Latest news with #legaleducation
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Celebration held for KC program eliminating school-to-prison pipeline
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Natasha Scruggs started JustUs when she was still in law school. 'I was working at a juvenile justice court, and I started to see eight-year-olds in handcuffs, and I'm like, 'We got to do something a little bit better than this,'' she said. She says the program has two separate goals, using the legal field to reach two different audiences. 46-year-old woman struck, killed on I-35 Saturday night 'It's a pipeline to help kids who either, if they're in the justice system, get out. If they're not in the justice system, help them become attorneys. So it's kind of a two-pronged approach.' The program has helped hundreds of students over its 10-year history. Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church held their 10-year celebration on Sunday, where students were given certificates of achievement for their hard work and given scholarships as well. One of the recipients is William Workcuff, who's been with JustUs for three years. 'I see myself, God willing, as a criminal attorney, and hopefully in ten years, ten or 15 years, hopefully, I have my own firm,' he said. He said that he's already using some of his experiences in his classwork. He's a sophomore at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. 'I feel like it's really a blessing that this program has been to me, not only through the experiences that I've gotten, but the training that I got that I was able to implement in UMKC Mock trial.' Gladstone home explosion leaves one dead, cause still unknown He also says the skills he's learned are applicable everywhere, not just the legal field. 'Come do this simply not because it's just for lawyers, because it's not. It helps you build communication skills, critical thinking skills that you need that in any industry.' Students have been able to connect with leaders of professional sports franchises, like the Royals and the Chicago Bears. They've been to appellate courts and courtrooms all over the country, making invaluable connections. Scruggs says it's the opportunities she wishes she had as an aspiring attorney. 'The success that I've seen is kind of like my dream, what I would have wished I had when I wanted to be a lawyer,' she said. We asked Scruggs about what the next ten years of JustUs might look like. 'I'm trying to see some more like full-time jobs,' she said. 'So, I'm just wanting to make more opportunities, more students, some more cities involved, more attorneys.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Don LeDuc, who worked to 'remove barriers' for law students and his family, dies at 83
LANSING — Framed on the walls of judicial offices and law firms across Michigan and the country are diplomas that bear Don LeDuc's signature. LeDuc, the former longtime dean and president of Cooley Law School, died on Saturday, May 24. He was 83 years old. Laura LeDuc, his daughter, told the State Journal that her father was deeply committed to providing legal education for people from all walks of life and felt that the law should not be an elitist profession. Helping Cooley to bring weekend classes, after night classes had been allowed, was one of his proudest achievements. "He really wanted to continue the original vision for this school," she said. LeDuc grew up in Lapeer and earned varsity letters in baseball, football, track and wrestling at Kalamazoo College. He was an avid birder and outdoorsman, his family said. He also served on the board of various charities and organizations like Sparky Anderson's CATCH Charity for Children, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership and Capital Area United Way. And despite the busy job and other responsibilities, his son Alex LeDuc said his father still found time to coach youth teams he and his sister played on. "He still showed up," Alex said. "That meant a lot to me. … We did all kinds of sports together. We went Up North and went fishing. I really remember that fondly." Lawrence Nolan, a Cooley grad who's currently the chairman of the college's board of directors, said LeDuc's legacy in the Mid-Michigan legal community is "second to none." "I think he's signed more people's diplomas than anyone," he said. Nolan then told a story from days after LeDuc's death. Nolan was in a northern Michigan courtroom and a judge asked to see him. Back in chambers, the judge pointed to the Cooley diploma on the wall with pride. The judge hadn't yet heard the news of LeDuc's death, Nolan said. "Don guided the law school through some of the most successful years and some of the most difficult years," Nolan said. "He was very well respected." LeDuc arrived at Cooley as a professor in 1975 and served as dean from 1982 until he was asked to resign in 1987. In 1996, a majority of faculty supported LeDuc's bid to become dean once again. He became Cooley's second president in 2002, succeeding founder Thomas Brennan. In 1995, the year before LeDuc became dean for the second time, the school's enrollment was about 1,700 students. By 2010, that number had climbed to nearly 4,000, according to data from the American Bar Association. Cooley also expanded its reach under LeDuc's leadership, opening campuses in Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Tampa Bay, Florida. LeDuc retired from Cooley in 2018. By 2022, the school's enrollment had reached a new low and it now has campuses in Tampa Bay and Lansing. Nolan said LeDuc was also influential in the previous naming rights deal for the Lugnuts' stadium, now called Jackson Field but for years was called Cooley Law School Stadium. "He was involved in many, many things in the community," Nolan said. "Not necessary as a leader in those things, but as a supporter of things in Lansing. A great supporter of the arts." LeDuc and his wife were longtime patrons