A Bitcoin exchange traded fund (ETF) may soon be approved after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with crypto management company Grayscale Investments over the Securities and Exchange Commission, mandating that the SEC review Grayscale’s Bitcoin ETF proposal.
Professor Jack Graves spoke with KCBS Radio, stating that the decision “It mainstreams Bitcoin investments. It makes it simpler when you have people like Blackrock and Fidelity involved because there’s a high level of trust.”
2L Derrick Morris has long held an interest in the operations side of professional basketball, whether it was the salary cap, rosters, or other aspects of running a billion-dollar franchise. “Even as a little kid I paid attention to roster construction, salary cap, and more,” says Morris. Now he is well on his way to realizing his dream of being involved in the business side of professional basketball.
A key element of Morris’ path is his latest achievement: participating in the NBA Future Basketball Operations Stars Program (FBOS). FBOS provides trainees with opportunities to learn about various components of basketball operations, from industry experts and leaders. Trainees are mentored by league office executives and participate in sessions designed to spark self-awareness and highlight behaviors and skills that contribute to success within the basketball operations ecosystem.
After a successful pilot program last season, the FBOS recruited potential candidates for the September 2023 – February 2024 session. And Morris didn’t let this opportunity slip through his fingers.
“I was unaware of the program and missed the application deadline last year by two days. I bookmarked it on my computer and reached out to a couple of participants from last year who went through the program to get their experiences with it. I applied, went through the interview process, and they awarded me the opportunity,” says Morris. More than 4,500 people applied for FBOS, with only 81 being accepted into the program, or about a 1.8% acceptance rate.
The FBOS participants meet weekly remotely to receive a detailed look behind the curtain of NBA basketball operations. “We receive presentations from the leaders of various aspects of the NBA. So far, we’ve heard from NBA G League operations, international basketball operations, and scouting. Each presentation is broken into different sessions and topics.” Just like law school, there are individual and group projects to be completed.
Take the Open Shot
The FBOS program is the latest in an upward trajectory Morris has put himself on stretching back to his undergrad degree in communications and sports management from Central Michigan University where he was Intern with the men’s basketball team and a women’s basketball practice player. During the summer of 2022, he was an intern with the NBA Summer League and Sports Business Classroom. This past summer he was a Legal and Business Affairs Intern with his hometown team, the Detroit Pistons. He describes the experience as “a dream come true.”
“I was mainly involved with drafting and reviewing contracts for corporate sponsorships, reviewing the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), watching how negotiations work in pro sports, and I met professionals on the business and basketball side throughout the organization. The arena is downtown, around the corner from my brother’s house. I have so many memories there and I enjoyed my time being back in Detroit and with the Pistons.”
Prior to the Pistons, Morris externed with Syracuse Athletics in their compliance department and before that, an internship with the SU Women’s basketball team.
Other stops on the hardwood trail were at the University of Kansas where he earned a Master’s in Higher Education Administration while managing the KU Men’s Basketball team dorm (McCarthy Hall).
Playing Zone
This winding path brought Morris to the Syracuse University College of Law in 2021 for his legal studies. “I always knew that I wanted to work in professional basketball. Coming here, I thought I wanted to be an agent. I’m still not ruling that out completely,” he says.
Even as a nearly full-time law student, Morris works full-time as a Residence Director on campus, managing three dorms with more than 700 students, and supervising 15 Residence Advisors. He also teaches a First Year Seminar Course on campus.
And he is the president of the Entertainment and Sports Law Society, where he’s had the opportunity to network with a wide range of professors and professionals.
How does he juggle so many responsibilities? “It is a challenge at times, but I have learned that sacrifice is necessary for my goal. It’s all about perspective and the way I see it, being a Residence Director has given me a lot of flexibility and the opportunity to do law school and the NBA program. You must manage your time really well and you have to use the times other people don’t think about like late nights and early mornings. It’s made me so structured with my schedule and has made me a better professional with my time management and handling a lot of different things at once. “
“There’s a previous law grad, David Wagner L’10, G’10, who uses his law degree to work in NBA G League operations. He spoke to the FBOS recently and hearing his story and background and how he’s applied what he learned at the College to his current position was impressive. The most important thing for me has been to remain open. I’m not ruling out a legal counselor role with a team or operations. This opportunity was so great that I wasn’t going to pass it up. It could change the trajectory of my career.”
