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Gold & Blue Law Edition Magazine
The nation’s first fully online J.D. students reflect on law school and life
August 01, 2023Scattered across Texas and the United States, 25 students have created the tight-knit inaugural cohort in the School of Law’s Online J.D. program, the first of its kind in the nation.
St. Mary’s Law supports students all the way to the bar exam
August 01, 2023Law school can feel like one hurdle after another. St. Mary’s University School of Law saw a need to extend support to students beyond graduation. In true Marianist charism form, this extra helping hand comes in the form of the Raise the Bar program.
Barrera family builds legacy from San Antonio to Supreme Court
August 01, 2023Both Roy Barrera Sr. and Roy Barrera Jr., along with nearly a dozen other family members, have obtained either an undergraduate degree, a law degree or both from St. Mary’s University. That education took Barrera Sr. all the way to role of Texas Secretary of State.
Three generations of women fulfill law dreams at St. Mary’s University
August 01, 2023With three generations having walked the halls of the St. Mary’s University’s School of Law, the Hon. Carter Casteel said she wouldn’t have entrusted their law education to just anywhere.
Puerto Rican alum finds extension of home at St. Mary’s Law
August 01, 2023Puerto Rico, known for its vibrant culture and history, decadent cuisine, and majestic beaches and mountains, is a tourist destination for some. But for Carlos Chévere-Lugo, J.D. (LL.M. ’17, LL.M. ’18), the U.S. territory is home.
Professor Chenglin Liu’s research serves public health
August 01, 2023You can trace Professor of Law Chenglin “Gary” Liu’s interest in public health back to his early days researching organic foods. Now, he dedicates his career to academic research and learning.
Criminal Justice Clinic students provide support for those in need
August 01, 2023As part of the Criminal Justice Clinic, eight students with the School of Law worked with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit.
St. Mary’s University School of Law faculty in the books
July 18, 2023The St. Mary’s University School of Law’s faculty do more than teach — they also share their expertise in specific fields in publications.
Law grad turned injustice into career purpose
June 14, 2023If you’ve been on campus at the St. Mary’s University School of Law in the last three years, you’ve likely heard the name or been in the gravitational pull of Cody Huffman (J.D. ’23).
St. Mary’s Law student helps marginalized communities
May 31, 2023During her Spring 2023 semester, from the St. Mary’s University campus, J.D. student Leslie Espiricueta was helping fight for a Georgia Innocence Project client who has served 25 years in prison.
Leading Ladies: Patricia Roberts nurtures leaders as the School of Law Dean
May 08, 2023When Patricia Roberts, J.D., first came to understand injustices, she was 12 years old. After finding out that some innocent people go to jail, she resolved to become a lawyer and help right some of those wrongs.
School of Law professor elucidates ethics in the legal field
January 31, 2023Legal ethics expert and professor Michael S. Ariens continuously strives to be the type of author he wants to read. He hopes to be that author who writes the book on the niche topic his readers need most.
St. Mary’s Law graduates nine alumni from one family
January 31, 2023The St. Mary’s University School of Law graduates alumni from all over the world, but the Dowd family from St. Louis produces School of Law graduates en masse.
Nationally ranked Advocacy Program prepares court-ready lawyers
January 31, 2023Walking into the St. Mary’s University School of Law’s Raba Building, it’s easy to get distracted by the numerous trophies. But those awards, earned by the School of Law’s Advocacy Program, represent tournament placements and are points of pride for a program that has produced national champions.
Alumna uses her experience to create judicial clerkships
January 31, 2023The Hon. Marina Garcia Marmolejo is using her experience to create judicial clerkship opportunities for School of Law students. She is a Laredo-based federal district judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Pipeline program makes law school a reality for high school students
January 31, 2023The Office of Pipeline Initiatives finds ways to demystify law school for high school students to make their law school dreams a reality.
School of Law celebrates faculty, staff who have served decades
January 31, 2023This year marks a milestone for several faculty members, celebrating decades of dedicated service to the St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Clerkships add employment security and prestige to law graduate’s repertoires
December 16, 2022St. Mary’s School of Law graduates secure judicial clerkship opportunities through a new clerkship program.