of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and the Wharton Center, the family said. And both were lawyers who met through their jobs when LeDuc worked on the Michigan Corrections Commission in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His wife Susan Coley worked for the Michigan Department of Corrections. "I think my dad was a really generous guy," Alex LeDuc said. "And he wanted us to do well. He had a strong personality but didn't really try to push us in any direction." And that included law school. Both Alex and Laura said neither parent pushed them into the "family business" of law. But Laura eventually followed her parents' path and got a law degree. Today she's the assistant athletic director for administration at Western Michigan University. Growing up during the early years after Title IX's passage she said there still weren't as many opportunities for girls to play youth sports as there are today. But her father found ways to help her play. "I think what he did was remove barriers in some ways," she said. "He didn't say, 'Accept these options.' He was very happy to have me play on a boys team if I needed to. He understood that I was driven in some ways that he was." LeDuc did not want a funeral or memorial service. The family recommended Stoneleigh Residence and Hospice of Lansing and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra for anyone wishing to make a memorial donation. Contact reporter Matt Mencarini at mjmencarini@ This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Don LeDuc, former Cooley Law School president, dies at 83
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
CUHK Faculty of Law: Pioneering Legal Education with Global Impact and Research Excellence
Distinguished Academic Excellence Innovative Programme Portfolio Research Impact and Global Collaboration Nurturing Global Legal Talent Tajra's postgraduate student life at CUHK has been remarkable: (left) participating in summer school in Genova, (centre) graduating with a Master of Laws in International Economic Law, and (right) having a summer internship at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Professor Anatole Boute's research has greatly contributed to the energy market regulation in Central Asia HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 May 2025 - The Chinese University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Law ( CUHK LAW ) continues to strengthen its position as a leading international legal education institution, offering innovative programmes and conducting impactful research that shapes the future of legal practice across Asia and its establishment in 2004, CUHK LAW has emerged as a truly international faculty, with academic staff from over 20 jurisdictions. The Faculty's research excellence has been consistently recognised, leading Hong Kong's law domain in the UGC's Research Assessment Exercises of 2014 and 2020. Its global standing was further cemented in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, achieving the 48position Faculty offers a comprehensive range of postgraduate programmes, including the specialised Master of Laws (LLM) degrees that respond to evolving global legal challenges. The LLM in Energy and Environmental Law (LEL), launched in 2018-2019, stands as Hong Kong's pioneer programme in energy security and sustainability law. The newest addition, the LLM in Legal History (LLH), introduced in 2022-2023, represents as one of the few global programmes dedicated to transnational legal history Faculty's commitment to research excellence is exemplified through its specialised research centres. The Centre for Comparative and Transnational Law (CCTL) supports collaborative research through eight specialised clusters, while the Centre for Legal Innovation and Digital Society (CLINDS) drives innovative research in law and Faculty's global reach extends to prestigious partnerships, including dual programmes with The Dickson Poon School of Law, King's College London, offering students the opportunity to earn two degrees from world-class institutions in four Faculty's international outlook is reflected in its diverse student body, representing over 60 countries and regions. It also offers students valuable opportunities and resources to collaborate with scholars across various fields, deepening their understanding and opening new avenues for their work. PhD candidate Tajra Smajic, a Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) awardee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed her appreciation for her experience at CUHK Faculty of Law: "CUHK's dynamic research environment and HKPFS support have enriched my academic journey immensely. The programme enables global engagement through international conferences and summer schools, fostering valuable professional connections." Tajra is currently interning at the United Nations Legal Office, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), applying her knowledge in real-world experts like Professor Anatole Boute continue to shape global legal discourse. Professor Boute, specialising in energy, environmental, and investment law, received the prestigious Richard Macrory Prize for Best Article 2021 from the Journal of Environmental Law, Oxford University Press. His research has provided national energy authorities evidence-based suggestions which contributed to shape better energy market regulation in Central Asia while improving the cost of clean energy ahead, CUHK LAW remains committed to advancing legal education and research while fostering global partnerships that prepare the next generation of legal professionals for an increasingly interconnected more information about CUHK LAW's postgraduate programmes, visit: Hashtag: #CUHK The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About CUHK Founded in 1963, CUHK combines tradition with innovation in teaching and research, maintaining strong global partnerships to address real-world challenges.
