Issue 12 - November 3, 2025

The Dean’s Office invites you to an engaging lunchtime program featuring Danielle Reyes, J.D., LL.M., partner at Holland & Knight and practicing faculty member at St. Mary’s Law.

Topic: A Changing Landscape: Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) Issues and the First Amendment
Date: Wednesday, November 5
Time: 12:15–1:15 p.m.
Location: Law Classrooms Building, Room 105

Professor Reyes is a financial services attorney whose work centers on ESG matters such as responsible investment, corporate social responsibility, and human rights. She has taught in sustainability programs at Columbia University and Bard College, and advises clients on compliance and transactions across traditional banking and financial technology sectors.

Lunch will be provided by the Dean’s Office.

For more information, contact Ramona Lampley, J.D., at rlampley@stmarytx.edu.

SA Food Bank Benefit Application Assistance

Tue., Nov. 4

9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Center for Life Directions Building

 

Bioethics and Health Justice Talk

BLSA

Tue., Nov. 4

12:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Law Alumni Room

 

Lunchtime Discussion ESG and the First Amendment

Wed., Nov. 5

12:15 - 1:15 p.m.

LC 105

 

Bar Success Inside Scoop

Wed., Nov. 5

5:00 - 5:45 p.m.

LC 100

 

Networking Night @ Chicken N Pickle

Sat., Nov. 8

6:30 - 9:30 pm

5215 UTSA Blvd.

The NDR Team continued its tradition of excellence this weekend at the ABA Negotiation Competition, where Anthony “Kash” Maley (3L) and Jessica Lamkin (2L) brought home the GOLD as ABA Regional Champions! Their victory secures St. Mary’s a return trip to the National Rounds in Chicago, as the team looks to defend its reigning national title.

St. Mary’s and the NDR Team’s depth was on full display across the board. St. Mary’s sent 3 teams. In addition to Kash and Jessica, Carolina Villarreal, Kendal Michaelis, Makenzie Ashley, and Alex Quintanilla competed, and went undefeated in their rounds, winning every ballot in all of their rounds, and forcing the competition to go to the fourth tiebreaker—point differential—to determine advancement. We were the only school in the competition to be able to claim such a feat, and this is testimony to the students’ strength and skill, and their training and dedication.

The outstanding performances of all competitors highlight the strength, preparation, and collaborative spirit of St. Mary’s nationally ranked advocacy program. We are proud of our students and coaches for their tireless work and can’t wait to cheer on Kash and Jessica as they represent St. Mary’s on the national stage in Chicago!

The Team was coached by Marion Reilly, Allen Craddock, and A.J. Bellido de Luna.

Congratulations to all.

The Boo Crew

Our campus ministry office hosted its annual Boo Bash, welcoming children and families for an afternoon of fun, games, face painting, and trick-or-treating.

This year’s event saw a record turnout with three children’s shelters and many families in attendance — the most ever.

Kudos to the Student Bar Association for leading a fun law school Boo Bash and congratulations to Section B for bringing in the most candy.

A huge thank you to the Boo Crew and all the volunteers  — students, faculty, and staff who made the celebration such a success. Your time and enthusiasm brought joy to so many — and, as always, the children were the real winners!

Professor Deleso A. Alford is a distinguished scholar, attorney, and advocate whose work bridges the intersections of law, race, bioethics, and health justice. Her groundbreaking 2012 law review article provided the theoretical framework that informed the Henrietta Lacks family’s legal case.

Come see who has the best chili on campus! Who’s going to bring the heat—Student Leaders? Faculty/Staff?

There are many opportunities for private law scholarships, writing competitions, and awards for which law students may apply.

Students may also check the AccessLex Law School Scholarship Database to help law students find the right scholarships and writing competitions totaling almost $300 million in aid. AccessLex is a non-profit dedicated to increasing access to legal education,

Be sure to return weekly for new updates.

Cooley LLP is offering a Diversity Fellowship for 1L law students, which includes a paid summer associate position plus up to $50,000 in tuition-assistance payments.

Applicants must be full-time 1L students at an ABA-accredited law school, expected to graduate in 2028 at time of application.

The award is paid out in three installments:

$10,000 after completing Cooley’s 2026 summer program.

$20,000 if you complete an 8-week (or 4-week under certain circumstances) 2L summer with Cooley and accept a full-time employment offer.

$20,000 as part of your first paycheck when you join Cooley as a full-time associate.

Selection criteria include demonstrated commitment to diversity & inclusion, academic performance, leadership, personal achievement, and community service.

Application materials: personal statement (max one single-spaced page), cover letter specifying office location and practice interest, résumé, undergraduate transcript (unofficial okay), law school transcript (after first-term grades), graduate transcripts if applicable.

Deadline for the 2025-26 cycle: January 9, 2026. Interviews and offers will be made on a rolling basis.

Link: Apply & learn more → Cooley 1L Diversity Fellowship

The American Bar Association’s Forum on Communications Law is pleased to invite law students to apply for financial support to attend its Annual Conference and Media Advocacy Workshop on February 5-7, 2026, at The Wigwam resort in Phoenix, Arizona.

ABA Forum on Communications Law Conference Scholarships

The Forum awards full scholarships to two law students that include conference registration, travel and lodging. The two winning applicants will have a demonstrated interest in media law and/or First Amendment law, as reflected in their transcript and resume. Other relevant considerations include strength of academic record, experience in the media field, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and the justice system.

ABA Forum on Communications Law Media Advocacy Workshop Scholarships

Prior to the conference, the Forum presents the Media Advocacy Workshop, which provides law students and early career attorneys an opportunity to practice their oral advocacy skills, engage in a pre-publication review exercise and participate in professional development activities tailored to them.

