Law Clinic Honors Advocates for Social Justice

The 19th Annual David Grant Clinic Student Attorney Awards were presented at Saint Louis University School of Law on May 15, 2008. Sarah Mullen-Dominguez and Tom Banning received the awards in recognition of their exemplary performance in pro bono legal services provided by the Law Clinic.

Sarah Mullen-Dominguez is a native of St. Louis, ranked 5th in her law school class and recipient of numerous academic awards; she attended St. Joseph Academy and Washington University. Before law school, Sarah lived in Chiapas Mexico, working for a Ford Foundation project. She is fluent in Spanish and provided many hours of translation for law clinic clients in and outside the courtroom in addition to legal aid in preparation for criminal trials. Sarah will join the firm of Lewis, Rice & Fingersh in St. Louis where she will be litigating and practicing immigration law.

Tom Banning is not a typical law school grad. He's served 17 years in the military, the last 13 in the Illinois Army National Guard where he holds the rank of captain. Just weeks after taking the Bar exam, he will ship out to Afghanistan and be one of the few Americans embedded with Afghani infantry. Tom holds an MBA from SIU-Edwardsville and a degree in Geology from The College of William and Mary. At SLU Law, Tom founded the Veterans Law Student Organization which has been very active in providing pro bono legal services to homeless vets and those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. His law clinic work included an internship with the Madison County Public Defenders Office and legal representation for Habitat for Humanity.

The Clinic Student Attorney awards are named in honor of David Grant (1903-1985) who was dedicated racial justice and civil rights throughout his career as an attorney and activist in St. Louis which began in the 1930’s. Grant, who was African-American, served on the National Democratic Committee in 1960 and helped write the Kennedy-Johnson civil rights campaign platform. His family endows the awards to honor and promote his legacy of advocacy for social justice.

School’s Health Law Program Voted Number One for Fifth Consecutive Year

For the fifth consecutive year, U.S.News & World Report has named Saint Louis University's health law program the best in the nation. U.S. News issued the rankings in its "Best Graduate Schools 2009" issue, which hits newsstands Monday, March 31, 2008.

Since health law rankings began more than a decade ago, the School’s Center for Health Law Studies has ranked in the top three programs. The Center features some of the nation's most respected faculty and offers dual-degree programs with Saint Louis University’s School of Public Health and Center for Health Care Ethics.

Graduates of SLU's health law program are employed in the nation's leading health law practices and top health care companies, as well as federal and state agencies.

Thomas J. Greaney, co-director of SLU's Center for Health Law Studies, welcomed the No. 1 honor from U.S. News.

"The ranking is really a tribute to the outstanding and diverse faculty members we have teaching health law subjects and to the outstanding students we've been able to attract to the program," Greaney said.

The largest industry in the United States, health care also is the most regulated, making health law education increasingly important. The expanding field addresses the quality, cost and availability of health care as well as other key issues, such as technology and ethics.

Overall, U.S News ranked SLU's law school in the top 100 of all accredited law schools in the United States.

For more information on the Center for Health Law Studies, click here.

SLU Law Students Help Form New National Women’s Organization

The National Women Law Students’ Organization (NWLSO) was inaugurated last week in New York City with two law students representing Saint Louis University School of Law among 100 delegates from over 60 schools.

Ms. JD www.ms-jd.org, a national non-profit organization dedicated to reinforcing and expanding the representation of women in law school and the legal profession, initiated the formation of NWLSO. Both organizations are run by current law school students.

SLU law students Stessie Bill and Megan Davoren will represent the Midwestern Region as Chairs on the Outreach Committee and Student Liaison Committee, respectively. Both Bill and Davoren have been active in the Women Law Students Association at Saint Louis University School of Law.

“The conference really was wonderful and truly inspiring,” Bill said upon returning to St. Louis. “We met so many strong women leaders and are motivated to make this organization something powerful. It is our hope we can make SLU one of the leaders in promoting the network's mission to further the careers of women in the legal community.”

Women have been making history at Saint Louis University School of Law since 1908 when women were allowed to enroll for the first time. To celebrate “The First 100 Years of Women at SLU” the law school will be sponsoring a speakers’ series beginning in September, to be held once a month throughout the school year, featuring prominent women legal scholars, alumni and faculty. Topics will include work/life balance; gender and jury selection; women in public office and care giving among other topics important to women in the 21st century.

Saint Louis University Law Journal Article Wins Burton Award

Mark Sableman’s article, “Artistic Expression Today: Can Artists Use the Language of Our Culture?” was featured in the Fall 2007 issue of the Law Journal dedicated to Sen. Thomas F. Eagleton. The Burton Awards for Legal Achievement are organized in association with the Library of Congress and its Law Library. 30 winners were selected from hundreds of applications received from the nation’s top 1,000 largest law firms. Mark Sableman is a partner with Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis. He was a friend and colleague of Sen. Eagleton.

Friday, Sept. 19
Naturalization Ceremony

The School of Law will host one of the largest Naturalization Ceremonies offered by the Federal Courts in the state of Missouri in the new Chaifetz Arena. More information to follow.

Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Chaifetz Arena

Friday, Oct. 17
Childress Lecture

Prof. Sandra H. Johnson will be the 2008 Childress Lecturer. More information to follow.

Location: William H. Kniep Courtroom

Friday, March 20
Saint Louis University Health Law Symposium

The Saint Louis University Journal of Health Law & Policy in conjunction with the Center for Health Law Studies will host the 21st annual Health Law Symposium in the William H. Kniep Courtroom. More information to follow.

Friday, April 3
Saint Louis University Law Journal Symposium

The Saint Louis University Law Journal will host its Spring Symposium in conjunction with the Wefel Center for Employment Law on April 3, 2009. More information to follow.

Location: William H. Kniep Courtroom