Roger Williams University DOCS@RWU Amicus School of Law Publications 4-1-2009 AMICUS (Volume 8, Issue No. 1) (Spring 2009) Roger Williams University School of Law Follow this and additional works at: http://docs.rwu.edu/law_pubs_amicus Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Roger Williams University School of Law, "AMICUS (Volume 8, Issue No. 1) (Spring 2009)" (2009). Amicus. Paper 10. http://docs.rwu.edu/law_pubs_amicus/10 This Document is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law Publications at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Amicus by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AMICUSTHEAMICUS MAGAZINE OF ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW SPRING 2009 answering THE ALL RWU LACW STUDENTS, ALUMNI, STAFF ATTEND OBAMA INAUGURATION, REFLECT ON SERVICE MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Amicus is the magazine of Roger Williams University School of Law, AMICUSAMICUS published by University Communications Vol. 8 No. 1 Spring 2009 and the School of Law’s Office of Alumni, 20 Programs & Events 5 Giving Back… ©2009 Roger Williams University School of Law 16 Friends, President Roy J. Nirschel, Ph.D. In January, our nation witnessed an epochal transfer of power, together with a call to a new era Dean of informed, engaged and service-oriented citizenship. Like the millions of others who watched or David A. Logan Co-Editors attended the Inauguration (a number of RWU Law attendees are spotlighted in this issue), I was Michael M. Bowden, Esq. both encouraged and inspired by this call, not least because those values are already integrally woven Chelsie Horne, CMP Contributing Writers into the fabric of RWU Law. Michael M. Bowden, Esq. In this edition of Amicus, you’ll meet a number of superb examples. One of them, Alberto Meghan L. Hansen, J.D. Chelsie Horne, CMP Cardona ’04, recently became our first alumnus to be appointed as a judge; heady stuff, but he Kristin Howley is using that position to help rescue the community where he grew up, which has been severely David A. Logan David A. Logan Elaine McArdle impacted by the current financial crisis. Also laboring to help solve the mortgage meltdown are Sophia Tiberi Dean and Professor of Law Hannah Welans a group of RWU Law students and attorneys from the Providence office of the leading law firm 16 Answering the Call Director of Design Services / Motley Rice LLP, brought together by our own Pro Bono Collaborative to research and draft new Senior Art Director RWU Law Students, Alumni, Staff Attend Obama Inauguration, Ray S. Talamo Reflect on Service legislation protecting tenants whose landlords face foreclosure. Senior Graphic Designer Then there’s Alison Foley ’04, recently chosen as a Lawyer of the Year by Rhode Island Lawyers Danielle B. Roy 20 Here Comes the Judge… Weekly for her outstanding and selfless representation of some of our society’s most vulnerable Contributing Photographers RWU Law’s First Bench Appointee Takes on the Mortgage Crisis Richard Benjamin, Chris Epperson, C o n t e n t s individuals – recent immigrants, especially those who are undocumented. This issue ofAmicus Getty Images, Andrea Hansen, 24 Confronting a Housing Epidemic highlights the personal and political diversity of our law school family – from Ken McKay ’96, Meghan L. Hansen, J.D., Chelsie Horne, CMP, iStockPhoto, Pro Bono Collaborative and Motley Rice LLP Work to Help David A. Logan, David Silverman, whose formidable conservative credentials have won him a top position on the Republican National Tenants in Foreclosed Properties Peter Silvia, Rupert Whiteley, Committee, to Matt Jerzyk ’08, whose decidedly progressive views led him to create the influential Kathryn Whitney Lucey 28 ‘Everything His Heart Desires’ blog Rhode Island Future, now one of the state’s most powerful Democratic voices. Office of Alumni, Programs & Events Executive Director Rod Alcidonis Overcomes Adversity to Fulfill a Lifelong Ambition The past year has truly been a transformative one for our country and – I think you’ll agree Chelsie Horne, CMP after perusing this issue of Amicus – a transformative one for RWU Law as well. It’s been a year of Communications & Event Coordinator 30 Lawyer of the Year Meghan L. Hansen, J.D. distinguished guests, high bar-pass rates, nationally prominent rankings and ever-growing media Alison Foley ’04 Recognized For Defending Immigrants’ Rights Law Alumni Association visibility. And as our nation rises to “answer the call” – to confront and address the huge social, Executive Committee political and economic challenges we face – I am more confident than ever that RWU Law’s President, Margreta Vellucci ’07 Vice President, Nicole Dulude ’06 students, alumni, faculty, staff and many friends will continue to be a major part of the solution. Treasurer, Robert Pirri ’97 Secretary, Neville