University of St. Thomas School of Law

More great moot court competition news! The law school's Trial Advocacy team competed at the regional level of The National Trial Competition, which is co-sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Texas Young Lawyers Association. The event was held at Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska.

Team members (pictured L to R) included Grace Castleberg, Elena Senftner, Allie Dischinger, Kimberly Blaney, Kristina Brindley, Jocie Scherkenback and Nate Shoemaker.

Congrats to the team of Castleberg, Dischinger and Shoemaker, that made it to the semi-final round in the competition!

This year's coaches were Robby Dube, Eckland & Blando LLP; Anne St. Amant ‘20, Eckland & Blando LLP; Andrea Schwartz ‘23, Minnesota Tax Court; and Merry Snyder '23, Isanti County Attorney's Office.

"It’s been an incredible experience coaching such a great group of students this season," said Snyder. "A successful season is about more than just advancing in a competition; it’s about watching the students learn, grow, and gain the confidence needed to thrive in practice. Their hard work, resilience, and commitment truly paid off, and the success of this season is a testament to the student’s hard work and teamwork they brought every step of the way."

Congratulations to this year's Religious Liberties Moot Court Team that competed in the 9th Annual Religious Freedom Tournament at Notre Dame Law School in South Bend, Indiana. The team made it to the semifinal round, finishing in the top four out of 18 law schools.

Team members (pictured left to right) include 3Ls Kate Denney, Zach Chaudhry and Marian Farah. The team was coached by alum Mark Triola '20, an attorney at Hunegs, LeNeave, & Kvas P.A.

The Religious Freedom Tournament brings together teams from law schools across the country to engage in legal dialogue on a religious freedom topic and address challenging questions involving the First Amendment as they argue before a mock Supreme Court of the United States.

Students had the opportunity this afternoon to network and learn about different areas of the law from members of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) practice groups and representatives of Minnesota’s affinity bar associations. And it was great to see some alums staffing the tables!

Good luck to everyone taking the bar exam on February 25 & 26!!

Students learned about working in the courts at today's Judicial Clerkship Information Session. The Career and Professional Development office invited a panel of judges and clerks to talk about serving as a judicial law clerk. Guests discussed how, among other benefits, clerking helps to develop legal research and writing skills and builds a strong foundation for a successful legal career.

Thank you to Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Karl Procaccini, Court of Appeals Judge Elise Larson and District Court Judge Amy Doll for coming to speak to students.

And thank you to current clerks and alums Skylar Peyton, Megan Miller, Stephanie Pavelko and Aurelia Phillips for sharing your experiences!

This week, among the many student meetings and activities held on campus, the Criminal Law Association (CLA) hosted a criminal defense lawyer panel and the Sports, Entertainment and Media Law Society welcomed an attorney from Minnesota United FC.

The defense attorneys discussed their work in the criminal justice system and what led them to their current roles. Panelists included (photo #1, pictured with the CLA board members):
- Antonia Kurtz, Assistant Public Defender, Minnesota Board of Public Defense
- Isabelle McClure, Criminal Defense Attorney, Valentini Law, P.A.
- Brett Kelley '15, Partner, Kelley, Wolter & Scott, P.A.

The Sports, Entertainment and Media Law Society's guest speaker, Kasey Parks (photo #3, with SEMLS board members), shared her professional journey from law school to corporate counsel to working in sports law for teams in the NHL and MLS.

Oksana Synetska, Alissa Pollard and Monali Bhakta (pictured L to R) were student practitioners in the School of Law’s Immigration Law Practice Group clinic last semester and worked directly with individuals pursuing U.S. citizenship.

Click on the link below to read about the impact they made in the lives of their clients and the practical legal skills they gained by working in the clinic.

https://news.stthomas.edu/legal-clinic-students-help-clients-realize-dream-of-becoming-us-citizens/

Legal Clinic Students Help Clients Realize Dream of Becoming US Citizens - Newsroom | University of St. Thomas Students in the Immigration Law Practice Group at the University of St. Thomas School of Law help clients realize the dream of becoming U.S. citizens.

