News (12)

33rd Annual Cooley Golf Classic

Cooley Law School held its 33rd annual Golf Classic at Eagle Eye Golf Course in East Lansing on Monday, June 17. All proceeds from the outing go to support the school's Student Scholarship Fund. Winning teams include: First Place: Barnes & Thornburg team of Rob LeFevre, Peter Medmea, Scott Dienes, and Brian Bemis. Second Place: DK Security team of DJ Benedict, Johnny Kendall, Zach Simmons, and Jake Wolffis. Third Place: Cooley Law School student team of Chuck Bloomfield, Jamie Linnell, John Carley, and Marc McDonald. Jun 21 2024

Kimble's Latest Children's Book

Joseph Kimble, a distinguished professor emeritus at Cooley Law School, recently published the second of his Mr. Mouthful children’s books: “Mr. Mouthful and the Monkeynappers.” Mr. Mouthful is a fan of big words that kids can’t understand, leading to one misadventure after another. In the new book, his hotshot pet monkey, Dupree, goes on a romp and gets into big trouble – only to have kids come to the rescue, as they did in the first book, “Mr. Mouthful Learns his Lesson.” The second installment of Mr. Mouthful has received stellar reviews: Kirkus: a "comical sequel" and "fun read-aloud." Booklife (Publisher's Weekly): a "frolicking romp of adventure, excitement, and, above all the pleasure of learning unusual words." Forward Clarion: "Bountiful physical comedy and jaunty wordplay results in considerable charm" (four stars). The first Mr. Mouthful book, published in 2017, won several awards and was described by the National Parenting Center as “a book you will fall in love with.” Kimble regularly visits elementary schools with this message: “You’ll never be sorry if you learn to love words.” He would be happy to hear from teachers who would like to schedule a visit this fall. For more about the books, including testimonials from teachers and students, visit www.mrmouthful.com. Kimble taught legal writing at Cooley for 30 years, and many people will be familiar with his advocacy for plain legal language. He has been the editor of the Plain Language column in the Michigan Bar Journal for 36 years; just published the second edition of his book Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please: The Case for Plain Language in Business, Government, and Law; and in 2023 won the State Bar’s Roberts P. Hudson award. He also served as drafting consultant on the projects to rewrite the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Evidence, and Bankruptcy Procedure, as well as the Michigan Rules of Evidence. Jun 25 2024

Cooley Graduate Wins Florida Bar Scholarship

Cooley Law School graduate Sarah Tanner is one of four recipients to receive the Florida Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section Scholarship. She received the $2,500 scholarships during the annual Florida Bar Convention held June 20-21 in Orlando. The annual scholarship is awarded to students or law school graduates who have shown dedication to and interest in the criminal justice system as trial and appellate practitioners. Tanner, who graduated in spring 2024 in the Antonin Scalia Class from Cooley, is planning to serve as an assistant state attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit, where she worked as a certified legal intern. She is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, and the Federal Bar Association. She is planning to take the bar exam in July. While at Cooley, Tanner was the executive managing editor for the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review and an affiliate student representative for The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division. In addition to the Florida Bar scholarship, she previously received the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review Dawn C. Beachnau Award, the Thomas M. Cooley Alumni Memorial Scholarship, and the Thomas M. Cooley Merit-Based Scholarship. Jul 01 2024

Cooley Law School Professors Part of Access Lex Institute's Initiative to Prepare for Nextgen Bar Exam

