LAW IN PRACTICE http://law.wayne.edu/academics/clinics.php

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The First Issue of Our Monthly E-Newsletter

Welcome to Law in Practice

Law in Pract iceWayne Law Clinics at The Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights

Welcome to the first issue of Law in Practice. This newsletter is designed with many different audiences in mind: students, alumni, clients, former clients,

potential clients, and anyone interested in clinical education or the areas of law covered by the clinics.

The role of clinics in legal education has increased dramatically over the past decade. It is a trend that appears likely to continue. The traditional apprenticeship model - young lawyers learning how to practice law from their more experienced colleagues - is becoming increasingly untenable. Law schools have always taught black letter law, but both the basics and subtleties of actual practice were learned after graduation. For a variety of reasons, such a division of labor in legal education no longer serves the needs of students, employers, or clients.

These are developments legal educators take seriously. Law schools across the country are now restructuring the traditional curriculum to increase the practice readiness of graduates. The clinical experience enables students to leave school more prepared to address, not only substantive law issues, but also professional and ethical issues (e.g. conflicts of interest), as well as practical and business issues (marketing, client development).

The evolution of legal education has benefited both students and employers. It has also created amazing opportunities

for the communities in which clinics are located. For Wayne Law students, the clinical program is a chance to apply their knowledge and hone their skills in service of the citizens and institutions of greater Detroit. After all, Wayne State University Law School and its clinics are public resources and part of the fabric of the city. Our students live in metro-Detroit. When they graduate, most of them will practice in metro-Detroit. On issues ranging from immigration to entrepreneurship to community development and the environment, the Detroit metro area and WSU are forever linked. It is only fitting that the first taste of real lawyering for Wayne Law students is here in the City of Detroit.

There are a lot of wonderful and exciting things happening at the Wayne Law clinics, but the clinical program itself is a work in progress. There is room for both new clinics and expansion of existing clinics. We are constantly looking for ways to incorporate the expertise of Wayne alumni. Engagement with the communities we serve is an ongoing process. In short, there is still a lot to do.

Whether you are a law student interested in taking a clinic, a potential client, or an alum interested in sharing your experiences with your future colleagues, please feel free to reach out to us.

-- David Moss, Director of Clinical Eduction

THE CLINICS

BUSINESSES & COMMUNITY Students assist nonprofits, small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs.

PATENT PROCUREMENTStudents work with inventors and small businesses to provide patentability searches, application drafting, and responses to patent office rejections.

IMMIGRATION & ASYLUM Students represent individual clients seeking immigration benefits including, asylum, withholding of removal, U and T visas for victims of trafficking and other crimes, relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and more.

TRANSNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTALStudents work on a range of issues, from climate change and clean energy to water protection and environmental justice.

DISABILITY CLINICAssistance to low-income individuals with disabilities on a range of issues, including social security SSI, health insurance, and special education.

CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION AT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL SUMMER 2012 / ISSUE 1

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Local entrepreneurs and innovators celebrated the July 13 opening of the first satellite office of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), located in the Stroh River Place Complex. With it comes a prestigious new Patent Procurement Clinic at Wayne Law, where qualifying patent clients will get legal services at no charge.

Wayne Law is the only school in Michigan – and among fewer than 20 law schools nationwide – chosen by the USPTO for a participating patent clinic certified as part of the office’s pilot program. The selected schools were praised for their excellent IP curriculum, effective outreach to the community, and comprehensive client services.

David Kappos, director of the USPTO in Washington, D.C., called it “a wonderful program” that is expanding, and said an expedited process is used for patent applications that come out of the participating clinics.

“I think it’s great for Michigan and Detroit and Wayne State to have the patent office in Detroit, and the small inventor community here in Detroit should be pleased,” said Teresa Stanek Rea, deputy director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and a Wayne Law alumna.

The new Detroit office will mean “jobs, jobs, jobs,” Kappos said. “For the first time in history, we are bringing the patent office to the innovation community and not the other way around… We also will be using this new office as a hub of interacting with the university community.”

Wayne Law Assistant Professor Eric Williams, who directs the Business and Community Law Clinic comprising the new Patent Procurement Clinic as well as a small business module and a nonprofit module, is excited about the “incredible resource” the new Detroit satellite patent office will be for his students and for the community. He and other faculty members and alumni worked hard on the application process.