2L Rory Pelella was honored with the Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY (VLP) Pro Bono Champion Law Student Award at VLP’s recent fundraiser and pro bono celebration.
Pelella spent the past summer working in VLP’s Eviction Defense Program. She represented clients in Syracuse City Court with a student practice order and worked alongside her supervisors to prevent and/or delay evictions for people in need of legal assistance across the community.
“I came to law school because I wanted to correct the injustices I saw all around me,” Pelella said. “But I think every 1L goes through that period where you start to question if you’ve chosen the right path. It wasn’t until I started working with VLP that I realized I was exactly where I needed to be.”
Pelella has continued her work with VLP throughout the Fall semester. She spends her Friday mornings in Syracuse City Court, handling cases until completion and advocating for clients under the supervision of VLP’s attorneys.
Pelella gives a lot of credit for her award and success as a pro bono volunteer to the lawyers she works with. “This is a direct reflection of them,” she said. “The people I’ve met through VLP have taught me so much, more than any textbook I’ve ever read. None of this work is possible without them.”
In addition to volunteering at VLP, Pelella works in the College’s Disability Rights Clinic and serves as a procedural advisor to students at the university.
About the Volunteer Lawyers Project
The Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit legal aid organization that provides free legal information, assistance, and representation in civil legal matters to low-income people in Central New York. Our services are provided by staff and volunteer attorneys with the help of paralegals and law students.
Services throughout Central New York include legal issues related to housing, family, elder, LGBT* rights, immigration, debt, and economic opportunity.
Crandall Melvin Professor of Law and Director of the Syracuse Intellectual Property Law Institute Shubha Ghosh has written a review of Scott J. Shapiro’s new book, Fancy Bear Goes Phishing: The Dark History of the Information Age, in Five Extraordinary Hacks.
Writing on the JOTWELL blog, Ghosh concludes, “Maybe someone should make a movie out of Fancy Bear with its enchanting case studies and mind-blowing synthesis of law, philosophy, and technology. However, be prepared if that movie ends more like Oppenheimer than like Barbie.”
A bill (A08098) recently introduced to the New York State Assembly takes aim at the use of artificial intelligence-generated (AI) content in online book selling. The bill would require the disclosure of content generated wholly or partially with generative AI before the sale.
Shubha Ghosh, Crandall Melvin Professor of Law and Director of the Syracuse Intellectual Property Law Institute, spoke with the Daily Orange for their article “New state assembly bill regulates, provides transparency surrounding generative AI”. He explains that the proposed bill represents an effort to address potential risks that generative AI poses to consumers.
“This is sort of a first step in terms of trying to regulate and deal with some of the perceived dangers of using AI technology and publishing,” Ghosh said.
Three College of Law S.J.D. candidates presented their theses to peer S.J.D. students from law schools from around the country. The “J.S.D. Symposium: The Next Generation of Scholarship” was hosted by the Washington University School of Law’s Whitney R. Harris World Law Institute.
The College of Law’s participants were:
Clarisse De La Cerda (Brazil) on “Enforcement of Invalid Patents and Antitrust Liability.” Her advisor is Professor Shubha Ghosh.
Karla Lellis LL.M.’21 (Brazil) on “Cybersecurity Class Actions in the Protection of Human Rights.” Her advisor is Professor Antonio Gidi.
Mercy Renci Xie LL.M.’20 (China) on “Non-Compliant but Effective Implementation of International Human Rights Treaties: A Case from China in Protecting Persons with Disabilities’ Right to Education.” Her advisor is Professor Arlene Kanter.
“Our S.J.D. students are a welcome addition to the intellectual life of the College of Law. Their participation at the S.J.D. conference increased their professional networks as well as brought national attention to Syracuse Law and our S.J.D. program,” says Professor Arlene Kanter, founder and faculty director of the S.J.D. program.