M.Jur. alumnus combines forensic psychology with law studies
December 06, 2022The question that drives forensic psychologist John Delatorre is why an individual commits a crime. He applies psychology to consult on criminal, civil and family law cases in his work. He’ll soon apply his Master of Jurisprudence education to his work as well.
MBA/J.D. student finds nontraditional path to success
November 30, 2022A single teen mom. A successful business owner. And now a dual-degree student at St. Mary’s University attaining her MBA and J.D. Vanessa Ortega has paved her own path to success and helps others find theirs.
Law student founds nonprofit group for young runners
November 16, 2022For his nonprofit Running Down a Dream, Shawn Barnett led a group of 14 school-aged children and their parents through warm-up stretches. Before starting their run, Barnett, a second-year J.D. student at the St. Mary’s University School of Law, tells everyone to set a reasonable, achievable goal for themselves.
Tamales, cafecito and blessings bring the Rio Grande Valley family spirit to St. Mary’s Law students
September 26, 2022The smell of warm tamales and hot coffee bring to mind the warmth and aroma of home for some St. Mary’s University School of Law students.
Graduating J.D. student finds her “why” at St. Mary’s Law
May 19, 2022Rosa Peterson, scheduled to graduate from the St. Mary’s University School of Law on May 21, has donated her time to various organizations during her studies.
The Defining Moment Comprehensive Campaign funds the future of St. Mary’s Law
March 25, 2022Donors to the St. Mary’s Law campaign endowed transformational scholarships and professorships, funded cutting-edge facilities, enabled first-generation student programming and propelled law success efforts.
Defining Moment: Law alumnus expresses gratitude for Catholic Intellectual Tradition
March 25, 2022The emphasis on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, according to Martin D. Beirne (J.D. ’69), means that St. Mary’s University focuses on developing the whole person, not just handing students a degree.
Defining Moment: Thanks to donor, program prepares first-generation students for law school
March 25, 2022Prior to starting at the St. Mary’s University School of Law, first-year J.D. student Majestad Barragan did not know who or what to expect in her classes.
Defining Moment: Law alumnus donates to nurture next generation of lawyers
March 25, 2022Steven Michael Peña Sr. (J.D. ’94), a partner at Davidson Troilo Ream & Garza, PC in San Antonio, feels law students who underperform are easily overlooked.
Defining Moment: Alumnus practices what he preaches through gifts
March 25, 2022John R. Courtney Sr. (B.A. ’61, J.D. ’67) encourages any student looking for a great leadership and educational opportunity to join the Army ROTC at St. Mary’s University.
Defining Moment: D.C. attorney promotes advocacy program
March 25, 2022For Erich Ferrari (J.D. ’06), founder and principal attorney of Ferrari & Associates, the St. Mary’s University School of Law was the starting point for developing his practice as a sanctions lawyer.
Defining Moment: Couple donates to support law student success
March 25, 2022Coll Bramblett (J.D. ’80) applied to many law schools, but only the St. Mary’s University School of Law gave him a chance to become a lawyer, so he took it.
Award-winning Texas winemaker remembers his St. Mary’s Law roots
March 21, 2022Ron Yates (J.D. ’05) owns Spicewood Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country. After being in the wine-making business for 15 years, he’s learned to roll with the bunches.
New St. Mary’s Law professor shares love of puffy tacos, bullfighting and classroom fun
March 18, 2022Even after graduating in 2017 as a new lawyer, Emilio Longoria, J.D., quickly realized that he was drawn to legal issues with no easy answer.
St. Mary’s Law launches the one and only fully online J.D. program accredited by the ABA
March 15, 2022This academic year, St. Mary’s Law became the first law school in the nation to have a fully online J.D. program accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Law journal symposium hosts Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and national immigration experts
March 04, 2022If there’s one thing Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sonia Nazario wanted attendees of the 2022 Immigration Symposium to understand, it’s that immigrant children who come to the U.S. alone face an arduous journey.
