New “Marquette Lawyer” Magazine Offers Insights from Paul Clement

Paul Clement has argued some 70 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was solicitor general of the United States and now, in private practice, continues to present arguments in some of the most important cases of our time.

In the cover story in the new “Marquette Lawyer” magazine, Clement discusses some of the cases he’s been involved in, particularly the momentous Affordable Care Act decision of 2012 and several national security cases. He talks about what it is like to make an argument before the Court and especially what’s needed to prepare for an argument.

Clement’s thoughts were offered during his visit to Marquette Law School on March 4, 2013, when he delivered the annual E. Harold Hallows Lecture and held a special “On the Issues with Mike Gousha” event for law students. (Video of the lecture is available here and of the “On the Issues” here.)

Also in the new issue, an article describes the complex legacy of a class action lawsuit challenging how Milwaukee Public Schools deals with students with special education needs. Even as plaintiffs lost the case in court, they succeeded in influencing changes that they favored.

Professor Phoebe Williams is featured in a profile story in the magazine, and the success of the Law School’s faculty blog is marked with a compilation of pieces written by Professor Daniel D. Blinka; Mike Gousha, distinguished fellow in law and public policy; and State Public Defender Kelli S. Thompson, L’96 .

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Congratulations to AWL Scholarship Winners Nimmer and Mills

nimmermillsOn Tuesday, September 10, 2013, the Milwaukee Association for Women Lawyers (AWL) Foundation honored two Marquette University Law School students with scholarships.

Amanda M. Nimmer, 2L (pictured above left), received the AWL Foundation scholarship.  The AWL Foundation Scholarship is awarded to a woman who has exhibited service to others, diversity, compelling financial need, academic achievement, unique life experiences (such as overcoming obstacles to attend or continue law school), and advancement of women in the profession. Nimmer said when she was 13 years old, she decided to become a lawyer. While she was growing up, she and her mother ran a school supplies drive every year at their church to benefit children in need in the greater Milwaukee area. She also volunteered at homeless shelters. She remains passionate about helping others, and this passion for public services shows. During the last presidential election, she volunteered as a legal observer. As an undergraduate at UW Madison, Nimmer worked for the state public defender’s office. She has also worked for the American Civil Liberties Union. She volunteers with the Milwaukee Volunteer Legal Clinic at Hillview and at the Milwaukee Justice Center. Although she’s yet to be inducted into the Pro Bono Society, she has already accumulated more than 120 volunteer hours. Nimmer was a PILS fellow last summer and is also the secretary of the student chapter of AWL.

Katheryn Mills, 2L (pictured above right), received the AWL Foundation’s Virginia A. Pomeroy scholarship.  This scholarship honors the late Virginia A. Pomeroy, a former deputy state public defender and a past president of AWL.  In addition to meeting the same criteria as for the AWL Foundation scholarship, the winner of this scholarship must also exhibit what the AWL Foundation calls “a special emphasis, through experience, employment, class work or clinical programs” in one of several particular areas:  appellate practice, civil rights law, public interest law, public policy, public service, or service to the vulnerable or disadvantaged. Mills’ interest in the law, particularly in public policy, sparked from her parents’ service as law enforcement officials in Wisconsin. Seeing her parents’ satisfaction in their public service jobs sparked her interest to follow a similar career path. This past summer, Mills worked at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Currently, she is the secretary of the Student Bar Association, chair of the Student Issues Committee, and a member of the student chapter of AWL. Additionally, as a volunteer student ambassador for the Admission’s Office at Marquette University Law School, Mills regularly conducts law school tours and is a panelist at admission information sessions. Mills hopes to practice law in the Milwaukee area after graduation.

Congratulations to both women for outstanding service and for their representation of Marquette University Law School.

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Paul Dacier (L ’83) Assumes Presidency of the Boston Bar

Paul Dacier
Paul Dacier (Boston Globe)

An important part of professionalism is, well, participating in the profession. The Law School has a rich record of alumni and faculty involvement in most walks of the profession, including leadership positions in local and state bar associations. Many alumni have also been recognized for their outstanding work as lawyers.

Paul Dacier (Arts ’80; L ’83) is part of this distinguished cohort. In 2013 Paul has garnered well-deserved recognition for his legal work on behalf of EMC Corp., while also serving as the President of the Boston Bar Association (BBA) for 2013-14. Indeed, the Boston Globe reports that Paul is the first general counsel to assume the BBA’s presidency in its over 250 year history.

Paul is general counsel for EMC, a $20 billion, publicly traded corporation with over 60,000 employees and a legal department of over 100 lawyers. EMC is one of the nation’s leading corporations specializing in information storage (“the cloud”) and related technology. Under Paul’s direction, the legal department has successfully defended EMC’s position in high-visibility patent litigation and developed innovative approaches to mergers and acquisitions. The National Law Journal recently named EMC’s legal department as the Boston Legal Department of the year (August 2013).

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