Current Students

Announcements

Week of 8 May 2017

Events This Week

Cap and Gown Pick Up

In Room 221 at the following dates and times:

Mon-Friday, May 8-12: 2-4pm

Mon-Wednesday, May 15-17: 10am-noon and 2-4pm

Thursday, May 18: 10am-noon

Detailed information about 3L cap and gown pick-up requirements was sent to all graduating students from the Career Strategy office. Students must complete all exit requirements prior to cap and gown pick-up.

Weekly Mass

The University schedule of worship opportunities is available at http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/mission/campusministry/liturgicallife.html

Coming Events

Commencement

Friday, May 19, 10:30am

We encourage all graduating students to review the Commencement website so you are informed about the day’s events. The website includes important information about the day’s events, caps and gowns, announcements and photos, seating for guests, parking information, and a campus map of shuttle pick-up locations indicating special needs drop-off areas and handicapped parking. Please share this information with family and friends.

Tax Policy Symposium

Thursday, June 1, 9am-2pm

Tax Reform in 2017 - Exploring the Blueprint

The 2017 Villanova University Graduate Tax Program Tax Policy Symposium brings together a cross section of business leaders—from tax and accounting to legal and government to renowned academics—to discuss the economic and tax policy issues surrounding the current tax reform proposals, as well as their economic impact. To register visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-second-annual-tax-policy-symposium-tax-reform-in-2017-exploring-the-blueprint-tickets-33829611278

Announcements

Law Library: Access and Quiet Study Zone

When studying for finals, please be aware that the law library is a quiet study area. Please leave the library to engage in conversation or to talk on the phone. Disruptive behavior should be reported to the Circulation/ Reserve Desk or to Public Safety. Note that access to the law library is restricted to Villanova Law ID holders starting Wednesday, April 26th. Please show your ID when you enter the law library and do not allow unauthorized people to enter the building after hours. Good luck on your exams!

Smoking Policy Reminder

Smoking is prohibited both inside and within 75 feet of all University buildings, including the Law School. Thank you for your cooperation.

Hours for Legal Grounds and the Cafeteria

Legal Grounds (Coffee Bar):

Mon-Tuesday, May 8-9 8am-9pm

Wed-Friday, May 10-12 8am-3pm

Sat-Sunday, May 13-14 Closed

Mon-Wednesday, May 15-17 8am-3pm

Thurs-Friday, May 18-19 Closed

Cafeteria:

Open Mon-Friday 7:30a-2:30p until 5/17

Closed Sat-Sunday

Closed Thurs-Friday 5/18-5/19

Lockers must be empty by Friday, May 12

Lockers will be cleaned over the summer. Please remove all items from your locker by the end of the semester and leave the lock on the locker. Any items remaining in lockers after Friday, May 12th, will be discarded.

1Ls and 2Ls: If you want a different locker next year, please contact Cheryl Baro at baro@law.villanova.edu.

3Ls: If you would like to use your locker during the summer bar review course, please notify Cheryl Baro at baro@law.villanova.edu by Friday, May 12.

Legal Research Refresher & Tips

Researching this summer? Starting a job in an unfamiliar practice area? Get a jump-start by consulting with a law librarian before your first day. Sign up for an individual meeting by emailing your legal research instructor or reference@law.villanova.edu. Please indicate who your employer is and what you know about the type of work you will be doing. Can’t meet? Put the Law Library contact information in your phone and call or email whenever you have questions this summer and throughout your career: 610 519-7020 or reference@law.villanova.edu. Also, keep in mind that our online Legal Research Guides are available 24/7. Your Law Librarians are here for you!

Summer and Post-Graduation Access to Bloomberg Law, Lexis Advance, and Westlaw

Graduating 3Ls:

Bloomberg Law – Your access to Bloomberg Law will continue for six months after graduation. During that time, you may use Bloomberg for research related to bar preparation, interview preparation, private study or employment. You do not need to register for this extended access.