Annual symposium emphasizes importance of ethics in the legal profession
February 10, 2022During the 21st Annual Symposium on Legal Malpractice and Ethics held in late January at the Bexar County Courthouse, attendees heard topics ranging from future policies the legal profession could implement to lawyers’ perceptions of themselves.
St. Mary’s Law graduates look to the future
December 17, 2021This week, the St. Mary’s University School of Law celebrated the accomplishments of 50 students. The ceremony honored 22 Master of Jurisprudence (M.Jur.) graduates, 22 Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) graduates and six Master of Laws (LL.M.) graduates.
Students, faculty offer advice for overcoming imposter syndrome
November 23, 2021When first-year J.D. student Julia Awad received her first semester’s grades at the St. Mary’s University School of Law in Fall 2020, she thought they were a fluke.
World Kindness Day is year-round at St. Mary’s
November 13, 2021At St. Mary’s Law, many registered student organizations (RSOs) promote treating others with kindness , including the St. Mary’s 1L Edification Program (SM1LE), an RSO that helps first-year J.D. students adjust to law school life by connecting them with second- and third-year J.D. student mentors.
Five tips for first-year J.D. students
August 20, 2021In your first year of law school, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning. Everything feels so different from your undergraduate experience. The assigned readings never seem to end. Here are five tips I learned as a J.D. student in the Class of 2023 that may help incoming law students find success from the very start.
J.D. students with military backgrounds click with St. Mary’s values
July 28, 2021Despite having no family or connections in San Antonio, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Rachel Barr found comfort in one of the core values of the St. Mary’s University School of Law — service.
J.D. students juggle law school challenges while raising their families
July 28, 2021Law school isn’t easy, but in addition to all of the usual challenges, some students at the St. Mary’s University School of Law must also balance school life with raising a family.
St. Mary’s Law celebrates five-year anniversary of Master of Jurisprudence Program
July 06, 2021This year marks the five-year anniversary of the St. Mary’s University School of Law Master of Jurisprudence Program.
San Antonio’s City Clerk uses Master of Jurisprudence degree to advance her career
July 01, 2021At age 12, desperate for healthy home life, Tina Flores (M.Jur. ’17) fought to be in foster care. Her mother was battling drug addiction, unable to care for Flores and her siblings. Her father was in prison. They had no food, electricity or hope. Even as a child, Flores knew she had to escape the toxic environment and sought emancipation from her parents to begin her life anew.
St. Mary’s lawyer heads new civil rights division in Bexar County
June 30, 2021One of alumnus Daryl Harris’ favorite quotes comes from Charles Hamilton Houston, an attorney who played a role in dismantling the Jim Crow laws: “A lawyer is either a social engineer or a parasite on society.”
Mentor Circles Program connects J.D. students with the legal community
June 30, 2021Last fall, St. Mary’s University School of Law Dean Patricia Roberts, J.D., led the law school in a new effort to partner with its alumni and the San Antonio Bar Association and connect second- and third-year J.D. students with experienced lawyer mentors.
Legal tech CEO invents new approach to common legal service
June 30, 2021Even before becoming an expert on expunctions as CEO of San Antonio-based Easy Expunctions, Yousef Kassim (J.D. ’13) was familiar with the process of removing information pertaining to an arrest, charge or conviction from a person’s record.
After a lengthy pursuit, St. Mary’s alum earns two master’s degrees
June 24, 2021Roberto Ruiz dreamed of earning his master’s degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology (IO) from St. Mary’s University. He made many attempts to get into the program, but after 13 years, he felt the possibility slipping away.
Law student powers through COVID-19, February winter storm, to finish strong
June 07, 2021Rising second-year J.D. student Michael Tucker, from San Antonio, was halfway through his 47-page brief in the Spring 2021 semester at the St. Mary’s University School of Law when he caught COVID-19 and was out of commission for nearly two weeks.
Recent graduate honed legal writing skills at St. Mary’s Law
May 26, 2021For most of her undergraduate career, Rebecca Fuller (J.D. ’21) thought she wanted to go into the medical field. It wasn’t until one of her professors called her into his office and asked her to consider pursuing at least a minor in writing that she realized she had a talent for it.
