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The Probate, Trusts, and Estates Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) hosted an annual writing competition, inviting law students to compete for a cash prize by writing a short piece on a topic selected by and of interest to the section.

When U.S. Tax Court came to Saint Paul this spring, three students and Professor Caleb Smith, director of Minnesota Law’s Ronald M. Mankoff Tax Clinic, were on hand to provide legal support for low-income, unrepresented taxpayers who have a tax controversy. Their support paid off for one individual, whose case changed from a motion to dismiss, with her owing $348, to a settlement in which she will receive a refund of approximately $11,000.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison ’90 will be the keynote speaker at the Law School’s 135^th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 13.

Ellison was elected attorney general in 2018 and reelected in 2022. As the People’s Lawyer, his job is to help Minnesotans afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect.

Simon Earle, 2L, and Dominik Ruch, 2L, argued before Justice G. Barry Anderson '79, Justice Natalie Hudson '82, and Justice Gordon Moore of the Minnesota Supreme Court, in the final round of the Maynard Pirsig Moot Court Honors Tournament. Simon Earle, won a closely contested argument, with both students receiving tremendous praise for their skills. Earle called the tournament “an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Ruch had a similar reaction, calling it “[the] coolest thing I could have imagined for my time in law school.”

Just midway through its first full semester of operation, Minnesota Law’s new Civil Rights Appellate Clinic filed its second amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jeanne K. McCareins, a longtime friend and supporter of the Law School and spouse of the late Ralph McCareins ‘25, passed away on March 11 at the age of 97.

Jeanne established the Ralph M. McCareins Award in honor of Ralph, who passed away in 1982.

Jeanne had many interests but her primary focus was her family and being an active participant in their lives.

In lieu of flowers, her family has requested donations in her honor be made to the Law School’s Ralph M. McCareins Scholarship Fund.

Jacinta “Cinta” Matagolai Kaipat ’97, a former House representative for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, passed away on Feb. 22 at the age of 61. 

Kaipat, the first Refaluwasch woman to become a lawyer, also served as assistant attorney general and as deputy secretary of the commonwealth’s Department of Labor.

Kaipat, a cultural advocate, was also one of the founders of Beautify CNMI!, a nonprofit coalition seeking to enhance the natural beauty of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and foster community pride in its residents and visitors.

Garry W. Jenkins, who has served as dean and William S. Pattee Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School since 2016, has been named the president of Bates College and will depart Minnesota Law on June 30.

Located in Lewiston, Maine, Bates College is one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the nation. Jenkins will be the ninth president of the 168-year-old college.

Nadia Anguiano '17 has been named associate clinical professor of law and director of the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic beginning this May. 

Currently a visiting assistant clinical professor, Anguiano has been serving as as director of Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic on an interim basis. With this appointment, she is now a member of the Law School’s permanent, full-time faculty.

When four #MinnesotaLaw professors released a groundbreaking white paper, "ChatGPT Goes to Law School," last month, it ignited a global conversation about the role of artificial intelligence in education and professional life.

Professors Jonathan H. Choi, Kristin Hickman, Amy Monahan, and Daniel Schwarcz discussed their research project, including what the the findings really mean, and the possible future implications of AI on legal education, and the day-to-day work of lawyers.