St. Thomas Law earned recognition today as one of the nation's top schools for career resilience. Bloomberg Law named the law school's Mentor Externship Program among just 10 academic programs that are going beyond the traditional legal curriculum and helping students develop skills for a fulfilling, long term career.

St. Thomas' Mentor Externship Program pairs all law students, each year of law school, with a legal professional to help them gain experience, develop relationships and navigate the legal field. More than 500 respected lawyers and judges in the Twin Cities legal community (and beyond) volunteer their time to serve as mentors each year.

Congratulations to Director Uyen Campbell (pictured left), Assistant Director Meghan Feliciano (right) and all law school faculty, staff and mentors on this honor. Thank you for making the Mentor Externship Program a transformative part of a St. Thomas legal education.

Learn more about Bloomberg Law's Law School Innovation Program at https://pro.bloomberglaw.com/law-school-innovation-program/.

Our newest student practitioners were sworn in to work in our legal clinics earlier this month. The affirmation oath was administered at the ceremony by alum Charles Dolson ’14 (picture #2, left, with Professor Mark Osler).

Professor Rachel Moran is back at the School of Law after spending four months as a Fulbright Scholar researching protests and policing in Chile. Moran was selected to travel to South America in fall 2024 as part of the prestigious academic exchange program.

Hosted by the Universidad de los Andes in Santiago, Moran conducted research to compare and contrast the responses of Chilean police to mass political protests in the fall of 2019 with responses of U.S. police to mass political protests in the summer of 2020.

Read about her research and experience in Chile at https://news.stthomas.edu/fulbright-reflection-rachel-moran-on-policing-differences-in-chile-and-us/.

Fulbright Reflection: Rachel Moran on Policing Differences in Chile and US - Newsroom | University of St. Thomas Fulbright Scholar Rachel Moran is back at the University of St. Thomas after researching protests and policing in Chile.

Professor David Grenardo spoke at the 2024 UNESCO Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination held in Barcelona, Spain, Dec. 10-11. The international conference brought together leaders from across the globe to share knowledge and strategies, promote collaboration and offer support for countries in crafting and implementing effective anti-racism policies.

Grenardo was a panelist for the conference’s session, “Understanding and Confronting Racism in Sport.” Participants discussed the impact of racist behavior from fans and its implications for athletes, as well as the role of athletes and sports organizations in combating racism and fostering a culture of respect and inclusion.

While at the conference, Grenardo was also part of the launch of the new UNESCO Fit for Life Network Against Racism. He has been asked to be part of this new collective of athletes, experts, sports organizations and other relevant stakeholders who will focus on fighting racism in sports and promote inclusion and equality worldwide.

Read more about Grenardo's participation in the UNESCO Global Forum at https://news.stthomas.edu/law-professor-david-grenardo-speaks-on-racism-in-sports-at-unesco-forum-in-barcelona/.

Photo 1 (L to R): Professor Grenardo; Chatilla van Grinsven, basketball player from The Netherlands; and Aauri Bokesa, track and field Olympian from Spain

Law Professor David Grenardo Speaks on Racism in Sports at UNESCO Forum in Barcelona - Newsroom | University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor David Grenardo spoke at the 2024 UNESCO Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination held in Barcelona, Spain, Dec. 10-11.

Yesterday, 1L students got to hear from alumni about their experiences as they entered the legal field. The panel included (from left to right, photo #3) Jabari Barner '14, Laura Orr '10, Annie Boeckers '22 and Ronnie Santana ’18. Each shared examples from their careers that connected back to what students were learning over the past few days in Serving Clients Well, a weeklong required course that introduces a framework of ethical leadership and helps students discern the skills and traits attorneys need to thrive, such as teamwork, cross-cultural competency, project management, leadership, problem solving and more.