“Given the strength of our faculty and our alumni network, we submitted a compelling application,” Williams said. “The clinic’s close relationship with the area’s business incubators creates a natural conduit for clients. However, I believe what set our application apart was that our clinic’s design encourages students to interact with the law firms, investors, incubators, inventors, property owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, community stakeholders and government agencies that make up the area’s business and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our location in Detroit and our role as a public institution and public

resource give the clinic the potential to support urban entrepreneurship and community development in a meaningful way. These kinds of interactions are invaluable to students who want to learn how to really practice. I don’t think many other clinics can say that.”Wayne Law faculty members worked with alumnus Christopher Darrow, an experienced patent attorney, to draft the application and a syllabus for the patent portion of the clinic. Thomas Helmholdt, another experienced patent attorney, will teach the patent portion of the clinic, which will offer legal services free of charge, although clients must pay filing fees.

“We expect that our patent clients will be similar to the many start-up tech clients we currently serve,” Williams said. “The clinic has been meeting with all the local business/technology incubators to inform them of the new patent procurement services that the clinic is now offering, and to let the incubators know our clinic is now accepting applications for new clients for the patent side of the clinic. We have already met with TechTown, Bizdom, OU Incubator and others. Based on our initial meetings with incubators, we expect our students will be working on some very interesting inventions.”

(Continued)

WSU LAW PATENT PROCUREMENT CLINIC

Wayne Law is first in the state selected by U.S.P.T.O as participating clinic

CLINICAL EDUCATION AT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL SUMMER 2012 / ISSUE 1

USPTO Director David Kappos congratulates Clinic Director Eric Williams on the Wayne State patent clinic's selection for the USPTO Pilot Program.

USPTO Deputy Director Theresa Rea (Wayne Law) speaks at Wayne Law following the grand opening of the Elijah McCoy Patent Office.

LAW IN PRACTICE http://law.wayne.edu/academics/clinics.php

Having the patent clinic at Wayne Law in conjunction with the new satellite USPTO will offer other advantages for students.

“One example is that the clinic and Wayne Law’s patent law program will benefit from having regular guest speakers from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,” Williams said. “Most notably, Deputy Director and Wayne alumna Teresa Stanek Rea has offered to speak at the Law School.”

Another example is that all of our students will be using the new Detroit patent office’s public search room to conduct novelty searches to help identify patentable inventions.“Having a patent office here in Detroit is going to make Detroit a nerve center for the patent law community, just like Detroit is the nerve center for the automobile industry. Detroiters like to say, ‘We hustle harder.’ We also innovate harder. The key is harnessing all that energy, hustle and innovation.”

Facility to Help Speed Up Patent Process and Create Local JobsU.S. Patent and Trademark Office Opens First-Ever Satellite Office in Detroit

Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank and Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) David Kappos, along with elected officials, today participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the Elijah J. McCoy USPTO in Detroit, Michigan – the first-ever Patent and Trademark Office outside of Washington, DC. The new office is the first to open out of four recently-announced USPTO satellite offices that will function as hubs of innovation and creativity, helping protect

and foster American innovation in the global marketplace, helping businesses cut through red tape, and creating hundreds of highly-skilled jobs in each of the local communities. More at USPTO.gov here

WSU Law Patent Procurement ClinicEric Williams, DirectorThomas Helmholdt, Adjunct Professor

The Patent Procurement Clinic (PPC) is the newest addition to Wayne Law’s clinical program. The clinic is associated with the Business and Community Law Clinic, providing students with an opportunity work with inventors on matters beyond patent procurement.

The PPC serves clients on a pro bono basis. Each student performs a patentability search and drafts a patent application for a real client under the guidance of an experienced patent attorney. Students may also have the opportunity to perform patent prosecution tasks such as responding to office actions. The PPC also counsels all clients on the process for obtaining a patent.

Students who have taken the clinic for credit will have the option to continue on with the clinic in the following semesters on either a credit or volunteer non-credit basis. Students taking the clinic for a second semester will develop special projects with the Professor. Students taking the clinic on a volunteer non-credit basis can have their hours counted for the Student Voluntary Pro Bono Program. Students interested in participating on a non-credit basis should contact Diane H. Fears to confirm the number of hours that will count for the Student Voluntary Pro Bono Program – Diane H. Fears, Director of the Student Voluntary Pro Bono Program, at (313) 577-8039 or lawprobono@wayne.edu.

Inventors interested in being a client of the clinic should contact us at patentclinic@wayne.edu to request an application.

Business & Community LawEric Williams, Director

The Business & Community Law Clinic (BCL) is Wayne Law's transactional clinic. The clinic represents both for-profit and nonprofit clients who cannot

afford to pay for legal services offered by attorneys in the private bar. The clinic assists businesses within the city of Detroit and in the Detroit metropolitan area. Among the services the clinic offers are: entity formation, contract review and preparation, review and drafting of commercial real estate documents, preparation of trademark and copyright applications, and preparation of tax exempt applications for 501(c)(3) status. The clinic represents clients only on business transactions and does not work on litigation matters.

