NEWS AND UPDATES
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL HONORS BU Law’s International Law Society was named Best All-Around Chapter in the nation for the 2012–2013 academic year. BU’s national affiliate, the International Law Students Association (ILSA), commended the BU Law chapter for collaboration with interdisciplinary organizations, faculty involvement, and the scope and variety of activities offered, noting: “Throughout the 2012–2013 school year, the International Law Society at Boston University has maintained a constant presence on campus through a series of events. Furthermore, the chapter has fostered relationships with several other groups, establishing the values of international law as they relate to other fields, and thus inspiring students to learn more about the group and the practice at large.” At the Awards Gala concluding the four-day Northeastern Black Law Student Association 2013 Conference in January, BU Law’s Black Law Student Association chapter was awarded Chapter of the Year, Northeast Region, Medium Size (25–50
members). “It means so much to be recognized for some of the great things that we are able to do on BU’s campus,” says BUBLSA President Chaloea Williams (’14). The chapter’s activities include a number of events fostering membership support, particularly for the 1L class: a welcome dinner with the Latin American Law Student Association, career panels, an interBLSA mixer with other local chapters, and a mentor program pairing 1Ls with upperclassmen to guide them in academic and professional development. BUBLSA leadership goes beyond the campus, as well. Members work with the Boston Debate League to teach high school students how debate can be an avenue to develop professional skills. “The Student Affairs Office is proud of all the hard work that BUBLSA has done, not only within the law tower but also in the community,” says Brenda Hernandez, associate director for academic and multicultural affairs. Q
BU LAW RANKS #1 BEST PROFESSORS, #5 BEST CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE IN PRINCETON REVIEW 2014
Boston University School of Law is once again on top in the Princeton Review 2014 rankings for “Best Professors,” and has also placed in the top five for “Best Classroom Experience.” This marks the seventh 24
consecutive year that BU Law has ranked among the top three for Best Professors, earning the number one spot a dominant five times since the book began publishing its unique rankings in the 2008 edition.
The Princeton Review 2014 edition notes that students report “almost universally that the dedication of the faculty and administration has to be the greatest strength of the program,” and that “the School encourages faculty-student interaction through numerous mentorship and social programs.” This, in turn, helps with job placements, as do the “stunningly broad range of specialized programs,” including “a fleet of clinical programs and externships in the professionally targetrich surrounding city of Boston.” The book quotes a BU Law student who states, “My classmates and I are consistently considered the top summer interns at our jobs.” “At BU Law, we are focused on the student learning experience,” says Dean Maureen A. O’Rourke. “Our faculty are superb teachers who are dedicated to ensuring that our students receive the best possible legal education.” The Princeton Review’s rankings are based on surveys of 18,500 students attending the top ABA-accredited US law schools profiled in the 2014 edition. Q
PHOTO BY CYDNEY SCOTT
Professor Kate Silbaugh’s family law class