What's New and Notable

Speakers/Events

Finals Breakfast for Dinner

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - 6:00pm • Second Floor, Outside of the Student Affairs Office (238)

Mark your calendars for our annual finals tradition! Take a break from studying for final exams for the semesterly, "Finals Breakfast for Dinner." 

Breakfast will be served first-come, first-served until it's gone on Tuesday, December 5, from 6 to 7 p.m., just outside of the Office of Student Affairs on the second floor. Full breakfast includes french toast, eggs, potatoes, bacon, turkey sausage, and fruit, along with coffee and tea options. For those with dietary restrictions, gluten-free and vegan options will also be available and labeled. 

You can grab a to-go box and go back to studying or you are welcome to hang out on the second floor to decompress and socialize. Food is provided courtesy of the Office of Student Affairs. 

We look forward to seeing you at breakfast!

Contact: Sarah DiStefano
Pro Bono Opportunities

MVLC Online CLE: Rent Assistance and Coordinated Entry

Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - 12:00pm • Zoom

Students can earn one hour of pro bono time by attending the MVLC Volunteer CLE Series. This free CLE series provides volunteers with in-depth information on some of the most commonly seen issues at the Clinics.

These sessions are a great way to enhance your knowledge of the legal issues faced by clients of the MVLC while earning additional pro bono hours. Register to attend here.

Rent Assistance and Coordinated Entry

Presented by Alexi Millard, Milwaukee County Landlord Engagement Coordinator & Emily Kenney, IMPACT Director of Systems Change

  • Alexi Millard worked for three years as the intake supervisor at the Milwaukee Justice Center. Since 2022, she has been employed with Milwaukee County Housing Services. She began her work as a housing navigator and currently serves as the Landlord Engagement Coordinator, creating and maintaining partnerships for housing choice voucher recipients.
  • Emily Kenney, LCSW, works as the Director of Systems Change for IMPACT, Inc. In that role, she is the facilitator of the Southeastern Wisconsin Community Information Exchange called IMPACT Connect and the Coordinated Entry System for Milwaukee County. Ms. Kenney has worked for 14 years facilitating a homeless service delivery system that worked to decrease homelessness in Milwaukee County by connecting agencies and streamlining care coordination services in the most effective ways. Now, she is broadening the scope of this work to include all sectors and agencies through IMPACT Connect.
  • Deborah Heffner is the Strategic Partnership Director at Community Advocates, bringing extensive experience and a deep commitment to community well-being. Since the inception of the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center (RHRC) in 2020, Deborah has played an instrumental role in its development. In her current role, she will oversee daily operations for the Triage Team and partnership. Deb has over 20 years of experience in coalition-building and community mobilization around prevention efforts in Wisconsin. In 2017, Deb co-developed the Community Advocates Public Policy Institutes’ Healthy Housing Initiative, designed to influence policy to increase housing affordability, quality, and stability. Deb has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education Policy and Community Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Contact: Katie Mertz
General News

Welcome New Law School Staff Members

The Law School is pleased to welcome two new staff members.

Sofia Ascorbe is the Law School's new director of career planning! Director Ascorbe joins the Career Planning Center equipped with experiences and perspectives that perfectly position her to guide students as they assess their professional goals and design and implement job search strategies. Director Ascorbe’s legal background includes work as a staff attorney with Legal Action of Wisconsin and experiences with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and an in-house corporate legal team. Moreover, she honed student advising skills while serving as the assistant director of Marquette University’s undergraduate honors program. As a Latina and first-generation lawyer, Director Ascorbe is motivated to provide a bridge for students who identify with historically underrepresented communities. The CPC will host an open house in early spring semester for the Law School community to meet Director Ascorbe, so keep an eye out for more information!

We are also very excited to welcome Eric Semrow, the Law School's new Welcome Desk and visitor coordinator. In this role, Eric oversees daily visitor and desk operations, which include coordination of various bookings, reservations, and assistance with Law School events. Eric works with the Building Facilities team and assists with building operations, parking concerns, and other general operational procedures whenever necessary. Prior to this role, Eric spent three years as the Inquiry Management lead at Concordia University. In that position, he collaborated with the marketing and admissions offices. In addition to his current position at the Law School, Eric is also studying Animation, Design & Media at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Please stop by the Welcome Desk to meet and say hello to Eric!

Contact: Dean Binns and Dean Wilczynski-Vogel
Speakers/Events

Marquette Civic Dialogues: How to Disagree Better

Monday, December 4, 2023 - 5:00pm • AMU 163

Bo Seo, a two-time world champion debater will conduct a workshop on "How to Disagree Better" as part of Marquette Civic Dialogues on Monday, December 4, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Note that this event takes place outside of the law school, in the Alumni Memorial Union, room 163 (a few blocks from the law school). While this event is put on outside the law school, law students are particularly encouraged to attend!

In this workshop, Seo will teach participants the fundamentals that have aided him in debate. Lessons range from grasping the dispute at hand, to making an effective argument and rebuttal, to using words and gestures to deliver the point. Ultimately, the lessons will change participants' view of how disagreements work, and will give them a range of tools to better communicate with co-workers, fellow students, team members, opposing counsel, and judges.

