News

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.

Minnesota Law's Law in Practice Program, which provides 1Ls with the opportunity to develop real-world practice skills, was recently recognized by Bloomberg Law as a national leader in innovation in the field of experiential education.
2L Jack Tate, who is now an LiP student instructor, says participating in the program during his first year of law school was a huge confidence boost.

Edward H. Borkon ’58, a longtime private practitioner and friend and supporter of the Law School,  passed away on Dec. 3 at the age of 92.

Originally from Turtle Lake, Wisconsin, Borkon came to the Twin Cities in 1948 to attend Macalester College. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps and 11th Armored Calvary Division of the U.S. Army.  He subsequently enrolled at Minnesota Law, graduating in 1958.

The law school’s Ronald M. Mankoff Tax Clinic had a record year in 2022—for the first time ever surpassing the $1 million mark in how much it helped clients reduce their tax liabilities.

The clinic annually files a report with the IRS providing the client liability reduction figure as part of a federal grant that it receives. For years in which records are available, the highest amount  the clinic has previously reported was about $572,000 in 2016.

Allan A. Ryan ‘70, a former U.S. Justice Department lawyer who in the 1980s was responsible for finding and prosecuting dozens of Nazi collaborators living in the United States, died at the age of 77.