Bedford ’03 DEPARTMENTS Immediate Past President, Joel Votolato ’03 Send all editorial inquiries, 2 School of Law Briefs letters, and address changes to: Roger Williams University 10 Marine Affairs Institute School of Law Office of Alumni, Programs & Events 12 Feinstein Institute Ten Metacom Avenue Bristol, RI 02809 13 Faculty in the News Telephone: (401) 254-4659 Fax: (401) 254-4655 32 Law Alumni News and Events For updates on School of Law events, visit the Dean’s Blog at: E-mail: [email protected] http://law.rwu.edu 34 Class Notes http://blogs.rwu.edu/law/dean SCHOOL OF LAW BRIEFS High Bar Pass Rates Law Review Announces and Top Rankings 2009-10 Editorial Board Cap Stellar Year The Roger Williams Law Review has announced its 2009-10 Editorial From sky-high bar pass rates, to Board. Its members are: national recognition of its public interest programs, to ranking among the best • Editor-in-Chief: schools in the quality of its faculty Brian Fielding publications, all topped off by multiple • Managing Editor: interactions between its students and Dana Merkel justices of the United States Supreme • Executive Articles Editor: Court, 2008 was a stellar year for Roger Matthew Watson Williams University School of Law. Scoring an impressive 93 percent • Executive Notes & pass rate among graduates sitting Comment Editor: RWU Law Alum to Direct Melissa McGow for the Massachusetts bar examination – the school’s most-taken exam – Republican National Committee • Rhode Island Editor: RWU Law joined that state’s best- Kelly Noble Kenneth K. McKay IV ’96 performing law schools, tying Boston RWU Law alumnus has been chosen as the new • Notes & Comment Editor: Michael College, and trailing only Harvard executive director of the Republican National Committee, RNC Chairman Staci Buss and Boston University. Steele announced in March. • Notes & Comment Editor: RWU Law grads also enjoyed a “I am excited to have such an outstanding leader become part of our team,” Jessica Schachter 90 percent pass rate on Connecticut’s Steele said. “Ken’s background and expertise will help revitalize the RNC and elect 2008 bar exams, while passing RWU Law kicked off the more Republicans.” • Articles Editor: New York’s July 2008 bar exam at year with an eye-catching ad McKay brings extensive campaign-leadership experience to the job. He Derek Cournoyer a 91 percent clip, despite that exam’s campaign that ran in major national successfully managed Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri’s gubernatorial • Articles Editor: reputation as one of the toughest in the publications, as well as the regional win in 2002, as well as his reelection in 2006. He went on to serve as Carcieri’s Julie Moore nation. In all, 121 May 2008 graduates legal press. chief of staff from 2002 to 2006, before becoming a partner in the Providence office of the international law firm Brown Rudnick LLP. McKay is also a veteran of the • Articles Editor: of RWU Law took the bar in Rhode Dan Morton-Bentley Island, Massachusetts and/or U.S. Army Infantry. Connecticut, and of those 109 passed productivity of the faculties at ABA- relied upon data compiled by Equal “I attribute a large part of my successful career path to RWU Law,” said “There were many well-qualified one or more exams on the first try – and AALS-accredited law schools, Justice Works, a national group that McKay. “I received a first-class education and a strong sense of community that applicants and it was a tough giving the school an overall 90 percent and RWU Law ranked fourth in encourages public-interest programs in has remained with me. My time at RWU helped shape the way I view the legal decision,” explained current editor- pass rate in the states where the vast New England, trailing only Yale law schools. profession, public service and matters of public interest.” in-chief Kim Ahern ’09. “But these majority of its graduates sit for bar exams. University, Harvard University and “This survey validates the centrality “Ken’s commitment to public service is a trademark of a Roger Williams lawyer,” individuals demonstrated, over “The message is clear: RWU Law Boston University. (More information of public-interest values to the mission added RWU Law Dean David A. Logan. “We are confident that his intelligence, the past year and throughout the graduates can match or exceed the on the study, including details of of RWU Law,” said Dean Logan. In training and interpersonal skills will serve him well as he moves from the state to interview process, their absolute performance of graduates from the methodology, can be found at addition, according to figures published the national stage.” commitment to making our Law nation’s best-known and most-established http://law.rwu.edu/ in the 2009 ABA-LSAC Official Guide As Chief of Staff, McKay will be charged with the day-to-day operations of the Review better.