Category: Law School News

Two students chosen through a rigorous selection process at Southwestern University of Politics and Law in Chongqing, China, are enrolled in Drake University Law School this year as part of the Law School's efforts to develop exchange programs with Southwestern and enhance international initiatives already in place.

While in Las Vegas last November for a Drake Law School alumni reception, something other than the Strip's legendary flashiness impressed Keith Miller, Drake's Ellis and Nelle Levitt distinguished professor of law.

Jack M. Balkin, the Knight professor of constitutional law and the First Amendment at Yale Law School, spoke at Drake's observance of Constitution Day on Thursday, Sept. 21, to a standing room-only crowd in Room 213 of Cartwright Hall.

Mary L. Dudziak, the Judge Edward J. and Ruey L. Guirado professor of law, history and political science at the University of California Law School, will give a lecture at Drake Law School at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, 2007.

The Drake University Agricultural Law Center hosted a two-day conference in September called "Gardens for All: People, Plants and Policy." This first national effort to examine the impact public policy has on gardening drew an enthusiastic audience of more than 100 attendees from 25 states and nations.

Christine Branstad, LW'94, was recently appointed as director of legal network management and development at ARAG, a leading legal services provider based in Des Moines.

Two third-year Drake Law School students had articles about environmental law accepted recently for publication in nationally esteemed law reviews. Jess Phelps' "Much Ado About Decoupling: Evaluating the Environmental Impact of Recent European Union Agricultural Reform" will be included in the fall 2006 issue of Harvard Environmental Law Review

The Law School faculty selected two students in late spring to receive awards. Brooke Timmer, 2005-06 Student Bar Association president, received the Iowa State Bar Association Award. The award is given to the graduating senior who by service, attitude and ability is expected to be the most successful member of the class in leadership and service to the Iowa State Bar.

Dwight Opperman, a 1951 Drake Law alumnus, has donated $3 million to further endow the Opperman Scholar program. The fund awards five or more merit-based, full-tuition scholarships for outstanding first-year students, and the scholarships are renewable.

A $750,000 leadership gift from Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. is earmarked for a dynamic, new program in intellectual property law, Walker said. "We want the Drake Law School to be a national and international leader in intellectual property law," Drake Law School Dean David Walker said.