Graduating J.D. student works toward expanding rights of sexual violence survivors
April 28, 2021In March 2020, Senate Bill 146 was signed into law in Indiana. The legislation expanded the rights of sexual violence survivors to receive trauma-informed care.
Health care professional overcomes personal obstacles to graduate law degree
February 25, 2021In 2016, Becky Keller’s (M.Jur. ’19) husband was diagnosed with cancer.
A mother of two, Keller was about to begin her graduate studies when this news hit. Though she was unsure how to balance everything occurring in her personal life, she knew what she needed to do next.
Military veteran continues to serve community through pro bono work
January 25, 2021Third-year J.D. student and decorated U.S. Army veteran Tanya Burke zipped through the pro bono hour requirement for graduation in her first semester at the St. Mary’s University School of Law.
New dean to build on spirit of service at St. Mary’s Law
January 12, 2021The mark of a great law school to Patricia Roberts, J.D., is weaving values of service into the educational mission, while training skilled, competent lawyers — both ethical and formed in faith.
Pivoting with excellence: St. Mary’s Law adapts in response to pandemic
January 12, 2021This year, the St. Mary’s University School of Law community joined together as never before to meet the needs of its student body and the San Antonio region.
Pivoting with excellence: Law students and alumni unite to provide remote services to health care workers
January 12, 2021Several St. Mary’s Law students and alumni joined an effort by the San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA) to draft wills for health care workers battling COVID-19 on the frontlines in San Antonio this summer.
Pivoting with excellence: Law associate dean hones sense of gratitude through online transition
January 06, 2021This fall, Ramona L. Lampley, J.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, kept students engaged through a hybrid of synchronous and asynchronous components, coupled with multiple assessments and a flipped classroom model.
Pivoting with excellence: Law assistant dean forges new digital connections
January 06, 2021In some ways, going virtual has made it easier for the Office for Law Student Affairs to meet with students, said Alan K. Haynes, J.D., Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs. Setting up meetings with students before could be difficult, especially if they lived outside
San Antonio. Even if it’s just a conversation, Haynes will use Zoom instead of the phone to talk to the student.-
Pivoting with excellence: Law externship director helps prep students for virtual practice
January 06, 2021Hustling to move the law school’s Externship Program online by summer, Amanda Rivas (J.D. ’09), Director of Externships, said her main focus was on supporting externship supervisors and externs as they switched to remote working environments, ensuring that students would continue to receive challenging work and feedback.
Pivoting with excellence: Law associate dean brings legal topics into focus through online instruction
January 06, 2021Even before COVID-19 hit, Colin P. Marks, J.D., Associate Dean for Graduate and Summer Programs and Ernest W. Clemens Professor of Law, was certified to teach classes online. So, when he pivoted his approach mid-semester last spring, his students continued to learn through short video lectures with quizzes and a once-a-week Zoom session to discuss learning objectives and questions.
Pivoting with excellence: All-star professor leads the way for national virtual advocacy competitions
January 06, 2021The day that A.J. Bellido de Luna, J.D., Hardy Director of Advocacy and Service Professor, was supposed to cancel the St. Mary’s University School of Law’s Lone Star Classic for the fall, three other advocacy competitions had been canceled.
Law alumna creates paths for the overlooked and underserved
January 05, 2021Law alumna creates paths for the overlooked and underserved. After a 20-year law career, Raquel Tamez (J.D. ’98) set on a new course as CEO of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).
Big Solve: Housing as a Human Right
July 02, 2020Before the COVID-19 pandemic, on any given day in the Bexar County court system, you could find a long line of unrepresented tenants and homeowners about to lose their homes. The outcome was almost certain. Tenants would be evicted. Homeowners would be foreclosed.
School of Law project aids the wrongfully convicted
June 17, 2020It took 15 years in prison to understand who she was, but Gricelda Moreno knows — she is strong, she has found her faith and she understands what domestic abuse is.
Colorado lawyer fights to bring high-speed internet to rural America
June 17, 2020In some parts of rural Colorado, access to high-speed internet could look like a trip to the local Walmart parking lot or the public library, a barrier which can affect access to justice.
