Penn State Law

Q&A with Assistant Dean of Admissions Amanda DiPolverePenn State Law Admissions dean Amanda DiPolvere explains how applicants can stand out, the latest in scholarship aid, and her take on joint degrees at Penn State.

Family Law Clinic tragedy inspires domestic violence advocatesErin Bloxham ’12 was wrapping up her responsibilities as a fellow with Penn State Law’s Family Law Clinic before moving on to her new role as Centre County Assistant District Attorney. One of her cases was a divorce, referred to the clinic by the Civil Legal Representation Project of the Centre County Women's Resource Center. Client Traci Raymond Miscavish had been attacked by her husband who had spent time in jail. Bloxham, second-year law student Kira Lecznar assigned to the case, and the clinic’s director Jill Engle were impressed with Miscavish’s courage. On March 28, the unthinkable happened. Traci Raymond Miscavish’s husband Mark Miscavish shot and killed her and himself at Traci's place of employment leaving her family, the community, and the members of the Family Law Clinic devastated. Last weekend the students attended a candlelight vigil in Miscavish’s memory during which Engle spoke saying that her goal and of those attending is to carry the light of domestic violence victims forward.

Judge Samuel Bufford elected to the American Law InstituteJudge Samuel L. Bufford, Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Penn State Law, has been elected to the American Law Institute (ALI), the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law.

Why we give: '97 classmates join efforts to endow scholarshipFifteen years later, the 1997 classmates entered another pact: to create a scholarship benefiting Dickinson School of Law students of superior academic achievement.

Seminar brings legal and forensics experts together to win casesForensic science can be a powerful weapon to a litigator and to law enforcement. A day-long seminar at Penn State Law on April 5 will provide an opportunity to learn from experts about forensic tools that can help win cases. Forensic Science Legal Tools is designed for prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, and civil litigators as well as members of the science and law enforcement communities who may be expert witnesses. Students who are interested in careers in law, law enforcement, and/or forensics are encouraged to attend. The seminar is free to the public but there is a fee to register for continuing education credits.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Workshop set for Mar. 21The Center for Immigrants’ Rights on behalf of the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center will present a workshop to help young immigrants learn about legal status. Participants can earn how young people without legal status can avoid deportation and potentially receive work authorization and learn the eligibility requirements, application process, and potential risks of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Community workshop to address violence against immigrant womenThe Center for Immigrants' Rights at Penn State Law and the Centre County Women's Resource Center Civil Legal Representation Project are teaming up to host “Shining the Light on Violence Against Immigrant Women” at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 at Schlow Centre Regional Library. The public is welcome to this event, which will be a dialogue on the impact of domestic violence and sexual assault in the immigrant community.

Federal Courts choose 4 Penn State Law students for clerkshipsFour members of the Class of 2013 have been selected for post-graduation federal clerkships. Meet Sarah Hyser, 1st Lt. Mark A. McCormick-Goodhart and Christopher Polchin, all members of the Penn State Law Review. (A fourth student, not profiled here, has a deferred start date.)

Students compete in second annual LL.M. Moot CompetitionPenn State Law fielded a team of students in the Second LL.M. International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C. Hosted by American University Washington College of Law, the competition is specifically created for LL.M. students and focuses on the study of international arbitration for resolving international business and investment disputes.

Hurricane Sandy victims get legal help from students over spring breakFive Penn State Law students headed for the coast over spring break—and they took their legal skills with them to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy. First-year students Nailah Williams, Keana Williams, and Stephen Worthington joined second-year students Doyinsola Aribo and Dunell Ridore for a week of volunteer work with New Jersey Legal Services, where they did legal research, community outreach, and whatever else was needed.