Professor of Law Emeritus William C. Banks has contributed an Expert Background article on federalizing the National Guard and the domestic use of the military for Just Security.
In the article, Banks, who authored “Soldiers on the Home Front: The Domestic Role of the Military”, addresses the background and legal architecture for the domestic use of the military, civil disturbances, border security, and other situations of domestic use of the military.
Dr. Günther Schirmer, head of the Secretariat of the Committees on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and on the Election of Judges at the European Court of Human Rights at the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, recently spent time at the College of Law for a talk on Russian reparations for the war in Ukraine and to meet with students interested in an International Law career.
His discussion topic, “Accountability for Russian Aggression: A Frontline Perspective from Europe” examined the various avenues for Russian reparations to Ukraine and the international legal and political barriers that need to be addressed to hold Russian leaders accountable. The approaches discussed included establishing a special tribunal to address criminal and financial repercussions, including financial aspects of international law that are being discussed in Europe.
Dr. Schirmer also met with law students to discuss careers in international law. His advice focused on having the ability to speak another language, experience traveling abroad, and seek out internships that open your network to those involved in international law.
He was hosted by the Journal of International Law and Commerce and the Journal of Global Rights and Organizations and Impunity Watch News.
The College of Law has produced extraordinary leaders throughout our history. Today, our alumni include the President of the United States, elected and appointed officials at all levels of government, judges, public servants, C-Suite business executives (including Joanna Geraghty G’ 97, L’97, the CEO of JetBlue, who was profiled in the 2020 Stories Book) and nonprofit executives, entrepreneurs, writers, managing partners of global law firms, and so many others in positions of influence.
In past Stories Books, we have examined how College of Law alumni have navigated their way to the C-Suite and other positions of leadership and explored the impact of their law degrees on their careers.
This year, our fifth such feature, we are looking at leaders in the field of entertainment and sports law. This field, which is growing in popularity among current students, ranges from representing individual entities such as sports teams and entertainment venues to securing broadcast rights and programming, and beyond. We spoke with five Law alumni spread across different aspects of sports and entertainment law to hear about their unique careers and how their law degrees set them up for success in an ever-changing industry.
Elsewhere in the magazine, we speak with a 2023 graduate who has a Fellowship with the Toronto Raptors and a Lawyer in Love alum who also is a leader in sports and entertainment law.
Stephanie Jacqueney G’82, L’82
The College of Law’s Innovation Law Center (ILC) recently held the symposium “Venture to Victory: Pioneer Perspectives in Tech, Venture, and Private Equity.” The symposium featured five distinguished alumni guests representing the legal, and financial aspects of bringing a new high-tech company from early-stage funding to exit strategies. The panelists were:
The day’s events started with Cooper and Whittaker visiting the Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University Libraries, the hub for the University’s innovation community, connecting the campus innovation ecosystem with a global network that supports innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives. University students involved in entrepreneurship, start-ups, and innovation were able to meet with Cooper and Whittaker and discuss strategies and career paths.
Later, the alumni panelists attended an informal lunch with ILC Research Assistants and leaders from the College’s Corporate Law Society and Intellectual Property Law Society (event co-sponsors). The students were able to interact directly with the alumni guests, getting invaluable career and networking tips.
The well-attended symposium was held in two distinct segments. First was a more traditional panel discussion led by ILC Executive Director Brian Gerling L’99. Gerling asked questions about career trajectories and the role of attorneys in venture capital (VC) investments and private equity (PE) acquisitions. The personal experiences of the alumni provided realistic perspectives and lessons learned that were shared with the students.
A role-playing negotiation scenario was the basis for the second half of the symposium. The alumni took on key roles in the negotiated exit for the CEO of a high-tech start-up company in the aerospace industry. Alumni representing the CEO, in-house counsel, the VC firm that provided the initial funding, the acquiring PE firm, and the law firm that represents the acquiring PE firm.
The result of this lively exercise was a realistic view of how legal professionals think and the guidance they provide firms and individuals involved in financial negotiations. A key takeaway was that today, lawyers need to work together rather than as adversaries for deals to be successful. The symposium ended with questions from the students and input from the panelists on the importance of building your network and connections.
Syracuse University College of Law was recently ranked #8 for Ultimate Bar Passage and #27 for first-time bar test takers by preLaw Magazine in the Winter 2024 edition of the magazine.
The Ultimate Bar Passage ranking is taken from 2017-2019 data and the first-time bar test takers data is from 2015-2019. The data was compiled by Jeffrey Kinsler in his article “Ultimate Bar Passage: Which Law Schools are Overperforming and Underperforming Expectations.”
“The College of Law places an emphasis from day one on being prepared for the bar exam,” says Kelly Curtis, Associate Dean of Academic and Bar Success. “We offer academic support in multiple formats throughout their time at the College and a targeted set of interventions in their final year leading up to the bar exam.”
Details on Academic and Bar Success can be found here.
Syracuse University College of Law’s Dineen Hall was ranked the 18th Best Law Building by preLaw Magazine in their Winter 2024 issue. The Best Law Buildings ranking reflects aesthetics (as ranked by the magazine editors), estimated square feet per student, and the hours per week the law library is open.
