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Law School Report

William Greiner Dies, Memorial Service Feb 2
William R. Greiner, who spent 42 years at UB as president, provost and longtime Law School faculty member, died surrounded by family members in the Cleveland Clinic on Dec. 19 due to complications from heart surgery. He was 75. [Read More]

Law School holds class in Thailand
Twelve law students have left for Thailand to study that nation's unique legal culture. They are accompanied by Distinguished Service Professor David Engel, a specialist in interdisciplinary studies of "law and society" in the United States and other countries, who has studied and written about Thai law for more than 30 years. [Read More]

Affordable Housing Clinic helps to construct new homes in the city of Buffalo
UB Law School's Affordable Housing Clinic has secured three grants totaling more than $28 million that will enable the construction of 106 new housing units in the City of Buffalo. The new housing, on the city's west, east and south sides, will be energy-efficient apartments with affordable rents for senior citizens and low-income persons. Funding for the construction projects will come through the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. [Read More]

Law School panel addresses veterans' unique legal needs
A formidable panel of speakers, a dozen members strong, was the focus for a community service presentation at UB Law School that celebrated the work of America's armed forces and discussed how best to serve those who have served their country. "The Military Community's Legal Issues: Looking Beyond Veterans Day" was the topic for the presentation, held in O'Brian Hall on the eve of Veterans Day. It was sponsored by the Law School and by the Erie County Bar Association's Veterans Legal Issues Committee.
[Read More / View Slideshow / View Video]

IOLA and the future of civil legal services in the state of New York
A State Senate IOLA Hearing was held December 16, 2009 at the University at Buffalo Law School in the Francis M. Letro Courtroom. NYS Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Chairwoman of the Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction and Senator William Stachowski presided. (Senator John Sampson was scheduled to attend but was unable to make the hearing due to weather.)
[View Slideshow]

Mock Trial & Moot Court Competitions

Steamy case highlights Mock Trial Competition
Nearly 130 law students from 32 colleges and universities. Seventy-three mock trials. More than 150 local lawyers and judges. And one riveting case: the murder of a law school dean, shot to death in his office - allegedly by a law professor who was the dean’s rival for the attentions of a popular female law student. [Read More / View Slideshow]

* Desmond competition draws from three current high court cases. [Read More / View Slideshow]
* ABA representation in mediation competition held at UB Law. [Read more]

Faculty Report

Legal problems up, government aid down
A multidisciplinary investigation of the evolving role of pro bono legal services in the U.S. demonstrates that available private and public resources do not meet the legal needs of Americans of limited means. UB professors Robert Granfield (Sociology) and Lynn M. Mather (Law) say that even though it has increased significantly, pro bono work is insufficient to address the many social and legal problems confronted by the poor and they call for more government assistance and better coordination of available services.
[Read More]

Dean Mutua was White House guest of the Obamas for role in RFK Human Rights Award
UB Law School Dean Makau W. Mutua was a guest of President and Mrs. Barack Obama at a ceremony in the White House November 23, for his role as one of five international and national human rights experts who selected this year's Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. [Read More]

Faculty Scholarship Brochure Available
The 2009-2010 Faculty Scholarship Brochure provides a snapshot of research by the current full-time tenured and tenure track faculty at the University at Buffalo Law School, and illustrates the Law School's excellence in interdisciplinary and integrative legal studies. Users may view the publication as an interactive publication or printable download (PDF).

To receive a printed copy via postal mail, contact: Patricia L. Warrington, 312 O'Brian Hall, North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260-1100.

Alumni Report

Kenneth B. Forrest to receive the 33rd Edwin F. Jaeckle Award in NYC January 29
The Edwin F. Jaeckle Award will be presented to Kenneth B. Forrest '76 for his distinguished contributions to four deans in setting the strategic direction of the Law School. [Read More]

Obama nominates Hochul '84 to be U.S. attorney for WNY
William J. Hochul Jr., a career federal prosecutor who handled the Lackawanna Six case and other high profile criminal prosecutions, has been nominated by President Obama to be the next U.S. attorney for Western New York. [Read More]

Moore '98 seeks to address the decrease in minority applicants to law school
Tasha E. Moore '98, director of the Buffalo regional office for the New York State Division of Human Rights, is alarmed by the decrease in minority applicants to law school. A Columbia University Law School analysis of Law School Admissions Council data indicates that between 1993 and 2005 the numbers of African-Americans and Mexican-Americans seeking admission to law school declined by 8.6 percent and 9.2 percent, respectively. [Read More]

Margaret Wong '76 releases her first book
Dean's Advisory Council member and internationally prominent immigration attorney Margaret Wong '76 launches her first book, The Immigrant's Way: For All Immigrants, By an Immigrant. [Read More]

Syracuse mayor-elect has roots in Cortland County
Syracuse Mayor-elect Stephanie Miner '99 says she developed her passion for politics while growing up in Syracuse and Cortlandville, as she spent time with her politically-active grandmother. [Read More]

Smiles! Photos from our most recent Alumni events:

Rochester Alumni, CLE held December 4. [Slideshow]
Albany Alumni, event held December 3. [Slideshow]
Washington, DC Alumni, event held at the Kenyan Embassy on November 19. [Slideshow]
Chicago Alumni, event held November 4. [Slideshow]

Student Kudos

Marrisa Trachtenberg '11 is the winner of the Elder Law Section Scholarship for 2009 from the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. This $2500 scholarship is given to a second year or third year law student who is enrolled in a law school in the State of New York and is actively participating in an Elder Law Clinic at the school during the 2009/2010 academic year.