Zawya
3 days ago
- General
- Zawya
CUHK Faculty of Law: Pioneering Legal Education with Global Impact and Research Excellence
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 May 2025 - The Chinese University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Law (CUHK LAW) continues to strengthen its position as a leading international legal education institution, offering innovative programmes and conducting impactful research that shapes the future of legal practice across Asia and beyond. Distinguished Academic Excellence Since its establishment in 2004, CUHK LAW has emerged as a truly international faculty, with academic staff from over 20 jurisdictions. The Faculty's research excellence has been consistently recognised, leading Hong Kong's law domain in the UGC's Research Assessment Exercises of 2014 and 2020. Its global standing was further cemented in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, achieving the 48 th position worldwide. Innovative Programme Portfolio The Faculty offers a comprehensive range of postgraduate programmes, including the specialised Master of Laws (LLM) degrees that respond to evolving global legal challenges. The LLM in Energy and Environmental Law (LEL), launched in 2018-2019, stands as Hong Kong's pioneer programme in energy security and sustainability law. The newest addition, the LLM in Legal History (LLH), introduced in 2022-2023, represents as one of the few global programmes dedicated to transnational legal history research. Research Impact and Global Collaboration The Faculty's commitment to research excellence is exemplified through its specialised research centres. The Centre for Comparative and Transnational Law (CCTL) supports collaborative research through eight specialised clusters, while the Centre for Legal Innovation and Digital Society (CLINDS) drives innovative research in law and technology. The Faculty's global reach extends to prestigious partnerships, including dual programmes with The Dickson Poon School of Law, King's College London, offering students the opportunity to earn two degrees from world-class institutions in four years. Nurturing Global Legal Talent The Faculty's international outlook is reflected in its diverse student body, representing over 60 countries and regions. It also offers students valuable opportunities and resources to collaborate with scholars across various fields, deepening their understanding and opening new avenues for their work. PhD candidate Tajra Smajic, a Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) awardee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed her appreciation for her experience at CUHK Faculty of Law: "CUHK's dynamic research environment and HKPFS support have enriched my academic journey immensely. The programme enables global engagement through international conferences and summer schools, fostering valuable professional connections." Tajra is currently interning at the United Nations Legal Office, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), applying her knowledge in real-world contexts. Faculty experts like Professor Anatole Boute continue to shape global legal discourse. Professor Boute, specialising in energy, environmental, and investment law, received the prestigious Richard Macrory Prize for Best Article 2021 from the Journal of Environmental Law, Oxford University Press. His research has provided national energy authorities evidence-based suggestions which contributed to shape better energy market regulation in Central Asia while improving the cost of clean energy supply. Looking ahead, CUHK LAW remains committed to advancing legal education and research while fostering global partnerships that prepare the next generation of legal professionals for an increasingly interconnected world. For more information about CUHK LAW's postgraduate programmes, visit: Hashtag: #CUHK The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About CUHK Founded in 1963, CUHK combines tradition with innovation in teaching and research, maintaining strong global partnerships to address real-world challenges. The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Reuters
23-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
More California bar examinees wrongly told they failed, state bar says
May 23 (Reuters) - Nine more people who were initially told they failed California's troubled February bar exam actually passed, the State Bar of California said in an email, opens new tab sent to test takers on Thursday, which Reuters reviewed. Those errors were in addition to the four test takers whose status changed from fail to pass last week after scoring and grading problems were identified. The mounting number of scoring mistakes is the latest problem to arise from the February test, which was marred by widespread technical and logistical problems including computer crashes and distracting proctors. The February exam was the debut of California's hybrid remote and in-person test without the components of the national bar exam the state has used for decades — a change that was intended to save as much as $3.8 million annually. But addressing all its problems for the July exam is now expected to add nearly $6 million in costs. The February exam had a 56% overall pass rate — far higher than the historical average of 35% — after the California Supreme Court allowed the state bar to implement a lower raw passing score because of all the exam's problems. But many examinees have raised concerns over how their exams were graded and scored. The state bar has sued testing platform Meazure Learning over the many tech problems, as have at least two groups of test takers. Meazure has said the state bar is trying to "shift the blame" for the flawed rollout of the test. State Bar Executive Director Leah Wilson has said she will step down in July, citing the botched rollout of the new exam. During a state bar board of trustees meeting on Friday, Wilson said criticism of her handling of the bar exam is "appropriate and deserved" and that she will continue to address the problems through her last day on the job. Read more: California bar exam-takers were told they failed. Oops, they passed. California scraps new bar exam for July, adjusts scores on botched February test