LANSING, Mich. and TAMPA, Fla. — Cooley Law School is among seven law schools participating in the research and development of AccessLex Institute’s Building Bar Skills Modules to bridge the gap between standard methods of legal education and future approaches of legal training to prepare law schools for the NextGen bar exam. Cooley Law School Associate Professor and Director of Academic and Student Services Matthew Marin and Cooley Professor Brad Charles are building the institute’s bar skills modules for contracts and sales. AccessLex Institute launched its Building Bar Skills Initiative in May 2023 with the sole purpose of preparing its member law schools for the NextGen bar exam. The initiative, led by the institute’s Center for Legal Education Excellence®, represents a research and development investment into future methods of bar preparation. “We are proud to be part of the AccessLex Module Building Team, which is at the forefront of supporting law school professors in preparing students for the NextGen Bar Exam,” said Charles. “Unlike the traditional bar exam, the NextGen Bar Exam focuses on equipping students with the skills needed for the practice of law.” Aside from Cooley Law School, module building teams for 2024-2025 consist of doctrinal and skills faculty and staff from seven law schools throughout the nation, including Seattle University School of Law, University of Dayton School of Law, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, University of Richmond School of Law, Wake Forest Law, and Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law. These teams are developing and testing innovative curriculum units that expand upon the existing offering of Bar Skills Modules. Complete with student learning outcomes, assessment materials, and professor guides, Bar Skills Modules equip law faculty and instructors with the easily-adopted assignments for use in doctrinal courses that are designed to prepare for the skills tested on the NextGen bar exam. “The learning modules are designed with this purpose in mind, ensuring students are well-prepared for real-world legal practice,” said Marin. “All in all, because this aligns with Cooley's goal to empower Future Ready attorneys, this is an exciting project to be a part of.” Cooley Law School was founded on a mission of equal access to a legal education and offers admission to a diverse group of qualified applicants across the country. Since the law school's founding in 1972, Cooley has provided a modern legal education to more than 21,000 graduates, teaching the practical skills necessary for a seamless transition from academia to the real world. An independent, non-profit law school, accredited by both the American Bar Association and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Cooley holds classes year-round at its Michigan and Florida campuses. Oct 23 2024

Cooley Law School Expungement Fair Helps 67 Individuals

LANSING, Mich. – On Oct. 18, Cooley Law School held an expungement fair to aid in the removal of certain arrests and convictions from qualifying individuals’ public criminal records. ❮ ❯ During the fair, volunteer attorneys and law students under the supervision of licensed attorneys assisted guests with their expungement paperwork. During the event, 67 individuals were qualified to receive assistance. Through the pre-registration process nearly 140 individuals were screened to see if they qualified before the date of the expungement fair. Michigan law has always allowed for expungements, but the “Clean Slate” legislation enacted in 2020 made more individuals and offenses eligible for expungement. Under the law, individuals with up to three expungement-eligible felonies and any number of misdemeanors can have their records expunged. Certain traffic violations and first-time operating while intoxicated offenses can be expunged. Additionally, misdemeanor marijuana convictions that would not have been considered crimes after recreational marijuana was legalized in Michigan can be expunged. Expungement removes arrests and convictions from a person’s public criminal record, which makes prior convictions inaccessible to employers or landlords. Cooley Law School was founded on a mission of equal access to a legal education and offers admission to a diverse group of qualified applicants across the country. Since the law school's founding in 1972, Cooley has provided a modern legal education to more than 21,000 graduates, teaching the practical skills necessary for a seamless transition from academia to the real world. An independent, non-profit law school, accredited by both the American Bar Association and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Cooley holds classes year-round at its Michigan and Florida campuses. Oct 31 2024

Cooley Law School's Innocence Project to Host Viewing of "Wronged"

