Spring 2018 Issue of Perspectives Now Available Online
Corporate social responsibility is the focus of the cover story of the spring 2018 edition of Perspectives magazine. Read the compelling stories of Law School alumni who work in this burgeoning field of advising on, analyzing, implementing, and measuring the impact of corporate initiatives designed to promote good governance and to achieve positive social outcomes. These Law School alumni are helping to demonstrate every day that doing well by doing good is not something limited to pro bono or public-service work.
Alya Kayal ’93 works at a social impact investing firm verifying companies’ commitment to values such as sustainability. “I knew I wanted to work in social justice. I wanted to make a difference somehow, but I was not clear on my path until I met Professor David Weissbrodt,” says Kayal, who credits him with teaching her how to view human rights through a legal lens. “How do companies have a global impact? What can they do to address the community’s concerns in a meaningful way? He opened my eyes to how this can be done.” Read more.
In a sidebar to the cover story, Professors Claire Hill and Jennifer Green provide their insights on corporate social responsibility and corporate governance, growing legal niche areas in which the Law School has taken a leadership role. Read more.
This issue’s “Theory at Work” examines the worldwide criminal justice work of Professor Neha Jain, who last year spent six months working as a visiting professional at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The time, including working on a high-profile crimes-against-humanity case, gave her a unique perspective that she took back to her academic work. Read more.
“When you are sitting there in the court, looking at witnesses, knowing why things are the way they are when people on the outside don’t, the work becomes real again,” Jain said. “Human beings are at the center of the story. Often we, as academics, tend to live in our heads. When we are not in the midst of a major conflict, it’s easy to forget that these are real stories, real lives, real people, and that what we do has a bearing on this.”
Other highlights in this issue: a profile of the first S.J.D. grad in the Law School’s 130-year history, an interview with the always interesting and amiable Professor and former Law School Dean Bob Stein ’61, a peek at the Law Library’s compelling exhibit commemorating 40 years of Mondale Hall, a bevy of law clinic success stories, recaps of all four law journals’ symposiums, and much more!
Read the complete spring 2018 issue of Perspectives.
Perspectives is the University of Minnesota Law School’s publication for alumni, faculty, students, staff, and supporters and is published twice a year. View all issues of Perspectives.
Send comments to Mark A. Cohen, Director of Communications, mcohen@umn.edu.
