ALL RISE
Student News Frances Daniels, 2L, Gets $5,000 Scholarship from AccessLex Frances Daniels, 2L, was awarded a $5,000 scholarship by AccessLex, a nonprofit organization that seeks to further access, affordability, and the value of legal education through research, policy, advocacy, and direct member and student educational services. Daniels, a frequent user of AccessLex’s resources, received news of the scholarship in a surprise video call from AccessLex officials. “With everything else happening in the world, a scholarship award drawing was definitely not something on my mind and brought a huge boost of joy to this semester!” she says.
Frances Daniels, 2L
Patent drafting team members: (top row, center) M.S.P.L. student Timothy Brennhofer; (top row, right) Carlton Hemphill, 2L, and Jack Graves, 2L; and (middle row, left) M.S.P.L. student Jordan Marsh
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MINNESOTA LAW
SPRING 2021
Student Team Wins Regional Patent Application Drafting Competition, Advances to Nationals A team of four Minnesota Law students emerged as Midwest region champions in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) National Patent Application Drafting Competition. The team defeated Notre Dame Law School in the final round to take the regional championship. As a result of the win, the Minnesota Law team advances to the national finals, which will be held at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, on April 9. The Minnesota Law team consisted of two students in the Master of Science in Patent Law program (Jordan Marsh and Timothy Brennhofer) and two second-year J.D. students (Carlton Hemphill and Jack Graves). The team worked together to draft a patent application and defend it before a panel of distinguished judges. Professor Christopher M. Turoski ’98 coached the Minnesota Law team, with assistance from Jason Harp ’98 and Bernard Cryan, 3L.
Students Make Strong Showing at McGee Moot Court Competition Minnesota Law students and teams fared well at the William E. McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court Competition, which, for the first time in its history, was held entirely online. The 2021 competition was held March 5-6. Student competitors and volunteer judges met in a Zoom courtroom for the arguments. A volunteer “bailiff” was in the Zoom room ready to help with any techrelated questions. In another first, the championship round was livestreamed on YouTube. Best Respondent Brief went to the team of Seth Corley, 3L, Nadia Mezic, 3L, and Navin Ramalingam, 3L. Best overall brief went to the team of Annali Cler, 3L, Tim Miles, 2L, and Will Wright, 3L. Miles was named Best Oral Advocate in the preliminary rounds. The team with Cler, Miles, and Wright advanced to the semifinals. The team with Corley, Mezic, and Ramalingam advanced to the finals, ultimately taking second place. The teams were coached by Professor Jon Lee.
