From Dean Sara - March 11, 2022
As you all saw last week, it is an exciting time at the law school. We have completed our dean search and I’m am so thrilled that UNLV has named Leah Chan Grinvald the next dean of Boyd. Dean Grinvald is a nationally recognized intellectual property scholar and professor and is currently the associate dean for academic affairs at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. She will also be the first Asian American to lead the UNLV Boyd School of Law. We look forward to welcoming Dean Grinvald when she officially joins Boyd on July 1. Please click here if you would like to learn more about Boyd’s sixth dean and thanks to all of you for your participation in the dean search process.
Believe it or not, it is also the halfway point of the semester, which means it is time for spring break next week. Before we all head off for some well-deserved rest (and maybe a bit of studying and work, too), I want to share a few updates from around the law school:
- I want to again congratulate the leaders of the Public Interest Law Association (PILA) on the 23rd Annual Silver State Auction, which raised more than $76,000 to fund law students’ public interest work. Thanks again to PILA President Mary ("Kate") Groesbeck, Executive Vice President Robert John ("RJ") Lemus, Vice President of the Auction Jessica Recarey-Valenzuela, VP of Donations Jaden Braunagel, all of the student and staff event, and everyone who donated to PILA to support our law students.
- Spring is also mock trial season, and our students are busy competing at home and around the country. Last weekend Boyd hosted the Nevada Justice Association 1L Mock Trial Competition where a record number of competitors competed in four rounds over two days, presenting both the plaintiff and defense side in a wrongful death case. Congratulations to the first place team, which included Chase Christensen, Alexander Provan, Ben Reber, and John Sandoval, and to all of the other competitors, student leaders, and guest judges who made the competition a success.
Finally, I would like to invite you to join us for several upcoming events at the law school:
- On Monday, March 21 at 6 p.m., we will hold our 17th Annual Philip Pro Lecture in Legal History. This year, we are thrilled to welcome Professor William J. Novak, Charles F. and Edith J. Clyne Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School, who will speak on "New Democracy: Law Reform and Statebuilding in Progressive-Era America," based on his book, published this month by the Harvard University Press. This event, which will take place in the Thomas & Mack Moot Court and will be simultaneously broadcast on Zoom, is approved for one (1) Nevada CLE credit. Click here to RSVP.
- On Friday, April 8 at 11am, please join us for our half-day “Prosecution Symposium.” Local and national stakeholders and experts will discuss the national trends in prosecution that have sparked debate about the role of the prosecutor in setting charging priorities, reducing incarceration, increasing diversion, removing racial disparities, and reforming litigation techniques. This symposium, which will take place in the Thomas & Mack Moot Court and will be simultaneously broadcast on Zoom, is approved for five (5) Nevada CLE credits. Click here to RSVP.
- On Monday, April 25 at 5 p.m., the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution will hold the annual Chris Beecroft Jr. Lecture on Conflict Resolution. This year, we are excited to welcome Professor Jennifer Kirkpatrick Robbennolt, Professor of Law and Psychology at the University of Illinois College of Law, who will give a talk entitled “Civil Public Discourse: Some Lessons from Psychology.” Professor Robbennolt will address some of the psychological roots of deep disagreement characterized by public and private discussions of controversial policy issues and some lessons that psychology offers about how we might foster more constructive engagement across those differences. This event, which will take place in the Thomas & Mack Moot Court and will be simultaneously broadcast on Zoom, is approved for 1.5 Nevada CLE credits. Click here to RSVP.