MSU College of Law

During the Realities and the Consequences of the Human-Companion Animal Bond event, a day-long conference on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, MSU Law's Animal Legal and Historical Center aims to bring together bright minds to consider how society can make progress for our beloved non-human family members.

Family or property? MSU Law to explore legal status of companion animals at conference Nearly all U.S. households with companion animals (97%) consider these lovable creatures as part of their family. And yet, our legal system doesn’t reflect such a kindred sentiment. In many cases, companion animals are legally considered as property and treated like anything else you may own – r...

Join the Animal Law program in exploring the evolving bond between humans and companion animals. Register today!

The Realities and the Consequences of the Human-Companion Animal Bond Join the Animal Law program in exploring the evolving bond between humans and companion animals.

Join MSU Law Interim Dean Michael Sant'Ambrogio as he welcomes Tom Ginsberg to kick off the 4th Annual Dean’s Speaker Series on September 30. Register today!

Dean's Speaker Series: Tom Ginsberg Join us for a talk on "Campus Speech, Protest and Role of the University in Our Democracy" with Professor Tom Ginsberg.

Julia Alexander and Deirdre Kerins, both recent MSU College of Law graduates, were named two of the 130 dedicated Justice Fellows of the Immigrant Justice Corps, a national fellowship that equips lawyers with the resources needed to help immigrants in need.

Graduate voice: Representing MSU as Justice Fellows of the Immigrant Justice Corps Julia Alexander and Deirdre Kerins are both recent MSU College of Law graduates.

Professor Kate Fort sat down with Russ White to talk about MSU Law's Indian Law Clinic and the important work that it does.

MSU’s Indian Law Clinic receives funding to continue its mission of supporting Native families, tribes The Michigan State University College of Law’s Indian Law Clinic has received funding to continue its work of assisting tribes with enforcement of the law.

The Public Defender Clinic at MSU Law launches this academic year as the first of its kind in Michigan. https://bit.ly/3yTYB8A

⚖️ Meet the Class of 2027 ⚖️ https://bit.ly/4dtEpcW

We're so excited to welcome our newest future Spartan lawyers to MSU Law! Recap the 2024 Foundations Week here:

MSU Law Welcomes the Class of 2027!

Today, we welcomed our incoming 1Ls to MSU Law. Our orientation, Foundations Week, is designed to help incoming law students understand the challenges and opportunities of law school. Read more: https://bit.ly/3WJ3pWn

Professor Quinn Yeargain is featured in MSU Today’s Ask the Expert. In the article, Professor Yeargain discusses how Vice President Kamala Harris may go about selecting her vice president.

Ask the experts: How a Harris nomination could change the presidential election? Michigan State University political scientists and law professors answer questions on how Kamala Harris will shakeup presidential race.

Register for An Evening with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Tuesday, July 23 at Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center

In an article for CT Insider, Professor Justin Simard discusses the cases that The Citing Slavery Project has uncovered in Connecticut. Read more: https://bit.ly/3zzOqWG

MSU Law student Carschana Laporte, ’26, will serve a two-year term on the Equal Justice Works National Advisory Committee (NAC) representing the Midwest Region. Laporte was one of eight law students from around the country to serve a two-year term. As a member of the committee Laporte will conduct outreach and provide feedback on Equal Justice Works programs and initiatives. Read more: https://bit.ly/3VGePJP

In an article for The Conversation, Professor Justin Simard describes how The Citing Slavery Project encourages judges and lawyers to address slavery's influence on the law by providing historical context for modern-day usage.

US laws created during slavery are still on the books. A legal scholar wants to at least acknowledge that history in legal citations Since 2020, a team of legal researchers has collected more than 12,000 cases involving enslaved people and more than 40,000 cases that cite those cases.

MSU Law alumni gathered in New York last week as part of the Alumni Summer Social events. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3KLWA0v

MSU Law students Grace Tenbusch, ’24 and Emma Haiser, ’25 were awarded scholarships from the Women’s Lawyers Association of Michigan foundation.

Grace was awarded The Collins Einhorn Farrell Professionalism Scholar for demonstrating “a commitment to the growth of the professionalism and civility in the practice of law.” Emma received the Masco Corporation Scholar for demonstrating “leadership capabilities in advancing the position of women in society, including service in such areas as: social justice, equality, family law, child advocacy, domestic violence, or work on behalf of underserved areas or population.” https://bit.ly/4ehR4QV

Professor David Favre comments on dangerous dog laws in an article for USA Today. Read more:

Dogs are mauling and killing more people. What to do pits neighbor against neighbor How to stem growing numbers of canine attacks is sharply divisive, pitting neighbors against each other, even as the death toll has more than doubled.

