Penn State Law

Penn State Law celebrates 2010 CommencementPenn State University, The Dickinson School of Law celebrated its commencement on May 15 in Carlisle. The Law School recognized 183 J.D. graduates and awarded thirteen LL.M. degrees during the outdoor ceremony.

Stephanie Nolan Deviney ’97 elected to PSU Board of TrusteesStephanie Nolan Deviney ’97, attorney at the law firm of Fox Rothschild LLP in Exton, Pennsylvania, has been elected to the Penn State University Board of Trustees for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2010.

Civil Rights Appellate Clinic students thrilled with logic in Lewis v. City of ChicagoWhen Penn State Law students read the recent decision on Lewis v. City of Chicago, it all sounded familiar. The Court’s decision followed the logic laid out in an amicus brief filed on behalf of national civil rights groups. The Civil Rights Appellate Clinic worked with a team of counsel in drafting this brief which was filed in the United States Supreme Court and in helped prepare counsel for the oral argument in the case.

Law School launches $35 million campaign to benefit studentsPenn State University, The Dickinson School of Law has announced a $35 million fundraising goal as part of the University’s capital campaign, For the Future: A Campaign for Penn State Students. In the largest fundraising effort in its 175-year existence, the Law School has secured nearly $25 million as it enters the public phase of the campaign, set to conclude in 2014.

U.S. News & World Report features article on “how to get in” to Penn State LawFind out how to set your application apart from thousands of others by reading “How to Get In: Penn State Law” published by U.S. News & World Report.

Professor Dannin on highway privatization contracts: read the fine printProfessor Ellen Dannin, who focuses part of her scholarship on public-private partnerships, recently laid out in the Patriot-News why states should not privatize highways.

Senate confirms Vanaskie's seat on U.S. Court of Appeals for 3rd CircuitAfter months of waiting, Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie '78 is on his way to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, one step below the U.S. Supreme Court, which covers all of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The Senate voted 77-20 to confirm Vanaskie as the court's newest judge.

Applications to Penn State Law increase 32 percentPenn State Law applications were double the level of 2008 and up 32 percent over last year. “We’ve processed 5,323 applications this year compared to 4,048 in 2009,” said Jay Shively, assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. “In addition, we had a very impressive and diverse applicant pool making our admission decisions all the more challenging.”

President Obama Nominates Vanaskie ’78 to Third CircuitOn Friday, August 7, President Obama nominated Judge Thomas Vanaskie ’78 to the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The post is one step below the U.S. Supreme Court and covers all of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Professor Kinports reflects on legacy of Justice StevensKit Kinports, Polisher Family Distinguished Faculty Scholar and Professor of Law, served as a clerk on the Supreme Court for a year during Justice Stevens’ tenure. She recently shared some thoughts on his legacy and what to expect moving forward.