Rebecca K. Blemberg – Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog

Professor Michael Ariens’s New Book as a Teaching Tool

Post author:Rebecca K. Blemberg
Post published:February 14, 2023
Post category:Legal Ethics Public

This is the second in a series of three blog posts this week by Marquette law faculty on a new book.

The Lawyer's Conscience - A History of American Lawyer Ethics In The Lawyer’s Conscience: A History of American Lawyer Ethics (University of Kansas Press 2022), Professor Michael Ariens provides a history of lawyer ethics and identifies problems that make it difficult for modern lawyers to live up to the ideals of an ethical lawyer. Conceptions of the ideal lawyer have changed from the late 1700s to the present day, and the book provides historical examples of lawyer ideals at different points in history. Broadly speaking, the historic honorable lawyer was motivated primarily by a sense of duty to conscience and regard for the public good. The honorable lawyer was committed to serve as a professional and did not attach undue importance to matters such as fees or client preference.

Through classroom discussions in courses such as The Law Governing Lawyers and Professional Identity Formation (and even Legal Writing and Research), I know that students yearn to practice in an age when the public perceived lawyers as esteemed community members safeguarding the public good. The Lawyer’s Conscience has inspired me to bring more historical perspective into these discussions. I want my students to know, for example, that the problem of lawyer misuse of power is not new and not reserved for the modern age, even if modern developments have introduced new and different problems. For a very long time, lawyers have had to embody conflicting roles, serving as advocate and counselor but also as an officer of the court and legal system reformer.

Congratulations to the Marquette Law Mock Trial Team

Post author:Rebecca K. Blemberg
Post published:November 9, 2018
Post category:Labor & Employment Law Marquette Law School Public

Congratulations to the Marquette Law Mock Trial Team who competed at the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Trial Advocacy Competition on November 3, 2018.

The team advanced to the Semi-final round of the competition, placing within the top four teams. Team members include Cole Altman, Katie Dvorak, Dan McCrackin, and Rohit Rangarajan. The team was coached by Katie Halopka-Ivery and Emil Ovbiagele.

Congratulations, Team! We are proud of your hard work and success.

Dean Joseph Kearney Receives 2015 Faithful Servant Award

Post author:Rebecca K. Blemberg
Post published:October 15, 2015
Post category:Marquette Law School Public

On October 8, Dean Joseph Kearney received the 2015 Faithful Servant Award from the St. Thomas More Lawyers Society of Wisconsin.

Dean Kearney was honored for many reasons, including his expansion and support of the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic, his commitment to a culture of public service, and his efforts to ensure that the Law School serve as a public forum for discussion and debate. Justice Janine Geske introduced Dean Kearney, emphasizing his longstanding dedication to law students, faculty and staff, the community, and the legal profession. Student Windsor Wrolstad, president of the student chapter of the St. Thomas More Lawyers Society, presented the award.

The Faithful Servant award honors an individual “who, in the course of religious, legal, community, public or human services, has exemplified in outstanding fashion the commitments and steadfast dedication of Thomas More, first to Almighty God, and to family life, statesmanship, and the law.”

The dean is also giving the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Pallium Lecture on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Mount Mary University. The topic is “The Supreme Court and Religious Liberty,” and the public is welcome.

Congratulations, Dean Kearney.