Since the clinic began serving clients in 2007, it has provided legal assistance to dozens of for-profit clients including record labels, a day spa, technology companies, a bath and body care manufacturer, and a financial literacy company, among others. It has also provided legal assistance to a myriad of start-up nonprofit clients including an organization formed to mentor at-risk students, an organization that provides free clothes and other material necessities to low income people, an organization formed to provide services to children of domestic abuse survivors, a public interest environmental law firm and more.

The BCL’s classroom component teaches students the skills and values needed to effectively represent clients on transactional matters, including client

CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION AT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL SUMMER 2012 / ISSUE 1

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interviewing, counseling and contract drafting and negotiating skills. The classroom component also includes exploration of substantive areas of law in the context in which they arise during the semester. Similarly, the course explores the professional responsibility issues commonly faced by business attorneys, such as conflicts, competence, and confidentiality.

The clinical component of the BCL requires students to apply the legal and professional lessons of the clinic and their substantive law classes. Students interview the clients, determine their needs, develop an action plan to address those needs and, under the supervision of faculty, provide the appropriate legal services. It is during the clinical component that students conduct factual and legal research, draft and revise the clients’ legal documents, engage the community surrounding community, and develop the professional competencies necessary to practice law.

• Interested students call (313) 577-8859

or e-mail buscomlaw@wayne.edu.

• Click here for a fact sheet on

the Business & Community Law Clinic

• Non-profit clients should apply

through Community Legal Resources

• Find our For Profit Application here or

email us at buscomlaw@wayne.edu

• Like us on Facebook

• Follow us on Twitter:

WSULawSBClinic

Asylum and Immigration Rachel Settlage, Director

This clinic allows students the opportunity to represent individual clients seeking immigration benefits including, but not limited to, asylum, withholding

of removal, relief under the Convention Against Torture, U and T visas for victims of trafficking and other crimes, relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Special Immigrant Juvenile visas, and Temporary Protected Status, as well as help clients who obtain such relief with family reunification, adjustment of status, and, eventually, naturalization.

In this clinic, have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of immigration cases and gain experience working with federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Immigration Courts. Since the Clinic opened in 2010, students have helped dozens of clients from countries including Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Mexico, Indonesia, Somalia, and Palestine.

Students also have the opportunity to be involved with local community outreach and informational programs.

Interested students should contact Prof. Settlage at (313) 577-1897 or send an email to ef9281@wayne.edu.

Assistant Professor Rachel Settlage directs the Wayne Law Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic and teaches immigration and nationality law. She most recently served as a clinical fellow with the University of Baltimore School of Law's Immigrant Rights Clinic. She has also practiced law at the Asylum Program of Southern Arizona; served as a Senior Researcher at the U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian; and served as a Foreign Affairs Officer/Senior Editor at the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

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Clinic Students in ActionTHE 313 PROJECT

Wayne Law students Weiling Chou (left) and Natalia Santanna sweep up debris during a 313 Project volunteer effort to renovate Romanowski Park in Detroit

At Wayne, the strength of the clinical programs is in the work done outside the classroom. Former clinic students, Natalia Santanna, Rachel Reed, Erika Riggs, and Julianna Rivera have continued that kind of engagement with The 313 Project.

The 313 Project is a Detroit-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which began in 2009 as a student coalition at Wayne State University Law School. The organization’s name is more than a reference to Detroit’s area code (313); it reflects the origins of the group, which began with three culturally diverse student organizations at WSU Law, united for one city and pledging to work towards three Detroit-focused causes - community service, education/empowerment, and mentorship.

If you’re interested in The 313 Project or a specific event, you can reach them at the313project@gmail.com

LAW IN PRACTICE http://law.wayne.edu/academics/clinics.php

Disability Law ClinicDavid Moss, Director

In the Disability Law Clinic, students assist

low-income individuals with disabilities on a range of issues, including social security/SSI, health

insurance and special education. Students help clients obtain the services and supports they need to live in their own homes, rather than in institutional settings. The clinic gives students intensive exposure to administrative advocacy, while helping one of Detroit’s most underrepresented populations.

Students in this clinic have helped homeless individuals with mental illness obtain the public benefits they need to secure safe, permanent housing. They have helped children with intellectual disabilities obtain private health insurance coverage for computerized speech-generating devices, children with autism obtain Medicaid funding for physical, occupational and speech therapy services.

The Disability Law Clinic is available for six credits graded Honors, Pass, Low Pass, or No-Credit. Enrollment is limited to eight students.