Assistant Dean of Law Admissions experiences a defining moment with new J.D. students every fall
April 22, 2020As the School of Law’s Assistant Dean of Admissions, Cathy Casiano says her favorite time of year is seeing the new faces of each fall’s incoming J.D. class.
Donations help put School of Law vision within grasp
November 19, 2019The St. Mary’s University School of Law challenges each of its students to become knowledgeable and skilled leaders in the law, working to improve their community through justice.
Gifts to the Law Success Program help boost legal education
November 19, 2019The mission of the Law Success Program is to help prepare students for success in school, on the bar exam and in practice. To accomplish this mission, the program takes an innovative, data-driven approach to student growth by using assessments and data gathering to plan legal skills development, bar exam initiatives and individual academic counseling.
Multitalented law alum rises to the top of his field
November 13, 2019Claude Ducloux (J.D. ’76) of Austin is all these things but, most of all, he is the “Dear Abby” for lawyers who need advice on handling sensitive situations. He educates more than 900 attorneys each month through a legal education webcast.
Law professor champions civil rights, education issues
November 13, 2019The public school education finance case, Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, had previously been won at the district court level, but was overturned by the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas. Now, it was before the Supreme Court of Texas in 1989.
Distinguished alumna has volunteered with St. Mary’s for more than 20 years
June 26, 2019As a board-certified commercial real estate lawyer, Sara E. Dysart (B.A. ’74, J.D. ’81) is as comfortable making deals as she is baking up shellfish at Fiesta Oyster Bake year after year.
Law student who gives back surprised with custom suit in return
June 21, 2019When third-year St. Mary’s University School of Law student Tanisha Taylor walked into the Patel Gaines San Antonio law office for a small reception last week, the last thing she expected was that she’d be fitted for a custom-tailored suit.
Law Commencement student speaker succeeds despite personal trials
May 13, 2019Though John Brown’s heart is set on a future in trial law after he graduates from the St. Mary’s University School of Law this week, he will take across the commencement stage the personal trials that have been part of his journey — the loss of his brother and father.
NFL agent has represented more than 400 players
March 12, 2019Jordan Woy (J.D. ’87) negotiated his first major league contract while attending St. Mary’s University School of Law. The contract was for now-retired Major League Baseball left fielder Pete Incaviglia, making Incaviglia one of a handful of players to ever get a major league contract straight out of college.
Law student launches workshop for adults with disabilities and their families
March 12, 2019For most people, adulthood is a seamless transition. When someone turns 18 in Texas, in the eyes of the law they can sign a contract, make their own medical decisions, get married and vote, among many other things.
Former college footballer leads discussions on sports law, legal civility
March 12, 2019Professor of Law David Grenardo, J.D., invites students to pray before class. At the end of the prayer, he asks them to treat each other with dignity and respect.
St. Mary’s Law Journal celebrates 50th year
March 12, 2019For the past 50 years, the St. Mary’s Law Journal has been punching well above its weight class, becoming one of the most influential legal journals in the nation.
LL.M. graduate fulfills his calling to help immigrants
March 11, 2019His father worried when Andrei Aranda (LL.M. ’17) told him he was leaving home to further his legal education in the United States. Aranda, who grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico, was already trained as an attorney there but felt a calling to help Mexican and Latin American immigrants navigate the complex U.S. immigration system.
Assistant AG sets legal precedent in Saipan
November 13, 2018When Jonathan Robert “Robby” Glass Jr. graduated from the St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2012, the last place he thought he would end up was on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
D.C. attorney wields sanctions expertise
November 08, 2018From his sanctions law practice perched on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., Erich Ferrari (J.D. ’06) is always upfront with his clients, even if he knows they won’t always be happy with what he has to say.
Fourth Court Chief Justice leads statewide committee of chief justices
November 08, 2018In her first year of study at the St. Mary’s University School of Law, Chief Justice Sandee Bryan Marion (J.D. ’80) of the Fourth Court of Appeals almost dropped out. She had awful anxiety about public speaking.
Law Assistant Dean races in every state
November 08, 2018After finishing his first marathon in 2002, St. Mary’s University School of Law Assistant Dean Mike Barry, J.D., swore he would never run another.
