3/28/05

3/28/05 Welcome Back from Spring Break

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed your two-week spring break and have returned ready to jump right into the last couple weeks of the semester. This first week back will be particularly busy with the spring Law Board meeting and Wigmore Follies on Friday and Saturday; and Day at Northwestern Law on Saturday.

In addition please keep these other important dates in mind:

April 15 Graduation forms and surveys due
April 11-15 Cap and gown pick-up
April 15 Spring classes end
April 18-22 Review sessions and reading period
April 23-May 5 Spring Semester examinations (pdf)
May 9-15 Convocation Week
May 15 Law School Convocation

Executive LLM in Korea Program Inaugural Graduation Ceremony, March 25
While you were away, the class of 30 Executive LLM students from Korea visited Chicago to complete their final course and to celebrate their graduation. The students, Korean legal professionals working for businesses, law firms, and government agencies, have spent the past year studying in Seoul, Korea, with Northwestern Law professors. The graduation ceremony was held in Lincoln Hall on Friday. Our Class of 2006 Executive LLM students began studying in Seoul earlier this month.

Wigmore Follies, April 1-2
Admitted students attending Day at Northwestern Law will also have the opportunity to attend Wigmore Follies. Following a long-standing tradition, graduating students write, direct, act, and sing in this annual comedy review. This year's production, "Northwest Side Story," will be a spoof on the popular broadway musical "West Side Story."

Day at Northwestern Law, Admitted Students Weekend, April 2
Hundreds of admitted students will be getting acquainted with the Law School on Saturday, April 2, when they join us for Day at Northwestern Law. They will meet with current students, faculty, and administrators, as well as potential classmates. In many cases, this is the weekend when most make the final decision to become permanent members of our community. If you happen to run into any of them, I hope you will tell them what a wonderful place Northwestern Law is.

Law Board Meeting, April 1-2
The annual spring Law Board meeting also coincides with Day at Northwestern Law and Wigmore Follies. I meet with the Law Board, whose members include alumni as well as legal and business professionals, twice each year to discuss and gather feedback about the basic direction of the school and implementation of the strategic plan. Members of the board will also be attending the Wigmore Follies sneak preview on Friday evening and joining the admitted students for a lunch on Saturday.

Student Leadership Retreat, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, April 8-10
At the annual Student Leadership Retreat, which will take place in Lake Geneva, Wis., student leaders will participate in numerous events, including a brainstorming session on ways to improve student life here at Northwestern Law. On Sunday morning, student leaders will meet with me and other Law School staff members to discuss issues raised in the brainstorming session.

Julius Rosenthal Foundation Lecture Series, April 12-14
Michael Walzer, acclaimed political theorist and UPS Foundation Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ, will deliver this year's Julius Rosenthal Foundation Lectures on "The Paradox of National Liberation." Topics for the three lectures include:

Tuesday, April 12, 4 pm, Rubloff 150
"The Paradox: Three Examples"

Wednesday, April 13, noon, Rubloff 150
"Zionism and Judaism"

Thursday, April 14, noon, Rubloff 150
"The End of National Liberation?"

Public Service Benefit Dinner, April 14
The Student Funded Public Interest Fellowship will host its Second Annual Public Service Benefit Dinner on Thursday, April 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Law School. The event will recognize three Northwestern Law alumni -- former Illinois governor Jim Thompson (JD '59), current chairman and CEO at Winston & Strawn; Jeffrey Cummings (JD '87), co-administrative partner at Miner, Barnhill & Galland; and Diane Geraghty (JD '72), professor and interim dean at Loyola University School of Law -- for their outstanding contributions in public service.

Faculty Conference, Law and Positive Political Theory, April 29-30
Legal scholars and positive theorists will visit Northwestern Law to participate in a conference organized by Professor Emerson Tiller to think about and generate articles on topics related to how courts have highlighted the importance of legal doctrine and have sought to shape it, whether for political control or normative values. This conference is supported by the Professor Irving Gordon Symposium Fund.

Graduation Convocation for the Class of 2005, May 15
We are pleased to have Illinois Senator Dick Durbin as the speaker for the convocation ceremony, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 15, at 1:30 p.m. at the historic Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St. A reception at the Law School for graduates, friends, and family will follow. Please visit the Convocation site for more information.

David E. Van Zandt
Dean
Northwestern University School of Law
357 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 503-8460
Fax: (801) 650-6873
E-mail: d-van2@law.northwestern.edu