On Wednesday, November 13, at 5:15 p.m., the Cooley Law School Innocence Project will host a viewing of the film “Wronged The Maurice Carter Story.” The event is free and open to the public. Carter was wrongfully convicted in 1976 for a non-fatal shooting in Benton Harbor. He was sentenced to life without parole. In 2004, his sentence was commuted due to his health, but his name was never cleared. Maurice died within three months of his release from prison. This year, the Sentence Commutation Project has filed a posthumous pardon application on his behalf. This documentary not only highlights the injustices faced by Mr. Carter but also traces the inspiring journey that led to the founding of Humanity for Prisoners, an organization dedicated to supporting incarcerated individuals in Michigan. The film features commentary and interviews from the founder of the non-profit Humanity for Prisoners, and Cooley Law School’s Professor Emeritus Marl Mitchell-Cichon, former director of the Cooley Innocence Project. The film also features Michigan exonerees Duane Williams and Kenneth Nixon. Established in 2001, the Cooley Law School Innocence Project is the only post-conviction DNA innocence organization in the state. Since its inception, the office has screened over 6,000 cases and is responsible for the exoneration of nine individuals: Kenneth Wyniemko (2003), Nathaniel Hatchett (2008), Donya Davis (2014), LeDura Watkins (2017), Corey McCall (2021), Nixon, Gilbert Poole (2021), George DeJesus (2022), and Louis Wright (2023). It also helped to exonerate Lacino Hamilton and Ramon Ward, both in 2020, Terance Calhoun in 2022, and Crystal Mulherin in 2024. The project is staffed by Cooley Law School students, who work under the supervision of Cooley Innocence Project attorneys. Those interested in donating and supporting the work of the Cooley Innocence Project can do so at cooley.edu/academics/experiential-learning/innocence-project. WHEN: Nov. 13, 2024, 5:15 p.m. (free and open to the public) WHERE: Cooley Law School, Room 911, 300 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 Nov 12 2024

Cooley Law School Professor Michael McDaniel Honored During Ingham County Bar Association Annual Dinner

LANSING, Mich. – On Nov. 14, Cooley Law School Professor Brigadier General (Ret.) Michael McDaniel was awarded the Theodore W. Swift Civility Award during the 130th annual Ingham County Bar Association Dinner. The event was held at the Crowne Plaza in Lansing. The Theodore W. Swift Civility Award is presented to a member of the Ingham County Bar Association who has distinguished themselves by manifesting civility in their relations with the Bench, Bar, clients, and the public while adhering to and advancing the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession. The award recognizes skill and success in practicing one’s profession while at the same time exhibiting that civility and collegiality may co-exist and contribute to overall and long-term success. Cooley Law School was founded on a mission of equal access to a legal education and offers admission to a diverse group of qualified applicants across the country. Since the law school's founding in 1972, Cooley has provided a modern legal education to more than 21,000 graduates, teaching the practical skills necessary for a seamless transition from academia to the real world. An independent, non-profit law school, accredited by both the American Bar Association and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Cooley holds classes year-round at its Michigan and Florida campuses. Nov 18 2024

Kimble Center for Legal Drafting to Co-host Clear-Legal-Writing Webinar

The public may register for the Nov. 14 virtual event online. LANSING, Mich. and RIVERSIDE, Fla. – Cooley Law School’s Kimble Center for Legal Drafting, in partnership with Clarity International, will host a webinar, "Clear Legal Writing - New Resources, Technology, and Cases,” on Nov. 14. The webinar will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. (ET). Cooley Distinguished Professor Emeritus Joseph Kimble, Cooley Professor Mark Cooney, and attorney Ivy Grey will be the speakers. Kimble will present “Dipping into a new, FREE Book on Legal Drafting,” highlighting portions of his new book with co-author Bryan Garner, “Essentials for Drafting Clear Legal Rules.” The techniques outlined in their book, many of which are not widely known, are applicable to any type of legal drafting. The book is free and available online at Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Cooney will speak about “How Legalese Jeopardizes Enforceability: New Court Cases,” discussing recent cases in which courts refused to enforce documents bogged down by legalese and poor design. The cases show that lawyers who think they’re playing it safe by recycling traditional legal forms are doing just the opposite: they’re taking on unnecessary risk. “When attorneys present cases loaded with legal jargon, they are really doing a disservice to themselves in the courtroom,” said Cooney. “Judges are swamped. They don’t have time to sift through cases cluttered with legal ambiguity and thoroughly review and understand them. Serving judges with clear and concise information – in plain language – will only strengthen your case to your advantage.” Grey is the creator of American Legal Style for PerfectIt, a proofreading software. She will focus on “Connecting Technology Training and Substantive Legal-Writing Skills,” providing a clearer view of generative AI’s potential – and limitations – for tomorrow’s legal writers, while sharing insights on other technologies and strategies for producing clear, forceful language. Media and the public may register for the event through Webex. WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 WHERE: Virtual Event REGISTER: Online Cooley Law School was founded on a mission of equal access to a legal education and offers admission to a diverse group of qualified applicants across the country. Since the law school's founding in 1972, Cooley has provided a modern legal education to more than 21,000 graduates, teaching the practical skills necessary for a seamless transition from academia to the real world. An independent, non-profit law school, accredited by both the American Bar Association and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Cooley holds classes year-round at its Michigan and Florida campuses. CONTACT: Tyler Lecceadone SeyferthPR 1-800-435-9539 Lecceadone@seyferthpr.com Oct 18 2024

