The Lawyers and Leaders (L&L) Series offers programs to complement the traditional legal curriculum with workshops, lectures, and other programs that focus on pro bono traditions, leadership development, practical lawyer and life skills, and community issues. Attendance at one program each semester is one requirement of membership in the Pro Bono Society. The other requirement is to be “on track” to receive the Boyd Service Award, that is, complete a minimum of 15 hours of service in the semester. The full schedule, with program descriptions, is available by clicking here.
Here is our published Spring 2013 schedule. Unexpected changes will be posted — be sure to watch this site and the Docket for further announcements and additions.
Who Am I? Where Am I Headed This Semester? For 1L Students. My Professional Identity III, Friday, Jan 18 from 12:40 – 1:40pm, Levitt Auditorium
This program is the third installment in a series designed to provide insight and guidance to 1Ls regarding professional identity development. ILs are expected to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to reexamine the path to your professional identity and get focused on what they should be doing this semester. Students are required to bring laptops or their composition notebooks from orientation and should come prepared to participate in some self-assessment exercises. Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Sasha Vice by noon, Jan. 17 to confirm attendance.
Who Do You Want to Be As A Lawyer: Finding Your Fit. All Students. Friday, February 1, 12:40-1:40pm, room 225.
This mini-workshop – for 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls — aims to give students tools for a having a professional life that matches their personal values and goals, as they land their first jobs and look beyond. (cosponsored with Career Services and Academic Achievement)
Networking Event: Monday, February 4, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., room 245 & lobby.
Everyone knows how critical networking is for career exploration and development. Yet for many, the arts of making connections, good conversation, and selling oneself don’t come naturally. This program places particular emphasis on demystifying networking by discussing the basics, including: finding contacts, initiating and tactfully ending meetings and conversations, and gleaning important information from contacts. Law students will then practice some of the lessons taught during the “Mocktails” portion of this event from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain comfort with networking in a low-stress, familiar environment. RSVP in Symplicity. This event is co-sponsored by Career Services and the Citizen Lawyer Program.
Bystander Intervention Skills Workshop, February 27, 1:00-3:00pm, Pappajohn Business Building, room S401
We often find ourselves silenced when we hear racist, sexist or other inappropriate or harmful remarks. This two hour training will teach techniques and strategies to use when you see or hear racist, sexist, or other hurtful remarks before they escalate. Sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center and the School of Social Work.
Behind Bars: Socioeconomic Inequality in the Criminal Justice System, Wednesday, February 27, 4:15-6:15pm, room 245
Come join Iowa Law professors, legal practitioners, and other community advocates to view and discuss Bill Moyers’ “Economic Justice For All.” A panel discussion on social inequality and the criminal justice system will follow. Dinner will be provided for those who RSVP on Symplicity. Co-sponsored by Career Services and the Black Law Students Association.
JGRJ Symposium Keynote Speaker: Ralph Richard Banks – Is Marriage for White People? How the African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone. Thursday, March 7, 5:30pm, Levitt Auditorium 
This year, The Journal of Gender, Race & Justice is holding a symposium entitled Modern Families: Changing Families, Challenging Laws. The keynote speaker is Ralph Richard Banks, Professor of Law at Stanford Law School. He will be speaking on his book Is Marriage for White People? How the African American Marriage Decline Affects Everyone. It should be a very interesting and insightful speech. The keynote address for the symposium is a Lawyers & Leaders event. The address will be Thursday, March 7, at 5:30 p.m. Contact: Leslie Aboud leslie-aboud@uiowa.edu
Cultural Competency: Lawyers Practicing within Immigrant Communities.
Thursday, March 14, 12:45 – 2:15pm, room 245. Panel discussion and lunch.
In the multicultural and global world of legal practice, how do lawyers interact with immigrant clients from diverse backgrounds? How should considerations of cultural difference affect relationships in a professional setting? How can lawyers work with community-based service providers and lay practitioners, to have a bigger impact in their clients’ lives? Hear the personal and professional perspectives of a panel of legal practitioners and immigrant advocates on these pressing issues for lawyers who work with an immigrant community. This event will be a thoughtful discussion of how to be an effective advocate and communicator, both with immigrant clients and in partnerships with the immigrant community. In practice areas including immigration and asylum law, family law, and criminal justice, understanding how to work with the immigrant community in a culturally competent way is essential. RSVP necessary for lunch planning.