Interested students should contact Prof. David Moss, (313) 577-3970, david.moss@wayne.edu.

David joined Wayne State’s law faculty in 1998, following three years of teaching at Western New England College School of Law in Springfield, Massachusetts and two years at Hamline University Law School in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  David’s teaching and scholarly interests include Disability Law, Juvenile Law, Health Law, Bioethics and the Law, and Trial Advocacy.  As Assistant Director of Clinical Education, David directs both the Law School’s Disability Law Clinic and its Civil Law Internship Program, and serves as faculty advisor to the Free Legal Aid Clinic and the Student Trial Advocacy Program.

Transnational Environmental Law Nicholas Shroeck, Director

The classroom component of this clinic teaches students the skills and strategies needed to affect environmental policy in all three branches of

state and federal government. During classroom sessions, students learn about current environmental policy challenges and opportunities and explore these issues from multiple perspectives. Guest speakers from government, public interest and regulated industries provide diverse views on environmental law and policy. In the clinical component, students participate in the lawmaking process by preparing policy papers and formal legislative testimony, commenting on rulemaking and permit decisions, and engaging in judicial review and enforcement litigation.

In all clinical work, the students work with the Great Lakes

Environmental Law Center, and on some selected matters may be involved in formally representing other community organizations and public interest groups.

Students in this clinic have provided legal assistance to help fight proposed coal plants in Michigan, developed a new clean energy funding mechanism for local governments, assisted local environment organizations with preliminary research on the expected air pollution permit renewal for the Detroit incinerator, and have worked with Friends of Tienken Road in opposing a major expansion of a road that threatens historic protections and would cause air pollution in the metro area. Students have also worked on a number of cases and proposals in the areas of water conservation, water diversions and water quality, as well as wetlands, shorelines and natural resources.

See Nick Shroeck featured as a speaker on Great Lakes Water Issues in , "Environmental Law Section presents Summer Program, Aug. 3," in the Oakland County Legal News.

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THE DAMON J. KEITH CENTER FOR CIVIL RIGHTSIN PRACTICE & IN THE COMMUNITYAs a member of the federal judiciary, Judge Damon J. Keith has consistently stood as a courageous defender of the constitutional and civil rights of all people. The Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights honors the life and legacy of Judge Keith by carrying out his vision for civil rights. The Keith Center will advance learning, attract talented faculty, students and lecturers, enhance programming, and promote civil rights in one of the most culturally rich and diverse cities in the United States. - Magna  Aliqua

One of the missions of the Damon J. Keith Center is to become a central meeting space for civil rights work in the Metro-Detroit area.  If your community or organization's work involves civil rights and are in need of a meeting space, please contact us at 313 577-3620.  We have two conference rooms, the Freedom Hall atrium with the Marching Toward Justice exhibit and a 60 person lecture hall that can be reserved."

Past events hosted include: Detroit Revitalization Board Meeting - Martin Luther King Jr. day of service - Minority Bar Passage Program - Addressing the Disparity lecture - Arab American Task Force Meeting

LAW IN PRACTICE http://law.wayne.edu/academics/clinics.php

Dean Michele Miller Memorial Scholarship2012 Winners and Finalist

With dozens of applications from numerous Detroit high schools and many stand-out applicants, the The 313 Project Scholarship Committee had a difficult task in selecting the winners. Nonetheless, it is clear that this year's recipients will continue to serve their communities, grow academically, and excel at their passions. The recipients hail from five different Detroit schools and are headed to five different Michigan universities.

Dean Miller, you are missed and we know you'd be proud of these students!

$1,000 WinnersJUAN SANCEN 

Juan is a 2012 graduate of Cesar Chavez Academy, where he graduated second in his class of 129. During high school, he served as president of the Math Club, Chess Club, and Community Service Club. Juan's passion for science has led him to enroll in Saginaw Valley State University in Fall of 2012, and he plans to form a physics club at the college to compete nationally. Juan credits his favorite teacher, Mr. Kelly, for sparking his interest in learning: "From Mr. Kelly, I learned the real strength of Detroit. He taught me that I didn't need to attend a prestigious middle school in order to have a fervent passion for learning. Instead, I realized that Detroit's strength lies in the struggles Detroiters have to face every day. Detroit has taught me to work harder than many other students, and to not lose hope in front of adversity."

