Issue 24 - March 3, 2025

This past weekend, two National ADR Team Members, Captain Lauren Porfirio (3L) and Emily Garcia (3L) competed in the William & Mary National Negotiation Tournament in Virginia. We are excited to share that Lauren and Emily were crowned Champions, beating 36 other law schools across the country. This was a difficult tournament with 36 teams cut to 12 and then the final two. In a challenging final round against Liberty University, Lauren and Emily prevailed to win the second campions for the NDR team this semester and the second championship at William & Mary law School.

Their outstanding performance showcased not only their skill and dedication but also the strength St. Mary’s advocacy and negotiation training. This takes an entire team to be so successful and we are grateful to the faculty and staff that support our students as they reach these incredible outcomes. Congratulations to Emily and Lauren and the entire NDR team. We are proud of your hard work and tremendous accomplishment! Congratulations Lauren and Emily as the Newest DR National Champions!! The Team was coach by Allen Craddock, Marion Reilly, Sarah Bourland, and Bailey Wylie.

Bar Success: Inside Scoop

Tues., Mar. 4

11:45 a.m.

LC 101

 

Financial Aid Onsite Office Hours

Tues., Mar. 4

8 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Law Library 108

 

1L Workshop Series: What is This Thing Called Analysis?

Tues., Mar. 4

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

LC 105

 

Law School Mardi Gras

Tues., Mar. 4

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Law Courtyard

 

Financial Aid Onsite Office Hours

Wed., Mar. 5

8 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Law Library 108

 

Ash Wednesday

Wed., Mar. 5

12:00 p.m.

Law Alumni Room

 

Coffee in the Courtyard

Thur., Mar. 6

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Law Courtyard

 

Midterm Revival

Fri., Mar 7

5:00 - 7:00 pm

McIntyre's North Star

 

Celebrate Women's History Month!

 

Spring Break Next Week

March 10-14

No Classes

University is open.

 

 

Over this past weekend, the St. Mary's National Moot Court Team traveled to Boston, Massachusetts for the Regional Round of the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition.  ABA NAAC is one of the largest and most prestigious moot court competitions in the country, and includes more than 180 teams in six regions, all competing for one of the coveted 24 spots in the National Finals.  St. Mary's Moot Court Team fielded two teams at the Boston Regional, competing against more than thirty teams from all over the country for one of the four CHAMPIONS spots and a ticket to Nationals. 

St. Mary's 2L team included Richard "Tres" Lyons III, Caitlyn Acosta and Jenifer Velazquez.  The 3L team of Carson Wienecke, Haley Entrop-Ozment, and Mussarrat Rehman were 3-0 following the preliminary rounds and took 10 out of a possible 11 ballots in the elimination rounds, including a perfect 5-0 decision in the championship round.  Carson Wienecke was further recognized as a Top-10 speaker at the tournament.  As a result of these efforts, St. Mary's National Moot Court Team will now compete in the National Finals in Chicago next month. 

This is the fifth moot court championship claimed by the St. Mary's National Moot Court Team this year.  Please congratulate all of these advocates for their amazing accomplishments on behalf of St. Mary's University School of Law.

The National Trial Team competed in the Second Annual National Online Trial Competition Championship consisting of 67 teams from around the country. The team consisting of 3L’s Nicholas Asaro, Joseph Beckham, John Herbst, Natalia Jasso, 2L’s Eliandra Bravo, Andrea Murray McMillan, Dawson Reyes and Jayson Sowell competed in a six round, round robin. The team of John Herbst and Fisk Beckham represented St. Mary’s in the semi-final round. Congratulations to the entire team and to John and Fisk for the exceptional performance. The team was coached by Justice Velia Meza, Meagan Ledesma and Hugo Sanchez.

For the third time this year, the Board of Advocates (BOA) has hosted a regional tournament for the American Bar Association. This past weekend followed up on hosting the Regional competitions for Client Counseling and this weekend we hosted the Representation in Mediation (RiM) competition. We are extremely proud of the dedication of the team in advancing their mission of spreading advocating and supporting the National Team. The ABA is so impressed with our BOA that they have asked if we would be willing to host all of the ABA online competitions next year. This is a testament to the leadership of the BOA and the members who put so much into making sure we put on a fair and successful tournament. Congratulations to the BOA.  

Attention all 3Ls.  The semester is flying by and the the July Bar Exam will be here before you know it.  Come build your own ice cream sundae and learn how you can succeed on the Bar Exam. Get the inside scoop on St. Mary's bar programming and hear from our current Raise the Bar team of coaches and mentors. They have some great insights to share.  Join them on Tuesday, March 4 from 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in LC101 or join us virtually at https://stmarytx.zoom.us/my/elandon. We hope to see you there!

The Office of Academic Success, under the direction of Director Victoria Duke-Dawson, is excited to announce the lineup for our Spring 2025 1L Workshop Series. There are plenty of topics lined up for your enjoyment and development. Workshops are held on Tuesdays from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. in Law Classroom Building, Room 105. We hope you will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and look forward to seeing you there. Don’t wait until it’s too late to utilize this valuable resource!