Restoring Innocence: Darrel Parker Tells The Story of His Wrongful Murder Conviction. Wednesday, April 3, 10:20 – 11:20 am, Levitt Auditorium. Introduction by Thomas Waterman, Associate Justice, Iowa Supreme Court.
On December 14, 1955, Darrel Parker arrived at his Lincoln, Nebraska, home to find his wife, Nancy, strangled to death. Abandoning other potential leads, the police quickly focused their investigation on the grieving husband. What followed was a tragic miscarriage of justice. The subject of the 2010 book, “Barbarous Souls” Darrel Parker will talk about his wrongful conviction for murder and the decades-long struggle to clear his name.
Financial Planning & Investments 101 – Pete F. Buffer, President, Financial Concepts, JD ‘72, CLU, ChFC, CFP®. Thursday, April 4, 12:40-1:40pm, room 225.
Is buying a home a good investment? Is the stock market a good investment? Should I start saving for retirement? Do I need a financial planner? I am still in law school and I have no money, why should I even think about financial planning? Please join Financial Aid and Citizen Lawyer Program for this very informative program. Pizza will be provided. Questions: Jessica-diers@uiowa.edu.
Life as an Attorney General – Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Columbia Law Lecturer James E. Tierney. Tuesday, April 9, 4-5om, 4th Floor Student Lounge
How much POWER does a state attorney general really have? Does an attorney general have any jurisdiction or subject matter restrictions?
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Columbia Law Lecturer James E. Tierney will describe the dynamic job of an attorney general and its staff. Tom Miller is currently serving his eighth four-year term as the Attorney General of Iowa. Mr. Miller is also the former President of the National Association of Attorneys General. James E. Tierney was the Attorney General of Maine for ten years and is currently the Director of the National State Attorneys General Program at Columbia Law School. Mr. Tierney also served as a key strategist coordinating the massive suit brought by a collective group of state attorney generals against the tobacco industry in the 1990s. They ultimately settled with the tobacco industry to the tune of a $368.5 billion settlement agreement in 1997. Dinner will be provided for those who RSVP on Symplicity.
Katherine Finn Milleman Memorial Lecture and Scholarship Award Presentation – Friday, April 12th, 12:30pm in room 225
Join Professor Nancy Hauserman of the Tippie College of Business, and graduate of the Iowa College of Law, as she gives the Katherine Finn Milleman Memorial Lecture and the Katherine Finn Milleman Law Award is presented. Professor Hauserman’s lecture will focus on her personal experience working in an alternative legal career. The Belle Babb Mansfield Conference on Women in Law will follow at 1:20pm. The events will conclude with a reception in the 4th floor student lounge. Business casual attire if recommended, although not required.
Public Interest Loan Forgiveness & Student Loan Repayment Program Information.
Thursday, April 18, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, room 145A, cookies provided.
Friday, April 19, 12:40 – 1:40 pm, room 225, pizza provided.
Attend this program for information on eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and to find out what loan repayment plans are available to you. Our guest speaker will be Heather Jarvis, who is a widely recognized by school professionals and media representatives as an expert source of information on public service loan forgiveness, debt relief and student loan repayment. Equal Justice Works employed Heather for a number of years as their student loan expert and to help reduce to financial barriers to practicing public interest law. Heather has contributed to student debt relief policy for the House Education Committee and others in Congress. She has dedicated her professional efforts to advancing public service loan forgiveness which allows recent graduates to dedicate their careers to the greater good. Please RSVP to jessica-diers@uiowa.edu.
Heather will also be available for one-on-one appointments with individual students on Thursday and Friday. Sign-up sheet now available on the board outside of the Financial Aid Office 276 BLB.
Spanish Lunch Table. All Students. On-Going, 12:45 – 1:45pm.
Friday dates: January 25 in Room 115
February 8 in Room 265
February 22 in Room 265
March 8 in Room 115
March 29 in Room 125
April 12 in Room 115 [Canceled]
April 26 in Room 115
Spanish language proficiency is an increasingly important skill for lawyers, both in public interest and private practice positions. Many students come to law school with some Spanish proficiency, but lack the opportunity to keep it up. Spanish lunch table is an informal and relaxed, but structured, opportunity to meet together for lunch at the law school, for conversation and legal vocabulary development. Some lunches will be more formal workshops. NOTE: Only those Spanish Lunch Tables organized as “workshops” count as an L&L program for purposes of the Pro Bono Society. More details to follow.