Lexis Advance – Your access to Lexis Advance will continue until December 31, 2017 but it must be accessed through http://www.lexisnexis.com/grad-access/ On July 1^st your Lexis landing page will change to job and career information. You have until June 30^th to spend any accumulated Lexis points. Graduating students who will be employed by nonprofit organizations can also apply for the Lexis ASPIRE ID Program that gives you 12 months of free access to Lexis primary materials and select secondary materials. See the grad access link for more information.

Westlaw - Your access to Westlaw will be severely limited after graduation unless you take their survey for Graduate Elite access. The Graduate Elite program provides up to 60 hours of searching per month until November 2017. Logon to your Westlaw account and click on the Graduate link for details on eligibility.

Current 1Ls and 2Ls – Summer Access:

Bloomberg Law - Your access to Bloomberg Law will not change. You may use either system for research related to any schoolwork, private study or employment during the summer.

Lexis Advance - Your access to Lexis Advance will not change. Lexis permits research related to any schoolwork, private study or employment during the summer. Note that some employer policies require the use of firm accounts.

Westlaw - Your access to Westlaw will be limited to a set number of hours for academic use per month during June and July unless you register for summer access before the end of May. You may register for summer access if needed for academic purposes, such as:

work on Moot Court or a law review or journal
an unpaid externship for which you receive law school credit
or work as a faculty research assistant.

To register for summer access, logon to your Westlaw account and look for Summer Westlaw Use information. Click the Extend your password link.

Questions about post-graduation and summer access to these databases may be sent to Regina Kozul, rkozul@law.villanova.edu or Lori Corso, lori.corso@law.villanova.edu.

Gazette Submissions

The Gavel Gazette has ceased publication for this semester. Items for first issue of the Fall 2017 semester must be submitted to gavelgazette@law.villanova.edu by 10am on Friday, August 18.

Writing Competitions/Scholarships

Pearce Law Firm Empowering Women in Law Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded annually to women who are currently attending a law school in the United States and have shown leadership and academic success. Applications are being accepted until May 31, 2017. More information is available on The Pearce Law Firm’s website.

Mary Moers Wenig Student Writing Competition sponsored by the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

Prizes of $5000, $3000, and $1000 will be awarded for the best papers addressing one or more legal issues in the area of trusts and estates, broadly defined. Entries are due by June 15, 2017. www.actec.org

Founders First Freedom Law Student Writing Competition

Prizes of $1500 and $750 will be awarded for the best model “Supreme Court majority opinion” addressing the issue before the Court in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Pauley. All winning entries and selected runner-ups will be posted on the Founders First Freedom website. Entries must be received by 5pm on June 23, 2017. Founders First Freedom is a non-profit organization that exists to promote quality education and scholarship in matters involving the religion clauses of the United States Constitution. http://foundersfirstfreedom.org/

American Inns of Court Warren E. Burger Prize

The American Inns of Court invites judges, lawyers, professors, students, scholars, and other authors to participate in its 2017 Warren E. Burger Prize. Authors should submit an original, unpublished, 10,000–20,000 word essay on a topic that addresses the issues of excellence in legal skills, civility, ethics, and professionalism. The winning essay will be published in the South Carolina Law Review and the author will receive a cash prize of $5,000. The submission deadline is July 1, 2017. More information is available on the American Inns of Court website at home.innsofcourt.org/BurgerPrize.

William W. Greenhalgh Student Writing Competition sponsored by the ABA Criminal Justice Section

The winner will receive a $2,500 cash prize that may be presented at an agreed-upon CJS event with approved transportation costs not to exceed $800 to be covered by the Section. Entries must be received by July 1, 2017. The topic for this year’s competition centers on how technology impacts privacy and whether the advent of new technologies demand a new Fourth Amendment standard to protect citizens from police monitoring. Full detail are available at http://www.americanbar.org/groups/criminal_justice.html.

NY Bar Association Committee on Animals and the Law Writing Competition

Prizes of $1000, $500 will be awarded for the best papers addressing any area of Animal Law. Entries are due by July 14, 2017. http://www.nysba.org/animalsandthelaw/

Writing Competition Guide

If you are interested in participating in one of the many annual law student writing competition, check out the Library Writing Competitions Guide: http://libguides.law.villanova.edu/writingcompetitions. There is information in the Guide regarding the mechanics of writing for publication, as well as lists of open competitions.