If you're intersted in attending, please register online.  

More on Bo Seo: Bo Seo is a two-time world champion debater and a former coach of the Australian national debating team and the Harvard College Debating Union. One of the most recognized figures in the global debate community, he has won both the World Schools Debating Championship and the World Universities Debating Championship. Bo has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, CNN, and many other publications. Bo graduated from Harvard University and received a master’s degree in public policy from Tsinghua University. He is currently a J.D. candidate at Harvard Law School.

A broader note: The Marquette Civic Dialogue Program works to foster deliberation about the pressing issues facing our world today, prepare students to be citizens with purpose, and advance scholarship on civic dialogue. Through its programming and research, Civic Dialogues encourages students to "Be the Difference" by enagaging differences in political thought and lived experience.

Contact: Emily Juneau
General News

End-of-semester Tips and Reminders for Eckstein Hall

As final exams approach, please keep in mind the following:

  • Traffic and Timely Arrival
    • Be mindful of changes to local traffic patterns, construction, weather, and parking to ensure that you have a timely arrival to Eckstein Hall for final classes, exams, and projects. For those with scheduled final exams, please note that you are required to be in the exam room 20 minutes before the start of the exam. 
  • Classrooms as Study Spaces
    • ​Classrooms are available as additional study spaces when not in use for final exams and other reservations. Please check all posted signage for availability.  
  • Quiet Study Spaces
    • Law students seeking a quiet study environment may use the third and fourth floors. In addition to the Aitken Reading Room, these floors are designated as quiet study areas within Eckstein Hall. If you need to make a phone call or have a conversation, please move to one of the stairwells to conduct business. When working in groups, please use the first or second floor, the Student Organization Suite 342, or reserve a study room.
  • Study Rooms
    • Law students are welcome to reserve study rooms in Eckstein Hall. Click here to check room availability, book a room, and review study room reservation policies. Students can reserve study rooms for up to three hours daily and need to vacate the room once their reservation time ends. If you reserved a room and no longer need it, please cancel the reservation to open the room for other students.
  • Shared Student Kitchen Spaces
    • The student kitchen is located on the first floor in room 159, and there is a small kitchenette on the third floor between the Boden Suite and the Student Organization Suite.
    • The kitchens are self-cleaning kitchens: It is expected that students will clean up. Please be considerate of your classmates by covering your food when using the microwave and cleaning up any spills that might occur.
    • Refrigerators are provided for your use. Please label food and containers with your name. The refrigerators are cleaned out once per month. Unless otherwise communicated, all items in the refrigerator at that time will be disposed of and additional information will be found in Law News.
  • Leaving Items or Food Deliveries at the Welcome Desk
    • Welcome Desk staff cannot hold or deliver items to others. If food is being delivered, please make sure to plan to meet the delivery driver in the lobby as soon as possible. If someone is picking something up from a student, that student will need to meet the person in the lobby to turn over the items. 

​We thank you for your cooperation in creating a culture of care and respect for others here at Eckstein Hall.

Contact: Ben Manske, Manager of Building Operations
General News

Fitness Center Final Exam Hours

During final exams, the fitness center will have adjusted hours. Please plan accordingly. Thank you and best of luck on finals!  

  • Monday, December 4: CLOSED 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

  • Tuesday, December 5: CLOSED 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

  • Wednesday, December 6: CLOSED 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

  • Thursday, December 7: CLOSED 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

  • Friday, December 8: CLOSED 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

  • Saturday, December 9: Open all day 

  • Sunday, December 10: Open all day 

  • Monday, December 11: CLOSED 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

  • Tuesday, December 12: CLOSED 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

  • Wednesday, December 13: CLOSED 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

  • Thursday, December 14: CLOSED 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Contact: Ben Manske
General News

Lost and Found Items Available

Have you lost a water bottle, travel mug, lunchbox, sunglasses, etc.? We would like to reunite you with your items. Between December 4 and December 16, lost and found items will be placed on a table in the Student Organization Suite (342) for you to pick up. Anything that has not been claimed by December 16 will be donated or discarded. 

If you are missing an item of value (keys, electronics, phone, computer, headphones, jewelry, etc.), please stop by the Student Affairs office, suite 238, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

If you have any questions, please contact Ben Manske, Manager of Building Operations. 

Contact: Ben Manske
General News

Last Law News of the Semester

The the last edition of Law News for this academic year will be the week of December 11-14. Law News will resume publication in January, near the start of the spring 2024 semester. 

Those events and posts with dates listed for after December 15, will still be accessible through prior editions of Law News or on the site directly. 

If you have questions, please contact Sarah DiStefano, assistant director of student affairs. 

Contact: Sarah DiStefano
Speakers/Events

Exam Treats Courtesy of the Law Alumni Association

Monday, December 4, 2023 - 8:40am • Eckstein Hall, 3rd Floor near Aitken Reading Room

The Law Alumni Association has provided some grab-and-go treats and wishes our students the best of luck during final exams. You can find the treat table on the third floor outside of the Reading Room on the following days: 

  • Monday, December 4, from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, December 6, from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
  • Monday, December 11, from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, December 14, from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
Contact: Jourdain LaFrombois