S.J.D. candidates submitted an abstract of their working thesis to the Symposium committee. The Symposium featured 20 S.J.D. students from 10 law schools. Each student presented for 20 minutes and then answered questions from other participants in a moderated discussion for 10 minutes.
“This was a good model to interact with fellow S.J.D. students and professors to receive feedback and insights you might not have come across on your own. The built-in breakout sessions allowed for further discussion and networking,” says Lellis. “Working on your dissertation, mostly on your own or with only a few other students, is very tough. It was good to meet other students who are experiencing similar things. This group is committed to staying in touch and helping each other achieve their goals.”
The S.J.D. program welcomed its first cohort of students in the Fall of 2021 and currently has seven students pursuing this advanced degree.
Dear Members of the College of Law Community,
Five days into the crisis in the Middle East, it is becoming clearer just how deeply what has now become a tragic war will affect our community. Heartbreaking reports over the weekend of innocent civilians losing their lives in what were plainly acts of terror have shaken us all. Regardless of our religious beliefs or political views, we at the College of Law unequivocally condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas and denounce the taking of innocent lives in both Israel and Gaza. Regrettably, a swift resolution to this crisis seems unlikely, which has left many grappling with a deep sense of insecurity.
For those among us—including me—who have friends or family members affected—those who have been killed, gone missing, or whose lives hang in the balance—the instability hits even closer to home, and the despair runs even deeper.
This morning, I met with members of our Jewish Law Student Association to discuss their concerns and fears. The trauma for them has been deep and real, but I’m heartened to know that our students are reaching out across religious and political lines to support one another. I also appreciate the statement this morning that our international journals shared with their members expressing solidarity with those affected and urging a peaceful solution.
As legal professionals, counselors, and advocates, it is our solemn duty to engage in thoughtful exploration, understanding, and debate about matters of law, policy, justice, and human rights. Equally important is the respect we must show to those within our community who hold deeply rooted beliefs and who have personal connections at stake. We must engage in these conversations with sensitivity and compassion for all those around us.
I implore each of you to demonstrate leadership in engaging in community and uplifting one another. There is no place in this law school for hate. Please be considerate in your words and actions, both in person and online, as many within our community are suffering. I encourage you to extend your support to those in need and keep them in your thoughts for healing and resolution.
I’d like to again highlight the resources available within our community for those who may require assistance or wish to show solidarity:
To the students who have reached out to me, thank you for your time, your insights, and your perspectives. Please know that my door and the doors of my colleagues in the Student Experience office are open to all students and student organizations.
I’m grateful to be part of this wonderfully diverse, strong, and dynamic community. Your collaboration is invaluable in ensuring that each of us feels valued, secure, and respected as we navigate the challenges that lie ahead.
Best regards,
Dean Craig M. Boise
Noted disability rights scholar Professor Kat Macfarlane is the new Director of the Syracuse University College of Law’s groundbreaking Disability Law and Policy Program (DLPP). Macfarlane comes to the College from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights where she was Special Counsel. DLPP founder and director Professor Arlene Kanter is planning to retire next year, after teaching for more than 35 years at the College of Law.
Created by Kanter in 2005, DLPP is the most extensive disability-related law school program in the United States. Students who participate in this program often go on to jobs in the areas of disability, education, special education, children’s rights, civil rights, labor, employment, trusts and estates, and international human rights law. It also houses the nation’s first joint J.D./M.S. degree program in Law and Disability Studies as well as a Curricular Program in Disability Law and Policy. DLPP students also can work in the Disability Law Clinic and at disability-related externships, gaining valuable hands-on experience with real clients.
“Professor Kanter is a globally recognized expert in disability law and a steadfast advocate for people with disabilities. While her retirement is well-deserved, she will be missed by our faculty, staff, students, and alumni,” says College of Law Dean Craig M. Boise. “And we’re all anxious to see the direction Professor Macfarlane will lead the DLPP as she builds on the College’s position as the leader in the disability space in legal education.”