Join Law Ministry and the Student Bar Association for the Law School Mardi Gras celebration.  Mardi Gras will take place on Tuesday, March 4 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. in the Law Courtyard. 

Use the QR code or the link below to nominate a Mardi Gras Queen & King. An in-person student court will be crowned as well as an online student court. Get your votes in here: https://forms.office.com/r/QrAZYA1B1d

The Fall 2025 Clinic applications are now open. Applications are considered on a rolling basis and space is limited, so apply early. For more information, visit the Clinic website at https://law.stmarytx.edu/academics/special-programs/clinics/

If you have any questions, please email Cyrilla-Lyn Thompson at cthompson17@stmarytx.edu

Check out our new hours for Spring 2025! We have expanded our hours to include additional evening, weekend, and virtual availability this semester. Please be sure to utilize this very helpful resource early on in the semester rather than waiting until a deadline. Our Writing Fellows are eager to serve you. Appointments are highly recommended but walk ins are welcome based on availability and staffing. You may set up an appointment here: https://calendly.com/legal-writing-center.

All students are invited to check out the American Bar Association (ABA) Law Student Event Calendar! This is a fantastic resource to stay informed about upcoming events, workshops, and networking opportunities that can enhance your legal education and career prospects.

🔗 View the calendar here:  ABA Law Student Event Calendar.

Upcoming Events:

📌 Summer 2025 Curtin Justice Fund Legal Internship Program
The ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty is now accepting applications for the 2025 Curtin Justice Fund Legal Internship Program. This program provides a $3,500 stipend to three law students who spend the summer working for a bar association or legal services program dedicated to preventing homelessness or assisting homeless or indigent clients and their advocates.

🔗 Learn more and apply

🗓 Deadline: March 27

Important: ABA Membership Required!

To register for these events, you must be a member of the ABA. As a law student at an ABA-accredited school, you can join the ABA for FREE!

✅ Your membership includes:

Membership in up to five Sections, Divisions, and Forums

Access to ABA Advantage programs

Various resources and content typically available only to lawyer members

🔗 Join the ABA for FREE:  Sign up here!

Once you've completed your ABA membership registration, you can proceed to register for these incredible opportunities. Don’t miss out on expanding your knowledge and connecting with fellow law students and professionals!

Students — during spring break, you will have an opportunity to network with attorneys and judges about career opportunities and internships in the San Antonio legal community.  RSVP is preferred but not required; dress is business casual.

Welcome Leandra Garcia as the new Financial Aid liaison to the Law School. You can meet with Leandra Tuesday and Wednesday in the Law Library, room 108, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (closed 12-1pm for lunch).

Can’t make it Tuesday or Wednesday? You can also communicate with anyone from the Financial Assistance office 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 us at (210) 436-3141 or via email at FinAid@stmarytx.edu.

The Summer 2025 Aid Application will open in February 2025 in the Gateway Portal. We will email you as soon as it opens.

Get your 2025-2026 FAFSA submitted now open at StudentAid.gov. You will use 2023 tax information to complete it.

Externship is expanding.  Check out the above new Externship credit options for this summer and next year. Set an appointment with Director Rivas to start exploring Externship for an upcoming semester. 

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.

The St. Mary's Summer Public Service Fellowship provides financial assistance to first- and second-year law students working in unpaid summer positions. Eligible positions comprise a broad range of public sector employers, including nonprofit organizations and government entities, but excluding the judiciary, and political campaigns. Students must have secured a position with a qualifying employer to work a minimum of 240 hours during the summer to be eligible for the fellowship.

The application is a two-step process: students must first complete the application and then ensure the employer has submitted the agency agreement by Friday, March 28, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Check out CORE for more details!

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

The National Association of Counsel for Children is hosting their first virtual career fair on March 7, 2025, from 11 am - 2 pm CST, for 1Ls and 2Ls looking for a summer internship. NACC trains and certifies attorneys who represent children, families, and agencies; supports a diverse community of professionals; and advocates for policy reform alongside young people and families. Link to sign up for the NACC virtual career fair.

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 Wednesday and Friday 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.

There are many opportunities for private law scholarships, writing competitions, and awards for which law students may apply.  Students may also check AccessLex, a non-profit dedicated to increasing access to legal education, to help law students find the right scholarships and writing competitions totaling almost $300 million in aid.  Be sure to return weekly for new updates.

The USLAW NETWORK Foundation is pleased to share that applications are now being accepted for the 2025 USLAW NETWORK Foundation Law School Scholarship Program. The scholarship program is committed to helping eligible, diverse law students, those who demonstrate a genuine commitment to the communities they come from and have a financial need to achieve their academic and professional dreams.The scholarship program will award $5,000 each for at least 10 students selected by the program’s scholarship selection committee.

For more information and how to apply:

Click here to download the 2025 USLAW NETWORK Foundation Law School Scholarship Program application.

Each applicant must submit a completed application and all requested support materials on or before March 21, 2025, to scholarship@uslaw.org.

 

NEED ASSISTANCE? THE OFFICE OF 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 Assistant Dean Alyssa Leffall by using her Calendly link at https://calendly.com/aleffall. She may also be reached via email at aleffall@stmarytx.edu.

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

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