Professor leads law students in immigration courts, detention centers
November 06, 2018Arguing cases in immigration court. Visiting clients detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Filing court motions. Building evidence. Reuniting families.
Runaway carnival worker becomes attorney of international reputation
July 12, 2018Dallas-based attorney John Barr keeps a few things on his desk: his mother’s cards, photos of his daughter, a photo of St. Louis Hall and a card from the late Rev. Louis Reile, S.M. (B.A. ’49), a former Associate Professor of English at St. Mary’s University.
Law student juggles motherhood, volunteering, work
June 12, 2018St. Mary’s University School of Law student Aisha Denis (B.A. ’17) — a single mom and frequent volunteer — knows a bit more about time management than the average J.D. student.
Law student’s art book brightens futures for refugees
April 16, 2018When the Syrian refugee crisis seemed to reach its peak, future St. Mary’s University School of Law student Annie Bright felt compelled to do something. One particular scene shown on TV struck her: a mother and her children gathering necessities from the remains of an apartment, badly damaged by a bomb.
Privacy Pioneer
March 22, 2018Before becoming a cybersecurity business lawyer in Austin, Rogers was the first chief privacy officer for the State of Texas. She created the Statewide Information Privacy Advisory Council, which is now the Statewide Information Security Advisory Committee (SISAC).
Bow ties in Burma
March 22, 2018Until recently, the teaching of political science in Myanmar had been banned for five decades. That is why South Texas Professor of Law and Fulbright Scholar Vincent R. Johnson, J.D., LL.D., considers his stay in the country such a treat.
The Mighty Pen
March 22, 2018Twenty years ago, six second-year J.D. students shared a vision: Create a law review, a scholarly journal focusing on legal issues facing minorities, to “give a voice to the voiceless,” as their mission states.
Law professor takes world of Bitcoin and blockchain
December 14, 2017Angela Walch, J.D., Associate Professor of Law, calls herself “a questioner and a critic” when it comes to the overhyped world of cryptocurrencies (think: Bitcoin) and the underlying record-keeping system behind them, known as blockchain technology.
Serving those who have served
December 14, 2017When combat veteran Marine Sgt. Nestor Lopez returned to civilian life in his early 20s, he found himself faced with some harsh realities.
St. Mary’s Law embarks on largest campaign with University
December 13, 2017The St. Mary’s University School of Law turned 90 years old in 2017. As we celebrate this benchmark and look ahead to our centennial, we are aware of our responsibilities to our alumni, to our students, to the law and to our Catholic and Marianist mission.
New Law Success Program carves out national niche
December 13, 2017Boosting scores on law school tests. Improving bar exam results. Gaining skills to last a career. Helping students achieve academic excellence and serve justice.
Law students contribute thousands of pro bono hours
November 06, 2017Even before licensure, St. Mary’s Law students have made pro bono legal aid a part of their practice.
Triple St. Mary’s alum tackles law school while leading oncology group
September 11, 2017As Patrick Magallanes walked around St. Mary’s University as a re-enrolled undergraduate student in Fall 1998, he couldn’t help but feel emotional.
Courtroom Juggernauts
July 12, 2017When Sophia George began her legal studies at St. Mary’s University School of Law, she was set against doing litigation work after graduation.
From Prosecutor to Priest: Law alumnus Jason Martini follows his faith
March 15, 2017The Rev. Jason Martini (J.D. ’02) sensed a calling to join the priesthood from an early age. He remembered first feeling the pull after First Communion when he started serving at Mass.
Unique seminar prepares law students for child abuse cases
March 15, 2017The St. Mary’s School of Law began piloting an innovative course this spring that teaches law students about issues related to representing clients in the abuse and neglect docket of Bexar County’s Children’s Courts Division.
Law alums use unique method to ease destructive nature of divorce
December 01, 2016In a perfect world, the services of John and Laura Roach would not be needed. But as a district court judge and a family law attorney, respectively, they know that’s far from reality.
Law Success Instructor plays with fire
December 01, 2016Clegg, a Law Success Instructor at the School of Law, said fire hooping helped keep her sane during her own law school experience.
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