Mondale Hall at sunset

News

Professor David Cleveland Elected to Serve as President-Elect of the Association of Legal Writing Directors

Professor David Cleveland has been elected president-elect of the Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD). With more than 400 members representing over 130 law schools, ALWD is the leading academic legal writing organization in the United States. ALWD is the ABA affiliate group for legal writing and engages with the ABA’s Council of Legal Education and Standards Review Committee on behalf of the legal writing community.

David Cleveland

Beyond The Classroom:  Public Interest Fellowship Recipients Share Their Valuable Experiences 

Minnesota Law is known for having one of the best public interest law programs in the country. We implement innovative models and opportunities to provide students with valuable legal training and a pipeline to employment, while providing organizations with much-needed legal assistance. Each summer, our students find summer positions in the public interest field in direct legal services or advocacy organizations in Minnesota and throughout the nation. 

Madelyn Cox-Guerra, 3L, Justice Shannon, 3L, and Sara Koste '22

Two Minnesota Law Students Win MSBA Writing Competition

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.

Sierra Grandy and Jasmin Hernandez DuBois

Students in Ronald M. Mankoff Tax Clinic Secure Major Settlement for Client

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.

Students from the tax clinic at federal tax court

2Ls Simon Earle and Dominik Ruch Compete in Final Round of the Maynard Pirsig Moot Court Honors Tournament

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.”

Photo of Law Students Who Competed in Maynard Pirsig Honors Oral Arguement

Minnesota Law Mourns the Passing of Jeanne McCareins, Longtime Friend and Supporter of the Law School

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.

Jeanne K. McCareins

Minnesota Law Mourns the Passing of Jacinta ‘Cinta’ Matagolai Kaipat ’97, Former Representative, Northern Marina Islands

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.

Jacinta “Cinta” Matagolai Kaipat ’97