Congratulations to the Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award Recipients! The Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award honors six MSU support staff members annually. Colleagues submit nominations of individuals who demonstrate the qualities of Jack Breslin, who served MSU …

Congratulations, Class of 2024! Recap the commencement ceremony here: https://bit.ly/3Vn7Nel

Last week, 1Ls competed in Oral Arguments where their oral advocacy skills were highlighted. Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement, who was one of the three judges, said the MSU 1L students argued better than many practicing lawyers she’s heard over the years. Julian Sanders, ’26, won first place for his freedom of the press argument in support of a newspaper reporter. Read more about the competition here and find the full results here: https://bit.ly/3UdG9hR

3L Lauren Duguid was awarded the Wanda A. Nash Award for Excellence by the State Bar of Michigan. The award honors a JD student for their work in the field of animal law. Duguid is President of the MSU Law Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and uses her position to prevent cruelty and protect animals. Read more about Lauren here: https://bit.ly/3QcBkEz

As part of The Citing Slavery Project’s Educational Outreach initiative, MSU Law students and Professor Justin Simard have taught high school students in Detroit about legal precedent established in the cases they were learning about in class and the ramifications it has on the American legal system. Learn more about The Citing Slavery Project’s Educational Outreach: https://bit.ly/3WahzBp

From being a Dean’s Public Service Social Justice to a Student Assistant in the Law Admissions Office, 1L Jasmine Felder wears many hats. Ms. Felder was recently elected Member-At-Large for the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). Read more about Jasmine’s law school journey here: https://bit.ly/3vLF7Bu

Friday, April 5, 2024, thirty-five students will volunteer their time and talents to teach high school students at Cass Technical and Renaissance High Schools in Detroit, Michigan, about their Fourth Amendment rights when dealing with law enforcement. This marks the fourth year that MSU Law has held the workshops. This year they will teach 66 sessions throughout the day across the two high schools.

Thank you to our student volunteers:
Kenneth Ayers, Andres Baez, Mackenzie Bailey, Jack Barber, Randi Bolding, Nick Butkevich, Joshua Cambri, Patricia De La Hoya-Velez, Stephanie Diamond, Naomi Dixon, Javel Folkes, Emma Haiser, Morgan Hofmann, Nneka Iroha, Hailey Judd, Mallory Kean, Andres Kenney, Cassidy Koutsioukis, Nicholas Kozitza, Taya Lee, Deanna Leila, Hailey Leal, Ravyn Lockridge, Gerardo Miranda, Marissa Alayna Navarro, Aliyah Neal, Janelle Orange, Selita Paea, Alexandria Peralta, Tessa Phillips, Ebony Ragotzy, Julian Sanders, Nina Torres, Liberty Turner, Olivia Ugboaja, Parker Underwood, Payton Wells, Alexis Whittaker, and Abigail Witten.

The final round webinar of the Gender and Sexuality Moot Court Competition is available to watch online with arguments between Team 3 from the University of Minnesota College of Law (Leah Kanihan and Madeleine Kim) and Team 30 from the University of Cincinnati College of Law (Sydney Sparks and Emily Harmon). We want to thank Justice Elizabeth M. Welch, Michigan Supreme Court, Kylar W. Broadus, Esq., Attorney and Co-Founder of Trans People of Color Coalition, and Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, Michigan Court of Appeals for serving as judges for our final round. Also pictured is Michigan State University College of Law student Katie Kennedy ('24), who wrote the problem and served as moderator/bailiff for the final round. https://bit.ly/3utGxQz

The Dean's Speaker Series continued last week with Professor Cary Coglianese and Interim Dean Michael Sant'Ambrogio. The conversation focused on the regulation, opportunities, and risks of Artificial Intelligence. Recap the talk here: https://bit.ly/3vCxgGk

Congratulations to the University of Minnesota College of Law for winning the 2024 Gender + Sexuality Moot Court Competition! Congratulations to all the advocates, coaches and a big thank you to the judges for helping make the third annual GSMCC such a success. For competition results, a complete list of participating teams, a link to the final round webinar, and how to donate to the GSMCC visit here: https://bit.ly/3utGxQz

The MSU Law community is a thriving ecosystem where alums empower and uplift the next generation of legal professionals. Daniel Kim, ‘15, met with current 3L Charlie Sachet to offer insight and mentorship into the Sports Entertainment Law industry. Learn more about their meeting: https://bit.ly/3vnHryE