UB Lawyers Guild April Update

[Anna Falicov]

Hello Everyone,
 

April is a busy month for the Guild!  Below you'll find a list of announcements and events we'd like to tell you about. Please take a moment to scroll through and take a look.

 

Thanks,

Anna

 

1. Our second annual "Meet and Greet" was a huge success! Thank you to all who attended.

2. This Thursday, April 10th, 4 p.m. Rm 106 SBA Sponsored Forum on Future Location of the Law School. Come and make your voices heard!
 

3. Charles Halpern, founder of the country's first public interest law firm, will speaking at Talking Leaves (3158 Main St.) at 7 p.m. about his new book "Making Waves and Riding the Current: Activism and the Practice of Wisdom."

4. April 16th and 17th, VOTE YES on the Law School Resolution to locate the Law School downtown.Voting will take place in conjunction with SBA E-board elections.

 

5. April 26 2-4 p.m. Legal Observer Training with Charlie Cobb. Legal Observation at large marches and protests is a classic Guild activity. Come learn the basics!

 

6. Check out our new blog at http://www.ublg.blogspot.com. We'll be updating it with information and photos.

 

 

1. The UB Lawyers Guild Second Annual "Meet and Greet" -- thanks to all who attended!

 

With about 100 people in attendance, our second annual Progressive Law Student and Lawyer Meet and Greet on March 28th at Cole's was a great time. We had an exciting mix of students, attorneys, non-profits leaders, elected officials and even candidates running for office! Thanks to all who attending for helping us "Build the Guild" in Buffalo. We hope to see you all again next year.

 

We would like to encourage all who attended to consider joining the National Lawyers Guild and the Buffalo City Chapter of the NLG. Information on the benefits of membership at www.nlg.org.

 

2. SBA Forum on the Future Location of the Law School Thursday, April 10th.

On April 22nd, the UB 2020 planners will be unveiling more of their comprehensive physical plan for the future of the University at Buffalo -- a plan which potentially includes moving the law school to another location in the coming years.

Last week, the SBA passed a resolution expressing our support for student involvement in the planning process.  In that spirit, the SBA will be sponsoring a forum for students, alumni, and faculty to speak about the pros and cons of the various locations to which the law school may be moved.  Food and beverages will be served.

When: Thursday, April 10th, 4:00PM-5:30PM
Where: 106 O'Brian
Why: The future of our school is being decided, and our input is necessary!

Anyone who wishes to speak about the subject may do so, and guest speakers will be attending to take questions.  Concerned about the future of the law school?  Make your voice heard!

3. Charles Halpern speaking at Talking Leaves on Thursday, April 10th.

Charles Halpern is a social entrepreneur with a remarkable record of institutional innovation. He founded the Center for Law and the Public Interest, the nation's first public interest law firm, and litigating landmark environmental protection and constitutional rights cases. As founding dean of the City University of New York Law School he initiated a bold program for training public interest lawyers as whole people. Later, as president of the $400 million Nathan Cummings Foundation, he launched an innovative grant program that drew together social justice advocacy with meditation and spiritual inquiry.

In his important and compelling new book Halpern shares, with wit and self-deprecating humor, candid and revealing lessons from every stage of his life, describing his journey and the teachers and colleagues he encountered on the way—a cast of characters that includes Barney Frank and Ralph Nader, Ram Dass and the Dalai Lama. Making Waves and Riding the Currents vividly demonstrates the life-enhancing benefits of integrating a commitment to social justice with the cultivation of wisdom.

 

Mr. Halpern will also present at an all day conference entitled "Effective Lawyering: Dealing with the Stresses and Strains of Today's Law Practice."  This  seminar will  take place on April 11th at the Ramada Inn Hotel near the U.B. North Campus. CLE credits are available. For registration and information, please contact Mary Kohlbacher at the Erie County Bar Association at 852-8687, extension 15.
 

 

4. VOTE YES on the UB Law Downtown Resolution April 16th and 17th.

 

On April 16th and 17th, a resolution in support of a future downtown location of the Law School will be up for a student wide vote. For the resolution to pass, at least half the student body must vote. Half of those who vote must vote yes! To read the text of the resolution, visit our blog at http://www.ublg.blogspot.com.

 

Our goal is to have our voices heard in the UB 2020 process and support the re-location of the school to a downtown location. We feel that an urban campus will greatly enhance quality of life of the student body, attract students and faculty from a greater geographical region, counter the forces of sprawl and environmentally unsustainable growth, and contribute positively to the economic revitalization of Buffalo. The resolution also supports better transportation options to connect the three campuses now being proposed under the UB 2020 plan.

 

5. Legal Observation Training with Charlie Cobb on April 26th at 281 Grant St.

 

This Legal Observation training is designed to teach law students, lawyers and other interested individuals how to observe people expressing political views in a way that protects and ensures their constitutional rights. The Guild is known for its visible presence of legal observers at large marches and protests (Guild Legal Observers often wear a neon green hat). Charlie Cobb, former director of the WNY Peace Center, graduate of UB and current attorney at Cantor, Lukasik, Dolce and Panepinto, will lead this 2 hour training at the Massachusetts Ave. Project at 281 Grant St. Food and drink will be provided.

Mr. Cobb will cover legal observation at mass protests -- such as those that will take place at the Republican National Convention this summer-- and observation at smaller, more local events. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to ub...@gmail.com.