April 4, 2016 - First Monday
Despite the lingering snow, I am hoping that the spring sunshine is on its way. Nonetheless, as dean of the University of Idaho College of Law, I feel fortunate to be able to report to all our First Monday subscribers the great things happening at our law school.
Professor Angelique EagleWoman to Become Law Dean in Canada
Professor Angelique EagleWoman has been selected to be dean of the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Professor EagleWoman, a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, will be the first indigenous woman to head a law school in Canada.
Professor EagleWoman will leave the College of Law with an impressive legacy. She joined the University of Idaho College of Law in 2008 and was instrumental in the development and success of our Native American Law Program. The emphasis program provides students the opportunity to focus their coursework on Native American Law. Professor EagleWoman serves as the advisor to the Native American Law Student Association and is the co-advisor to the Multicultural Law Caucus. She created and is the coordinator of the Native American Law Advisory Council for the University of Idaho Native Law Emphasis program.
Professor EagleWoman has been the recipient of several awards while at the University of Idaho. These include: William F. and Joan L. Boyd Excellence in Teaching Award, Distinguished Alumni Scholar by Stanford University, Inspirational Faculty Award by the University of Idaho Office of Alumni Relations, Allan G. Shepard Distinguished Professor at the College of Law, and UI Athena Woman of the Year award for Faculty. Most recently, Professor EagleWoman was selected as the 2016 Dr. Arthur Maxwell Taylor Excellence in Diversity Award Recipient.
On behalf of the College of Law, we wish Professor EagleWoman all the best in her new career endeavor.
College of Law Leaps 16 Spots in U.S. News & World Report Rankings
I am pleased to announce that the College of Law climbed 16 spots — to position 111—on the U.S. News & World Report rankings of best law schools in the nation. Our new position is one of the highest ranking increases in the country and puts the College of Law ahead of other law schools in eastern Washington, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. We are the only ranked law school in the state.
While rankings can be one of the many ways to evaluate the quality of a law school, this leap signifies how our reputation continues to grow in a positive direction. There are several factors that caused these positive results, including the rise in median undergraduate GPA and LSAT scores in the fall 2015 entering class as well as elevated employment outcomes for graduates. The median undergraduate GPA increased .03 to a 3.18 and the median LSAT score went up 1 point to 152. The Class of 2014 had an employment rate of 79 percent in positions where bar passage is required or a Juris Doctor degree is an advantage.
Bankruptcy Moot Court Team Wins “Best Brief” at National Competition
The College of Law sent two teams to the Annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition at St. John’s University School of Law. Over 50 teams compete in this prestigious moot court competition. The team with Brandon Holt, Henry Stegner and Steven Atkinson won the Best Brief award at the completion. This team also advanced to the top 16 round of arguments for the third consecutive year.
Special thanks to our team advisors, Ford Elsaesser from Sandpoint and Noah Hillen from Boise. These attorneys spend hours of their personal time coaching our teams. Our students would be unable to compete in these national competitions without the support from our attorney volunteers.
I also want to acknowledge the very generous financial support we received for the Bankruptcy team from the Idaho State Bar Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section, Judge Jim Pappas, Ford Elsaesser and Noah Hillen.
Professor Sarah Haan Publishes in Yale Law Journal
I am proud to share that Professor Sarah Haan’s article “Shareholder Proposal Settlements and the Private Ordering of Public Elections” will be published in 2016 in the Yale Law Journal, one of the oldest and most widely cited law reviews in the country. Professor Haan’s article discusses the intersection of corporate governance and election law. Her scholarship focuses on corporate speech and the First Amendment.
Professor Haan joined our faculty in 2012. She has a B.A. in history from Yale University and earned her J.D. from Columbia Law School. She teaches Business Associations, Advanced Corporate Governance, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Professional Responsibility.
My congratulations to Professor Haan on this impressive accomplishment.
Tom High ’79
I am sad to report that alum and College of Law Advisory Council member, Tom High, passed away March 27. Tom grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho. After graduating from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1979, he practiced in Twin Falls and worked with Benoit Alexander Harwood High & Mollerup since 1981. Tom was a highly regarded trial attorney and frequent lecturer on the topic. He joined the Law Advisory Council in 2010 and was an active member until his illness.
My thoughts go out to his wife Patty, his children and extended family.
Upcoming Events
“Meet the Dean” Alumni Events
Contact Terri Muse at tmuse@uidaho.edu or 208-364-4044 for more information
Monday April 11
Reception
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Nicoll Black & Feig, PLLC
Puget Sound Plaza
1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1650
Seattle, WA 98101
Tuesday April 12
Breakfast
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Davies Pearson
920 Fawcett Avenue
Tacoma, Washington
Tuesday April 12
Lunch
Noon to 1 p.m.
Red Lion Inn Downtown
Olympia, Washington
Wednesday April 13
Lunch
Noon to 1 p.m.
Larkins Vacura
121 SW Morrison Street, Suite 700
Portland, OR
Don Burnett Retirement Event - Boise
April 21, 2016
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Boise – Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center
Law Advisory Council Spring Meeting
April 22, 2016
Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center
Representing Justice: Identify, Politics, and Rights
April 26, 2016
Noon to 1 p.m.
Idaho Law and Justice Learning Center
Northwest Mediation Institute
May 16-20, 2016
Basic Family Mediation – Boise
Basic Civic Mediation – Moscow
Spring Commencement
May 14, 2016 – Moscow
May 16, 2016 - Boise
Mark L. Adams
Dean