March 2012
March 27, 2012 - Spotlight on Octavio Mella, Pre-Law President at Florida International University
Octavio Mella, Political Science major and Criminal Justice minor, was elected President of the Pre-Law Chapter at Florida International University in April, 2011. Along with the Chapter’s Executive Board, Mella brought the Chapter to national prominence with increased member recruitment and participation in local and national events.
Mella attributes much of the Chapter’s success to the Executive Board, from recruiting one of the biggest new member classes to date, all time high fundraising and attendance to many events including the Pre-Law Conference. Pre-Law Conference attendees per Chapter generally range from 1-12, however last year FIU brought 31 members, the most attendees per Chapter; Mella attributes high attendance to careful planning, piquing interest and heavy involvement. “I definitely want all of the Executive Board and Council members to share the spotlight with me,” says Mella.
Being a P.A.D. Pre-Law President is one of many great stepping stones toward his goal; to pursue a career that will provide him with the chance to better people’s lives, and to ultimately be an attorney for the Justice Department.
“My favorite part of being President has definitely been seeing the difference P.A.D. can make in the lives of our members...Those small moments, when someone is appreciative of P.A.D. for what we’ve been able to help them do is what I consider the most rewarding and is [what] I look forward to the most.” We hope he will bring his enthusiasm and passion to Jay Chapter, where he plans to attend in the fall.
Follow this link to meet the Officers at FIU..
March 20, 2012 - Spotlight On the Finalists of the 2012 Mock Trial Competition for Law School Chapters
Law School Chapter teams competed for the top four placements at the successful 2012 Law Mock Trial Competition. The fierce competition among brothers and sisters showed the true passion our members have for the law and for the fraternity. We want to sincerely thank all of the Law Chapter teams for participating and all those who judged; we couldn’t do it without you!
We want to further introduce you to the winning individuals of the finalist teams being:
1st Place - Jackson Chapter 1
2nd Place - Wythe Chapter 1
3rd Place - Lincoln Chapter
4th Place - Magruder Chapter 2
Our winners, Jackson Chapter 1, from Rutgers School of Law, comprised of Kory Ramkawsky, the 2L Chapter President, extremely involved in many organizations and currently working for Essex County Prosecutor's Office, she intends to become a prosecutor in NY/NJ; Christopher Mitchell, a 1L interested in practicing litigation in NJ; Charles Simmons, a 2L pursuing Criminal Law in NY/PA/NJ and Kathy Oviedo.
Wythe Chapter 1, from the College of William & Mary, included members Andrew King, a 1L interested in pursuing a career in medical malpractice defense on the Atlantic Coast; Skyler Peacock, a 1L interested in practicing Litigation in D.C.; Keith Buzby, a 1L intending to practice international development law in Asia; and Emily Gomes, a 1L interested in Civil/Commercial Litigation in either D.C. or Chicago.
Lincoln Chapter Team, from John Marshall Law School, comprised of Danielle Vleck, a 2L interested in Criminal Law and Civil Litigation; Michael Neumann a 3L interested in practicing Bankruptcy, Tax or Securities in Chicago; Paul Coogan and Lindsay Ruedig.
The fourth place Magruder Chapter 2, from the University of Illinois, included members Kristin Osentoski, a 1L interested in practicing Corporate and Business Law in the Midwest; Katie Dohse, 1L to pursue Litigation/Communications Law in Chicago or D.C.; Lisa Gillette, a 1L intending to practice Commercial Litigation and anti-trust in the Midwest; and Nick Moeller, a 1L interested in pursuing a career in Criminal/ Government law.
The Executive Office is looking forward to the 2013 Competition! Until then, we are excited to see you at the 2012 Convention!
March 13, 2012 - Spotlight On Corliss Chapter's Professional Programming
Corliss Chapter, at the University of North Dakota, has planned many great professional events for the spring semester. Professional programming is a staple of P.A.D. Chapter Operations; scheduling speakers and planning law-related events provides students with a basis for their life outside of law school.
North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Mary Maring, who has served the position for almost 16 years, will be speaking to the Chapter members. She received her B.A. degree in Political Science and German from Moorhead State University in 1972 and a J.D. from the University Of North Dakota School Of Law in 1975 (North Dakota Supreme Court Website).
A second speaker, Michelle Rivard Parks, will also be presenting professional legal information to Corliss Chapter members. She has served as Tribal Attorney for Spirit Lake Nation since 2001, the Spirit Lake Tribe that lives on a Fort Totten reservation in North Dakota (Spirit Lake Nation Website). She is an appointed member of the North Dakota Supreme Court and is an Adjunct Professor at UND School of Law (UND School of Law Faculty Page).
Lastly, the Corliss Chapter will be participating in the 20th Annual Helen Hamilton Day, named after the first female graduate from UND School of Law in 1905. The day is devoted to recognizing all women who have contributed to the legal profession. The event consists of attorney and professor speakers as well as a panel discussion to spark conversation about regional demographics and how it affects legal practice (North Dakota Supreme Court Website).