Cooley Law School's Innocence Project Receives $600,000 Grant from the Department of Justice

LANSING, MICH. – The Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded the Cooley Law School Innocence Project (CLSIP) $600,000 in grant funding to screen post-conviction claims of innocence and provide community outreach and wrongful conviction education to underserved communities. The three-year grant will allow CLSIP to continue its partnerships with the Wayne County Conviction Integrity and the Attorney General's Conviction Integrity Units (CIU). In addition, the grant will expand partnerships with other agencies such as the State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) and the other local county conviction integrity units. The goal of CLSIP working with Wayne County’s and the Attorney General’s Conviction Integrity Units and other local CIUs is to review and investigate innocence claims involving unreliable forensic practices uniformly and efficiently for all of Michigan’s in 83 counties. “This continued funding will support timely case review and post-conviction DNA and forensic testing statewide. By tracking the factors that contribute to wrongful convictions, corrective policies can be developed, and the criminal justice system improved,” said Ann Garant, managing attorney for Cooley Law School’s Innocence Project. “We are pleased that the Department of Justice continues to recognize this important work and agrees to support our partnerships and help fund our efforts to free Michigan citizens who have been wrongfully convicted.” In 2019, CLSIP received funding through the Upholding the Rule of Law grant and received and additional $300,000 from the DOJ in 2021. Those original funds allowed for reviewing criminal convictions for forensic errors and tracking data to improve the criminal justice system. The new funds received will be used for a full-time attorney, file clerk, experts, investigators and forensic/DNA testing. Additionally, the CLISP will expand efforts to reach underserved communities and spread awareness about wrongful convictions, their impacts, and what can be done to help prevent wrongful convictions. Since 2017, CLSIP has partnered with the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit to screen cases in which unreliable forensic practices contributed to wrongful conviction. Established in 2001, CLSIP is the only post-conviction DNA innocence organization in the state. Since its inception, the office has screened over 6,000 cases and is responsible for the exoneration of nine individuals: Kenneth Wyniemko (2003), Nathaniel Hatchett (2008), Donya Davis (2014), LeDura Watkins (2017), Corey McCall (2021), Nixon, Gilbert Poole (2021), George DeJesus (2022), and Louis Wright (2023). It also helped to exonerate Lacino Hamilton and Ramon Ward, both in 2020, Terance Calhoun in 2022, and Crystal Mulherin in 2024. To learn more about the funding https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/awards/15pbja-24-gg-02891-wrng To learn more about the Cooley Law School Innocence Project https://www.cooley.edu/academics/experiential-learning/innocence-project Cooley Law School was founded on a mission of equal access to a legal education and offers admission to a diverse group of qualified applicants across the country. Since the law school's founding in 1972, Cooley has provided a modern legal education to more than 21,000 graduates, teaching the practical skills necessary for a seamless transition from academia to the real world. An independent, non-profit law school, accredited by both the American Bar Association and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Cooley holds classes year-round at its Michigan and Florida campuses. Oct 16 2024

Cooley Law School found in compliance with American Bar Association’s Section 316