Congratulations to all those who took part in last week’s Society of Advocates 1L Mock Trial Competition, sponsored by the Nevada Justice Association. Thank you to SOA Mock Trial Chair Trisha Delos Santos, SOA President Skylar Arakawa-Pamphilon, and all of the student leaders at the SOA who made this competition such a success. As always, thanks to Robert and Tracy Eglet of the firm Eglet Adams, for their exceptional generosity in support of the Trial Team at Boyd.

Forty-eight 1L's prepared opening statements, direct and cross examinations, closing arguments, and objection arguments as part

In February, the Nevada Legislature convened for its biennial session. We’re particularly proud of our Boyd alums in the legislature including Speaker of the Nevada Assembly Jason Frierson, and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro. At Boyd there is a new student group, the Policy and Legislation Society formed to help educate students about the legislative process and to give them hands-on experience. 

I first wrote about the UNLV Boyd Policy and Legislation Society in October when it held its first Making the Law Competition. Competitors submit bill draft requests that are then turned

Last week, as part of Black History Month, we were honored to present a keynote talk by Secretary Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security in the Obama Administration, and one of our nation’s most distinguished public servants.

This talk is part of the ongoing series: Black in America - Addressing Inequality: Securing Civil and Political Rights. This series is made possible by the Senator Harry Reid Civic Dialogue Program, and brings leading public officials, journalists, academics and thought leaders to the UNLV Boyd School of Law. 

We are grateful to Senator Reid and to Secretary

Boyd Nation now has over 2,500 alums who, in only 20 years, have transformed the bench and bar in Nevada. The UNLV William S. Boyd School of law is delighted to announce the winners of our 2020 Alumni Awards. Congratulations to our award winners:

Distinguished Service Alumni Award, Nicole Cannizzaro '10
The Distinguished Service Alumni Award is given to a graduate who has gone on to exceptional professional achievement through their service to the legal profession, the legal community, and the School of Law. Nicole’s terrific accomplishments include her service as Nevada's Senate Majority

Congratulations to UNLV Boyd alum Mona Kaveh who was featured in the ABA Journal this month for her pro bono work on behalf of foster children in Las Vegas. (Read here) Mona, who is at Kemp Jones, is actively involved with the Children's Attorneys Project through the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, where she represents abused and neglected children placed in foster care. She is also a past winner of the Legal Aid Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award, as well as the UNLV Public Interest Law Association Silver Staircase Award for exceptional achievement in public interest law in Nevada.

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I want to recognize the important work of the University Legal Services Project, a collaboration between UNLV and the College of Southern Nevada. The Project is led by ULS Fellow Michael Shamoon ’19, and is part of the Thomas and Mack Immigration Clinic at the Thomas and Mack Legal Clinics. The Project represents students, staff, and family members at these institutions seeking immigration counsel and DACA renewals. I want to thank Michael for his exceptional work. Some highlights:

• The ULS Project has conducted over 149 legal consultations and representations. Of these clients, 78 were UNLV

On Tuesday, we started a new semester here at Boyd. Here are some upcoming events and some good news:

• The Boyd Chapter of the Black Law Students Association was recognized as BLSA Chapter of the Year by the Western Region of the National Black Law Students Association. Congratulations to these student leaders, and thanks for their continued work and dedication to promoting social justice and equality.

• At the recent annual meeting of the American Association of Law Schools, three Boyd faculty were named to important positions on section committees. Professor Lydia Nussbaum, Director of

For the final Boyd Briefs of this unprecedented semester, I'd like to share some good news from around #BoydNation.

• We are grateful for a multi-year grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians that has enabled the law school to create the Indian Nations Gaming and Governance Program. This Program will hold its first webinar on Monday, December 14. The webinar features leading policy makers and practitioners from around the country, and will discuss the creation and implementation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. For more information click here. This event is free and open to the

I am delighted to share that this week, Nevada has released its first State Climate Strategy and that UNLV Boyd played an important role in creating the Strategy. Five Boyd Law faculty and students, with Deputy Attorney General Dan P. Nubel, comprised the workgroup on Legal Barriers to Decarbonization. Professor Frank Fritz, along with student research assistants Madyson Hinkel and Elizabeth Scheinman, provided legal research and analysis on 17 policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Nevada. Professor Bret Birdsong commented on public lands aspects of several policies, and Nina Garcia

Many have heard me joke that I am single-issue voter when it comes to elections: I support UNLV Boyd grads. The recent election shows the increasing impact the law school has on Nevada as more and more of our alums are elected to serve in the judiciary or legislature. I would like to extend my congratulations and thanks to these Boyd alums who were elected or reelected to serve Nevada. Please note, the list below does not include several other legislators, judges and Boyd alums in the executive branch. This list is only alums who were on the ballot in 2020.

Boyd Alums: Judicial (Newly Elected