Professor Mark Osler recently wrote an essay for The Minnesota Star Tribune in which he shared a transformative encounter with former President Jimmy Carter. The University of St. Thomas School of Law, along with the nation, mourns the loss of President Carter today on this national day of mourning.⁣

Read more at: https://news.stthomas.edu/in-the-news-st-thomas-law-professor-recalls-encounter-with-former-president-jimmy-carter/

Congratulations to 2L Elayna Chambers, who took 3rd place and won $6,500 in scholarships in this year's Fowler Business Concept Challenge for her idea, the Boundless Dental Bus, a mobile clinic that would take dental students around the state to care for those currently incarcerated. The plan also earned the competition's Health Equity Champion Award.

Chambers became aware of issues with prison dental care as a student practitioner in the Community Justice Project legal clinic. She is currently brainstorming what might come next for the project, like additional research, business planning and possible fundraising for a pilot program.

The Boundless Dental Bus and Chambers were recently featured in a MinnPost story. Alum Jess Palyan '22, policy program manager at Violence Free Minnesota, is also quoted in the article.

Read the article at: https://www.minnpost.com/race-health-equity/2024/12/could-dental-students-provide-care-to-incarcerated-minnesotans-this-law-student-has-a-plan/

Launched in 2008, the annual Fowler Business Concept Challenge is hosted by the Opus College of Business Schulze School of Entrepreneurship. It is open to undergraduate and graduate students, regardless of major or program.

Pictured (L to R): Andrew Fowler, Chambers, University President Rob Vischer and Danielle Campeau, associate dean and Best Buy chair for the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship.

President Joe Biden announced on Dec. 12 that he had granted pardons to 39 people convicted of nonviolent crimes. Among them was Sarah Carlson, who worked with the University of St. Thomas School of Law Federal Commutations Clinic to submit her pardon application.

Working with then law student Jessica Ally ’21 J.D., Carlson submitted her petition for pardon in 2020. She had been waiting ever since for a response among a backlog of thousands of applications that had been submitted to the Office of the Pardon Attorney within the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Sarah is typical of so many people who deserve clemency, and we hope there will be many more grants of clemency in the last weeks of the Biden presidency,” said Professor Mark Osler, who leads the Commutations Clinic.

Read more at https://news.stthomas.edu/commutations-legal-clinic-client-among-those-pardoned-by-president-biden/.

Pictured (L to R): Carlson, Ally and Osler

Commutations Legal Clinic Client Among Those Pardoned by President Biden - Newsroom | University of St. Thomas President Joe Biden announced on Dec. 12 that he had granted pardons to 39 people convicted of nonviolent crimes. Among them was Sarah Carlson, who worked with the University of St. Thomas School of Law Federal Commutations Clinic.

Last month, several St. Thomas Law students provided assistance to individuals during their first appearance in immigration court. J.D. students in the Immigration Law Practice Group clinic offered legal advice and resources, and students in the LL.M. in U.S. Law program for internationally-trained attorneys served as interpreters.

Pictured (L to R): Liliana Garrido, Briana Morales, Evan Hromada, Alissa Pollard, Tyler Okemwa, Ahmed Megahed, Josiah Thomsen, Carolina Lopez, Pablo Herrera and Professor Virgil Wiebe.

Not pictured: Maria Garcia, Oksana Sytneska, Axel Soriano, Gabriela Contreras, Rony Perussina and Marcelo Yanez.

Over the past several years, Emily Niles '14 helped lead a trial team in a patent infringement dispute related to pre-lit artificial Christmas trees. In 2024 they achieved a multi-million dollar jury verdict on behalf of their client that is believed to be the largest in District of Minnesota history.

We recently caught up with Niles to learn about her career journey after law school and her work as a litigator at Robins Kaplan LLP.

Read the Q&A at https://news.stthomas.edu/qa-with-school-of-law-alumna-emily-niles-14-j-d/.

Q&A With School of Law Alumna Emily Niles ’14 J.D. - Newsroom | University of St. Thomas Emily Niles ’14 J.D. is a partner and litigator at Robins Kaplan LLP, where she represents clients in high-stakes intellectual property (IP), technology and business disputes.