Take a guided tour of Dineen Hall, hosted by current students:
The College of Law recently held a swearing-in ceremony for on-campus and online student attorneys participating in one of the six law clinics this semester. Dean Craig Boise provided the welcome address while guest speaker the Hon. Deborah H. Karalunas L’82 administered the Student Attorney Oath. Judge Karalunas is also a College of Law adjunct professor teaching New York Civil Practice.
The College of Law Office of Clinical Legal Education provides a practical educational experience to second and third-year student attorneys while delivering much-needed, otherwise unavailable legal resources to the communities and people of Central New York.
The clinics are:
Bankruptcy Clinic*
Betty & Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic
Criminal Defense Clinic
Disability Rights Clinic
Sherman F. Levey ’57, L’59 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic*
Transactional Law Clinic*
*Clinic is offered online for the Spring 2024 semester.
Professor Gregory Germain has spoken with several media outlets on the recent ruling against Donald Trump in the New York fraud suit. He has provided insight into the appeals process, legal strategies, and the likelihood that the ruling would be reversed.
Trump will dispute NYC judge’s definition of ‘fraud’ in appeal of $355 million fine: report New York Post, February 19, 2024
Donald Trump Can Reverse Judge Engoron’s Ruling—Here’s How Newsweek, February 19, 2024
With business empire on brink of abyss, tycoon Trump recasts himself as victim The Guardian, February 17, 2024
Trump Spared From ‘Corporate Death Penalty,’ But His Business Will Still Get Slammed The Associated Press, February 17, 2024
Donald Trump dodges ‘corporate death penalty’ in New York fraud case but business hit hard The Mirror, February 17, 2024
Donald Trump Faces a Day of Reckoning Newsweek, February 16, 2024
Trump’s Civil Fraud Ruling May Be About “No Victims” Defense (Dutch translation needed) Marketscreener.com, February 16, 2024
Professor Gregory Germain spoke with Distinguished Visiting Lecturer David Cay Johnston for an article on bankruptcy options for former President Trump.
In the DC Report article “Trump’s Legal Delay Tactics Will Lead To Further Self-Destruction”, Germain says what Trump can achieve in bankruptcy is delays, but almost certainly not escaping paying, assuming he has the assets to fulfill the judgments against him.
Germain notes that Trump could put his company, the Trump Organization, into bankruptcy, but that would not help him because he is personally liable as the sole owner for the judgments in all three cases.
To kick off the New Year, two cohorts of Online JDinteractive Program students traveled to Syracuse for experiential Residencies before the beginning of the spring semester.
First year students came for their Legal Applications Residency, their second of six total Residencies through the course of their legal education. Meanwhile, second-year students returned to Dineen Hall for concurrent Residencies three and four, immersing themselves in Professional Skills courses tailored to their interests and career aspirations. This vibrant start set the stage for a year of profound learning and growth.
Prior to their second semester in the JDi program, first year students returned to Syracuse for the Legal Applications Residency. This problem-based course utilized experiential learning techniques to help students integrate the doctrinal subjects with practical skills. Students worked on interviewing, public speaking, negotiating, writing, and researching during their week in Syracuse.
JDi students attended a reception along with fellow Syracuse University Martin J. Whitman School of Management Online MBA Students to introduce the two online programs and network with other people also pursuing their degrees virtually.
Venturing beyond the classroom, JDi students also explored downtown Syracuse, met for dinner in small groups at local area restaurants, and ate local cuisine at the Salt City Market. They also had a networking event with the Student Bar Association (SBA) where they were able to meet with their On-Campus J.D. classmates.
As they enter their second year in the JDi Program, students partake in Professional Skills Residencies spanning topics like negotiation, client counseling, trial advocacy, and more. Best of all, this one week fulfills the requirement for both the third and fourth Residential Courses concurrently with just one trip to Syracuse.
Over the six days of the residential experience earlier this year, students learned from professors and experts in their fields including the Hon. Jamie Baker, Director of the Institute of Security Policy and Law, Professor Beth Kubala, Director of the Veterans’ Legal Clinic, and Professor Todd Berger, Director of the Advocacy Program.
Teaching Legal Ethics in National Security, Judge Baker addressed the ethical challenges that arise in national security policy and legal practice from the perspective of someone with extensive experience in the field as a previous Chief Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
Professor Berger provided an introduction to Trial Advocacy, coaching students to perform as trial counsel in a variety of simulated courtroom exercises. Students engaged in direct examination, cross-examination, an introduction of exhibits, opening statements and closing arguments.
Through the Administrative Representation for Veterans course, Professor Kubala provided students with the opportunity to represent real clients in an administrative process with a goal of changing a veteran’s character of service.
To wrap up the week, students in the Media Training for Attorneys course took advantage of the resources in the Dick Clark Studios with a taped on-camera interview in a mock studio with camera, lights, and sound. This course builds life skills that all attorneys will need at some point in their lives, and it helps the students gain confidence in speaking and writing for a public audience.
