided me with unique access to an extraordinary city, internship opportunities and courses taught by locally-practicing attorneys, and lifelong friendships. Tokyo is an incredibly beautiful and accessible city (walkable with an extremely efficient metro system). On weekends I explored different areas of the city which had a seemingly unending assortment of entertainment, cuisine, views, and cultural landmarks. During spring break, I flew with a classmate to Niseko, Hokkaido, where we spent the week skiing before exploring the famous seafood scene in Sapporo. I cannot overemphasize how friendly and helpful the locals were during my stay. The owner of my hostel in Niseko even gave me a hand-written thank you letter the day I moved out! The staff at TUJ clearly cared about each student participating in the spring program. From the day I began my initial application last July through the end of my semester in Japan and …

Unpacking the Race, Gender, Disability and Class Implications of Juvenile Detention Decisions

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Race, gender, disability and class based injustices happen to our nation’s teens every day, in the mundane decisions that probation officers, caseworkers, and judges make, usually out of public view. An article in Pro Publica documents a judicial decision to detain a 15-year-old Black girl for violation of her probation. The violation involved her failure to properly attend her online school program and keep up with her assigned homework. The judge, citing a “zero tolerance” for probation violations, incarcerated her in May, 2020, in the midst of a massive disruption to the school lives of every American teenager. The decision was made without testimony by the girl’s special education teacher, who had to leave the online hearing to fulfill her other teaching duties. Studies make clear the disproportionate impact of race in all aspects of the juvenile justice process. Those involved in the process tend to see Black teens as more mature and therefore more culpable for their behavior than white teens of the same age. Juvenile detention also disproportionately impacts teens diagnosed with ADHD …

My Spring Semester at Temple Law’s Japan Campus

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My time studying at Temple University Japan campus (TUJ) was, without a doubt, one of the most fruitful and rewarding experiences of my law school career. As a Program, TUJ is incredibly well integrated as an American university in a sprawling foreign metropolis. As a country, Japan is amazingly sophisticated and well worth understanding for those curious to understand the future. If you are someone who enjoys adventure, has international aspirations, or is innately curious, I cannot recommend this program enough. Educationally, classes are well-integrated for those considering careers in international law or seeking an added dimension to their personal brand. The added benefit of small classes allowed me to personally connect with professors on an intimate level not possible elsewhere and obtain quality mentorship from international field leaders. Professionally, TUJ helped arrange fantastic internship opportunities at top-notch organizations, assisting students to gain valuable experience and build upon their CV’s. With opportunities at global firms like Morgan Lewis and BMW, students have the chance to network, experience life as an international practitioner, and strengthen their …