Corliss Chapter members are off to a great start. These speakers are sure to benefit and add value to their legal futures.
March 7, 2012 - Spotlight on Mock Trial Judges, Part 3
The Law Mock Trial begins tomorrow! As you finalize your preparations, here are the final two of eight esteemed final round judges. Best of luck to all of the competitors!
Jason (‘Jay’) Ross earned his B.S. from Rutgers University in 1993, his M.P.A. in 1996 and his J.D. in 2002 from Seton Hall University. Brother Ross has served many positions, one being Deputy Attorney General of Trenton where he handled matters on behalf of the NJ Department of Education, School Ethics Commission and the Board of Examiners and Department of Human Services. He is currently serving as a Deputy Attorney General with the Enforcement Bureau of the NJ Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. He is admitted to practice in FL, NJ and in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Brother Ross is currently the International Board Member-at-Large. Formerly, he served as District XXII Justice, Paterson Chapter Marshal, and Justice, Vice Justice and Clerk for the NJ Statewide Alumni Chapter.
Major Deanna Daly is the Chief of Justice and Court Actions at Military Justice Division, Air Force Legal Operations Agency. Major Daly entered the Air Force in January 2002 as a direct appointee. In 1996, she earned a B.S. from the University of Houston, an M.A. in 1999 and a J.D. in 2000 at St. Mary’s University. She is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of TX and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
March 6, 2012 - Spotlight on Mock Trial Judges, Part 2
The Law Mock Trial Competition is approaching! We hope you are ready to compete. As a continuation of Monday’s Spotlight, below are three of eight accomplished, final-round mock trial judges.
Captain Paul LeBlanc graduated from Marquette University in 1987 with a B.A. in Communications and from Creighton University in 1990 with his J.D. In December of the same year, he graduated from the Naval Justice School, where he later became an instructor.
He later became the Deputy Director of the Navy Marine Corp Appellate Government Division in D.C. and was the Director of the Law and Order Task Force for Baghdad, Iraq. Currently he is the Director of the Navy Marine Corps Appellate Defense Division.
L. Jackson Thomas II earned his B.A. from Lincoln University, his J.D. from the American University, Washington College of Law and was later sworn as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for D.C. in October 1981.
Brother Thomas has handled some of the most serious and complex criminal prosecutions as one of five Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted drug-related murder. He was one of two to successfully prosecute the nation’s ninth federal death penalty case, U.S. v. Wayne Perry, and received two special achievement awards.
Brad Marshall has been practicing law in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2007. He received his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his J.D. from Michigan State University. Mr. Marshall later joined the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s (C.A.) Office in Prince William County, VA as a law clerk.
He then became assistant C.A.; working for the Honorable Paul B. Ebert who has served the position the longest in VA’s history. Mr. Marshall specializes in criminal street gang prosecution, violent crimes, firearms, insurance fraud, DUI’s, and public nuisances while regularly practicing in all levels of court. He is involved in an extensive list of political, charitable and civic organizations.
March 5, 2012 - Spotlight on Mock Trial Judges, Part 1
P.A.D.’s annual Law Mock Trial Competition will begin this week! From March 8-10 in Arlington, 32 Law Chapter teams will compete regarding the case of Commonwealth of Padland v. Maxine/Maxwell Ability (aka Max Ability). With an amazing turnout this year, over 60 Mock Trial judges will preside over the trials that focus on an alleged car theft. The students are lucky to have eight esteemed final-round judges to determine the winner. Below are three of the eight final-round judges. The volunteers this year are highly educated, talented attorneys and we look forward to their attendance!
John E. Robins, Jr., Esq., originally from Hampton, VA, graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1969 with a B.A. in Mathematics. In 1972 he graduated the University of Virginia School of Law with an LLB. With an impressive list of professional positions held, Mr. Robins has served as Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Hampton, Assistant U.S. Trustee for the Dept. of Justice in Norfolk, Virginia and, his current position, Deputy Public Defender. During Mock Trial, he will present closing arguments and tips during the Awards Banquet. With an obvious sense of humor, he says, “he still has some of his own hair and most of his original teeth.”
Matt Britton earned multiple degrees across the country. He earned his BA at Boston College, his MFS at George Washington University and his J.D. at Washington University in St. Louis. Mr. Britton is currently in his fourth term as Elected Commonwealth Attorney for King George County in Virginia. During Mock Trial, he will also present closing arguments and courtroom strategies during the Awards Banquet. He and his loving wife are parents to eight children.
Stephen J. Savva has more than fifteen years experience representing individuals and businesses on a wide-range of civil matters. He received his J.D. in 1996 from Fordham School of Law, where he served as Justice. He was then appointed to District XXI Justice and is serving his third term on the International Executive Board as International Advocate.
He is admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and courts in NY, NJ, CT and D.C. Mr. Savva's representative clients in the entertainment industry include Academy Award winning actor/producer Fisher Stevens, G-Unit Records, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana, to name a few. Mr. Savva also owns a television production company partnered with Bunim-Murray Productions. He has participated as a judge in the Fraternity’s Mock Trial Competition since its inception.