Prior to joining the College of Law faculty, Professor Macfarlane served as an associate professor at Southern University Law Center and the University of Idaho College of Law and as a teaching fellow at the Louisiana State University Hebert Law Center. Prior to joining academia, Professor Macfarlane was an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the New York City Law Department serving as lead counsel in federal civil rights actions. As an associate in Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan’s Los Angeles and New York offices, she represented plaintiffs in securities litigation. She clerked for the District of Arizona and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
One of the accomplishments of the DLPP has been to recruit lawyers from around the world who wish to specialize in disability law by enrolling in the College of Law’s LL.M. and S.J.D. Programs, with Kanter serving as their advisor. Since its founding, hundreds of students have completed the joint degree, certificate program, Clinic, or disability concentration in the LL.M. program. The DLPP is also the recipient of an international award for innovation in higher education.
“I am happy to know that Professor Macfarlane will continue the important work that the DLPP does in preparing future generations of disability lawyers, policymakers, and scholars,” says Kanter. “As a renowned scholar, Professor Macfarlane brings a deep understanding of disability law and the importance of using the law to advocate for a more inclusive society.”
Graduates of DLPP now work for federal and state government agencies, private law firms, domestic and international non-governmental organizations, public interest law offices, legal services offices, school districts, policy organizations, and think tanks. Other graduates have started their own law practices or pursued LL.M. or Ph.D. degrees.
“I am honored to become the new director of the Disability Law and Policy Program. Professor Kanter is a pioneer in the education of lawyers in the field of disability law and I plan to honor the impact she has made on disability law by ensuring the program continues to meet the needs of advocates worldwide,” says Macfarlane.
Both Professors Kanter and Macfarlane are recipients of the American Association of Law Schools’ Disability Law Section’s Distinguished Service Award.
3L Michael Ortizo is one of two Law Student Ambassadors to the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section’s Intellectual Property Committee. Ortizo worked with Professor Shubha Ghosh to secure the ambassador position.
The Law Student Ambassador Program is a working group composed of highly recommended law students or economics students who are interested in careers in antitrust or privacy that meets virtually to discuss Section events and opportunities for law students. Additional details about the ambassador’s responsibilities can be found here.
“I believe that the ABA Law Ambassador program for the Antitrust Section, and in particular the IP Committee, will allow me to accelerate my understanding of these interests and will allow me to provide meaningful scholarship within the section. Additionally, because of the many practitioners and scholars that I will be collaborating with through the program, I believe it will assist me with my career aspirations,” says Ortizo.
At the College of Law, Ortizo is a Student Attorney in the Transactional Law Clinic; Senior Research Associate at the New York State Science and Technology Law Center; Form and Accuracy Editor at the Journal of Science and Technology, Vice President of the Intellectual Property Law Society; Secretary of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, and Director of Media for the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Syracuse Chapter.
“I am hoping to work in the intersection of IP, consumer protection law, antitrust law, and most precisely, data privacy. Particularly, I am interested in advisory and consulting roles related to these interests,” says Ortizo. “Because of my experience in the Innovation Law Center and the Transactional Law Clinic, I realized that I have a passion for wanting to assist clients in matters related to IP and other regulatory and compliance challenges related to their business dealings.”
Professor Gregory Germain answers questions about two consumer loan topics – debt consolidation loans and low-income loans – at the Money Geek website.
For debt consolidation loans, Germain cautions that “some personal loans are secured through your house, car or other property. Converting an unsecured credit card loan into a secured loan puts you at greater risk of losing your property if you default. A personal consolidation loan may look attractive because it offers a lower monthly payment, but that lower payment may cost you a great deal more money over the life of the loan.”
In terms of low-income loans, Germain advises that “people cannot borrow their way to success and wealth. You have to save and invest in building wealth. If you have consumer debt, you have been spending more than you make, and that is a recipe for financial disaster. Your financial future depends on turning the tables by earning more than you spend. So I recommend that you develop a plan to get out of debt by changing your lifestyle now because the situation will only get worse.”
