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What a crazy conglomeration of events we’ve got scheduled next week, all catering to the legal eagles out there. I’m out of breath just listing them all. Here’s the rundown:
*Just added* Vermont Law School Admissions Visit
Tuesday, 11/15, at noon
E23 Machmer
Vermont Law School boasts the most respected environmental law program in the country. Come meet with a VLS Admissions counselor to learn more about the school.
A truly unparalleled opportunity to meet and hear from over a dozen female judges and attorneys about their career paths and experiences. Click through the title for the list of jurists at all levels of our state judiciary — from the Supreme Judicial Court on down to several local trial courts. (I’m so excited about this one, I’ll be heading down to Western New England myself!)
* Just added *
CMASS Law Night Thursday, 11/17, 6:00 – 8:00 pm Wilder Hall 201
Hear the success stories of ALANA students from UConn Law and Western New England Law, and get your questions answered by the admissions directors from both schools (as well as your faithful pre-law advisor). Brought to you in part by the Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS).
Lawyer-Alum career talk: Carrie Pollak, Esq. Friday, 11/18 at noon
W13 Machmer
You’ll definitely want to hear UMass alum Carrie Pollak (Legal Studies and English ’04, Cornell Law ’08) talk about her experiences in both a very large law firm in Boston, and her current mid-size firm in Ithaca, New York. Attorney Pollak, a former Army National Guard soldier, practices in the areas of environmental law and land use regulation.
Come see a dazzling display of legal skills from over two dozen teams, as they battle it out in a criminal trial. Come for one round, or come for all four. Rounds start Friday at 6:30 pm, Saturday at 9 am and 2 pm, and Sunday at 9 am. This is for anybody who has ever thought about trying out for Mock Trial, or who just wants to watch some excellent trial skills in action.
I join the rest of the UMass community in mourning the sudden passing of George N. Parks, longtime band director for the UMass Minuteman Marching Band. Some of the most moving personal statements I’ve read over the years have been from band members, and the depth of their love and admiration for Mr. Parks has always been inspiring. My thoughts are with his family, but also with all the band members — past and current — during this difficult time. I will also hold the current members in my thoughts this weekend as they perform in Michigan without Mr. Parks, and as they return to campus next week.
Although I didn’t know Mr. Parks personally, I’ve been a fan of the marching band and his leadership for years. It feels like the heart of our community has been ripped from us.
UMass Mock Trial will hold an info session for students interested in joining the team Wednesday, April 14th at 7:30 pm in Room 811-815 of the Campus Center. All students are welcome!
UMass Mock Trial is an American Mock Trial Association intercollegiate team competing in strategy and performance-based legal education tournaments at the local, regional and national level. In mock trial, each college and university receives an identical case packet of a fictional criminal or civil legal case (containing evidence exhibits, witness affidavits, etc). Collegiate mock trial contains theatrical elements (i.e. witness character performances), as real court cases often do, but is otherwise completely unscripted and unpredictable in nature. Individual teams divided into attorneys and witnesses prep a case released by the AMTA (American Mock Trial Association) and take it to jury trial. Each tournament consists of typically four rounds in which three attorneys and three witnesses argue the case on either the plaintiff or defense side.
This Wednesday, December 3rd, our group will be teaming up with our Amnesty International Chapter to host a distinguished line-up of speakers to address the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As you may already know, the current and ongoing conflict in the DRC has resulted in over 5 million deaths – the steepest death toll since World War II. Some have dubbed the crisis a “genocide against women” because rape is used as a primary weapon of war to destroy communities and control resources.
In an effort to raise awareness about the ongoing violence, we will be bringing UN Goodwill Ambassador and author Jimmie Briggs as well as world-renowned activist John Prendergast to speak about the conflict. Briggs is a widely-respected journalist and author of Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War; Prendergast has written 8 books about Africa – including the New York Times Bestseller Not on Our Watch – and is co-founder of an anti-genocide effort called the Enough Project.
Wednesday, December 3rd
7-9PM
Bartlett Auditorium, Room 65
The UMass Mock Trial Team is currently holding tryouts on a rolling basis. The team is preparing for the Brandeis Invitational Tournament on October 25-26. Everyone is welcome to try out, and no prior experience is required.
Interested individuals should contact David Chen by email at dschen@student.umass.edu, by phone at 617-216-2982, or on the Facebook Mock Trial at UMass Amherst group.
For more information about Mock Trial competitions and how they work, check out the website of the American Mock Trial Association.
