New Summer Program, Course and Law Graduation Requirements, and a Substantial Gift
The University of Alabama School of Law will launch a diversity-focused summer program starting this year. These programs have become a trend across the country lately and Alabama Law is pleased to offer the program at the undergraduate level. The free four-week program will focus on students who have been historically underrepresented.
“We are grateful for the generous grants that allow us to launch the Summer Fellowship Program,” said Alabama Dean of Law Mark E. Brandon. “The program will allow us to support prospective students in their preparation to apply to law school, and it will provide participants with an extraordinary experience that will show them not only what law school is like, but also what a life can be like. in this noble profession. ”
Anil Mujumdar, Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Assistant Professor of Law in Residence, says the program will provide participants with the foundation needed to succeed as they enter law school and the legal profession.
The Alabama Summer Law Scholarship Program will run from May 31 to June 30, 2022 at the school and is currently accepting applicants through March 27, 2022.
—————————————————————
The University of California, Berkeley School of Law will require all graduate students to take at least one course on race and the law as a condition of graduation. The incoming August 2023 JD class will be the first to adhere to this requirement.
Students will be required to complete at least two units from a list of courses that focus on how laws and the legal system as a whole are influenced and shaped by systemic racism and inequality. The faculty is committed to offering more such courses to meet the new requirement, as well as elective courses that will introduce students to a wider range of theoretical perspectives on legal institutions.
“I am delighted that the faculty overwhelmingly endorsed this recommendation,” said Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. “No law student can be prepared to practice law in any field without understanding the role of race in American law, both historically and today. A distinguishing feature of Berkeley Law is our public mission, and this requirement sends an important message about our school’s commitment to equality and justice.
The new requirement was the end goal of the work the school’s curriculum committee began in 2020, which itself was driven by a lot of work from 14 student organizations across the school.
“I think one of the things that draws students to Berkeley Law is the culture of activism here,” said Alison Luna, a sophomore and program committee member. “I get the impression from many classmates that they not only want to change the world for the better, but also have a plan to do so.”
—————————————————————
Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University received a $3 million gift from Chase Law alumnus and investor W. Bruce Lunsford. The donation, the largest in school history, will help expand the law and technology program, which Lunsford helped launch nearly 10 years ago.
Lunsford donated $1 million in 2013 to establish the W. Bruce Lunsford Academy for Law, Business and Technology.
“My initial vision was to provide expanded opportunities for top students to better prepare them to thrive in the changing world of technology and business practices,” Lunsford said. “I look forward to the continued evolution of the academy in the years to come.”
The academy is a specialized program that caters to high-level students by providing practical and conceptual training to apply the laws to ever-growing business and technology issues.
Lunsford’s donation will allow the academy to increase Lunsford scholarships for students working in the technology sector, as well as expand their opportunities for entrepreneurship and expand their geographic networking and job placement opportunities.