The Forum will award the selected students scholarships between $1,000-$1,500 to help defray travel and lodging costs in addition to offering complimentary registration for the Media Advocacy Workshop (valued at $245 for law students) and the Annual Conference (valued at $445 for students).

More information and applications are available online:

Full Conference Scholarship Application– Application deadline November 25, 2025

The Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America welcomes applications to its Sixth Annual Judicial Clerkship Opinion Writing Conference, to be held February 19-21, 2026. The conference is open to individuals who have accepted a 2026-2027 federal clerkship (Article III District Court or Court of Appeals only) or a 2026-2027 state appellate court clerkship. The conference will take place in person on our campus.  CSL will provide funding towards travel and accommodations.

Applications must be received no later than November 30, 2025. 

Details, including application information, can be found at the conference website:  ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­http://law.edu/JCOW 

Students who need accommodations for a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the Office of Student Accessibility Services located in the Center for Life Directions Building, Room 139 (behind the Raba building).

Their telephone number is 210.431.5080, email accessibility@stmarytx.edu or visit the webpage on Gateway at https://gateway.stmarytx.edu/group/mycampus/services/disability-services.

Please refer to the School of Law Student Handbook, §IV.D.5. on Gateway for more information. The priority deadline to request Fall 2025 accommodations is Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

Follow us on Instagram and enter opportunity drawing for cool prizes!
Opportunity Drawing will take place on November 20th, and you’ll also be entered to win cooler prizes in the spring.

The Externship course is a pass/fail course where students can earn up to six (6) experiential learning credits a semester. The course allows law students to gain practical work experience at a nonprofit, government agency, or in-house counsel offices while completing a curriculum that builds key professional development skills. If you are interested, reach out to Director Rivas (arivas@stmarytx.edu) to begin the vetting process. 

For more information about these events or to RSVP, please check the Events section in CORE.

To provide a natural replication of real-world consequences of failing to comply with professional responsibilities, if a student fails to meet the 10- or 20-hour pro bono requirement benchmarks, a notice of non-compliance will be placed in the student’s character and fitness portfolio. If a student fails to meet the 30-hour requirement by graduation, the student’s graduation will not be certified.

More information can be found on the Pro Bono Program’s Canvas page and pages 9-10 of the Student Handbook. Events are posted on CORE. Below is a fillable PDF of the Tracking Form, which includes instructions for submission.

All School of Law students are invited to visit and utilize the Goodness Sake Food Pantry! The food pantry is located near the Office of Graduate Law Programs in the Law Library and is open during Law Library hours. Come visit and see what we have to offer! 

School of Law students may continue to access the Rattler Den food and hygiene pantry located in the Center for Life Directions.

Need help with financial aid-related matters? You can meet with anyone on the Financial Aid by phone, in person, or via email.

Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (closed 12-1 for lunch) and Fridays 12:00 – 5:00 p.m..

Call them at (210) 436-3141 or via email at FinAid@stmarytx.edu.

Website: Financial Aid Office

Financial Assistance Links

Please visit the Graduate Degree Programs for more information.

If you are a Jewish law student at St. Mary's and are looking for an opportunity to engage with the San Antonio Jewish community, simply looking to connect on campus, or are just missing a home cooked Shabbat dinner, please feel free to reach out to  Robert Eichelbaum, Faculty in Residence, via email to reichelbaum@stmarytx.edu. 

The St. Mary’s University community is invited to attend weekday and weekend Masses on campus and at Holy Rosary Catholic Church throughout the semester.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday - 12:15 p.m., Reinbolt Hall, Assumption Chapel

Tuesday and Thursday - 12:30 p.m., Reinbolt Hall, Assumption Chapel

Saturday (English) - 5 p.m. - Holy Rosary Catholic Church

Sunday (English) - Noon - Holy Rosary Catholic Church

Sunday (Spanish) - 9 a.m. - Holy Rosary Catholic Church

Sunday (Bilingual) - 7 p.m. - Treadaway Hall, Guadalupe Chapel (Note:the evening Mass time has changed from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Sunday (English) - 11 a.m. - Reinbolt Hall, Assumption Chapel

Interested in a straightforward teaching of the Bible from the original languages?

If so, you are invited to attend Professor Jeffrey Addicott's "Bible Class." Classes are non-denominational and are held in the conference room at the Warrior Defense Project (LF102B) in Raba.

Class times are 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. Also, on Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 p.m.  Each class is 30 minutes long and covers individual books of the Bible under categorical, isagogical, and exegetical teaching methodology. Bring your Bible.

For more information, contact Alexandra Fagerberg afagerberg@mail.stmarytx.edu.

 

NEED ASSISTANCE? LAW STUDENT AFFAIRS CAN HELP

Do you have an issue or concern, but aren't sure where to go? The Office for Law Student Affairs can help. Students may schedule an appointment with a staff member.

Common topics include, but are not limited to, adjustment to law school, financial challenges, illnesses, and notification of emergencies.

Alyssa Leffall, Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs

Schedule a meeting: https://calendly.com/aleffall

Email: aleffall@stmarytx.edu

Dr. Monesca Smith, Director of Law Student Affairs

Schedule a meeting: https://calendly.com/msmith71-stmarytx

Email: msmith71@stmarytx.edu  

Please click this link  to access the following important School of Law notices:

Disclosure of Character and Fitness Issues (Law School Application Amendments)

- Includes link to form for submitting law school application amendments

Title IX Academic Adjustments for Pregnancy

Law Students with Disabilities

Inviting Dignitaries to Campus

COVID-19 Policy

St. Mary's University School of Law
The Catholic and Marianist University
www.law.stmarytx.edu