TANNEH NAGBETanneh Nagbe is a 2012 graduate of Western International

HS and will be attending Wayne State University in Fall of 2012 with plans to become an elementary school teacher. Tanneh wants to focus on K-5 special education, drawing upon positive lessons from her own teacher: "A teacher named Ms. Dee saw my potential, and with her help I was removed from special education class by the end of my seventh grade year. With this experience, I know I can relate more with students in this situation and encourage them to be great in spite of all odds." Tanneh cites her mother as her inspiration for growing and maturing as a student and leader. Her service experiences include volunteering to beautify Clark Park in Southwest Detroit, tutoring youths through Latino Family Services, and packaging food for underserved communities.

Finalists / Barnes & Noble $250 Gift CardMALIK HARRIS - A 2012 graduate of Cass Technical

High School, he plans to attend Michigan State University in Fall of 2012 to major in Business Administration and Marketing with a minor in Urban Planning.

CHELSEA ANN PIERCE - Chelsea is a 2012 graduate of Southwestern High School and now looks forward to attending the University of Michigan (Dearborn) in Fall of 2012. 

HANAN YAHYA -  is a 2012 graduate of Universal Academy and will attend the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in Fall of 2012. Hanan plans to major in educational administration.

THE DEAN MICHELE R. MILLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Michele R. Miller (1952—2011), was a light and inspiration to thousands of students and colleagues. Michele was a graduate of Central High School in Detroit. She taught in Highland Park elementary schools before she continued her education at Wayne State University Law School. Michele later served as an assistant dean in the Law School for almost twenty-five years – the last ten as Dean of Students.

The 313 Project recently debuted the scholarship for graduating Detroit high school students. The Scholarship provides recipients with a minimum of $1,000 in financial support to pursue higher education and/or career success. Scholarship winners are selected based on: 1) academic excellence; 2) service and commitment to Detroit; and 3) passion for public interest and/or social justice

CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION AT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL SUMMER 2012 / ISSUE 1

For more information on the scholarship and how to donate for next year's recipients, please email us at the313project@gmail.com.

LAW IN PRACTICE http://law.wayne.edu/academics/clinics.php

Featured EventWSU & MSU Present...

The Detroit Entrepreneur Social

Networking and hors d’oeuvres !When: Wednesday, August 22, 2012 6:00 pm to 7:30 pmWhere: Damon J. Keith Center WSU Law School 471 W. Palmer Detroit, Michigan 48202

Entrepreneurs will be invited to assist with the Michigan Applied Public Policy Research (MAPPR) Project, a brief survey concerning legal barriers faced by small business owners in the city of Detroit.

Space is limited. For more information and to RSVP contact MAPPR Project Manager, Andre’ Dandridge at dandrid2@law.msu.edu.

View MAPPR press release here. Parking is available in Structure #1 across from the Law School on Palmer Street.

ALL DETROIT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE WELCOME!

TechTown NewsOn July 30th, TechTown, Wayne

State University’s research and technology park and business incubator, announced the establishment of a partnership with the Brightmoor Alliance, a neighborhood community development organization, to provide business support services to area entrepreneurs.

Click here for more.

Business BitsBlogs & Sites We Like

• venturehacks - Advice for startups.

• uspto.gov/inventors/assessment - A web-based tool designed to assess intellectual property (IP) knowledge and provide personalized training resources for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and inventors.

• Dealbook - Reporting on mergers, acquisitions, venture capital and hedge funds.

• Intuit Small Business Blog - Discussion of small business, including advice, resources, and insights.

• Young Entrepreneurs - The latest news, entrepreneurial conversations, small business webinars, access to seasoned experts and of course access to the most active community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

• UnderstandingMarketings - The name says it all.

• ATaxingMatter - Commentary from Wayne’s own Professor Linda Beale.

Upcoming EventsAugust 22, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm - Detroit Entrepreneur Social. RSVP to Andre Dandridge.

August 16, 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Wayne Law Admissions Pre-Orientation

August 22UIA Employer SeminarCity of Novi Civic Center45175 Ten Mile Road, Novi, MIFree seminars for employers on the unemployment insurance system in Michigan and recent legislative changes within the UIA.

August 25, 9:00 am to August 26, 5pm - Blight Busters (The 313 Project)

LAW IN PRACTICELaw in Practice is produced in-house by the students, staff, and faculty of the Wayne Law clinics. If you would like to contribute an article or have an event publicized, please contact:

Eric Williams at eric.williams5@wayne.edu

CLINIC CONTACT INFO

Wayne State University Law School471 W. PalmerDetroit, Mi 48202(313) 577-8859

Businesses & CommunityFor Profit Clientsbuscomlaw@wayne.edu

Nonprofit ClientsNonprofitapp@wayne.edu

Patent Procurementpatenlaw@wayne.edu

Immigration & Asylum ef9281@wayne.edu

Transnational environmentalnschroeck@wayne.edu

Disability Clinicdavid.moss@wayne.edu

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