Sep. 4, 2020—The report reflects the results of a community-wide survey and input from three anti-racism task forces representing VLS students, faculty and staff. It recommends short- and long-term actions designed to address racial inequities and injustices in the VLS community and beyond.
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Sep. 2, 2020—Seymore is the New York Alumni Chancellor's Professor of Law and holds a secondary appointment in the Chemistry Department. He urges students to "take advantage of everything Vanderbilt has to offer!"
Aug. 25, 2020—Hagerty is running for the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Lamar Alexander. Before running for Senate, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.
Aug. 21, 2020—Read an essay adapted from a speech Chancellor Bonnyman delivered at an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting women suffrage. Bonnyman served for 15 years as a chancellor for the Davidson County Chancery Court. Before her appointment to the bench in 2003, she served as the chancery court clerk and master starting in 1989. She became the founding president of the Lawyers Association for Women in 1981.
Aug. 21, 2020—Beisner, leader of Skadden's Mass Torts, Insurance and Consumer Litigation group, and Fitzpatrick, who studies complex litigation, discuss the thesis of Fitzpatrick's book "The Conservative Case for Class Actions" in a Q&A published in Judicature, a journal that focuses on the practice of judging and publishes research that aims to improve the administration of justice.
Aug. 10, 2020—Students in the clinic, directed by Gautam Hans, worked with Daniel Horwitz ’13 to defend a nonprofit group’s satirical mailer criticizing a Tennessee state representative.
Aug. 5, 2020—Gilbert's career focusing on health care law has included private practice with Epstein Becker Green and Waller and service as hieve legal and corporate governance officer at LifePoint Health.
Jul. 28, 2020—Owings joined the Justice Department as counsel to the assistant attorney general in February 2018. She had previously practiced antitrust law in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Jul. 16, 2020—Overby spent his legal career at the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, which he joined in 1974, except for a stint as a welfare reform lawyer at the Tennessee Justice Center from 1997 to 2005. Most recently, he was lead attorney at the firm's Health, Income and Education Practice Group.
Jul. 14, 2020—James F. Blumstein, a noted expert in constitutional law and health law and policy, and finincial regulatory expert Yesha Yadav will serve four-year terms on the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the US. Commission on Civil Rights.
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Jul. 8, 2020—Cloe Anderson ’21, Grace Ko ’21 and Sarah Dvorak ’22 help draft resolution passed by the Nashville Metropolitan Council drawing attention to increased harassment and discrimination directed at Asian immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Jul. 1, 2020—Herz’s book, “Don’t Take Yes for an Answer: Using Authority, Warmth and Energy to Get Exceptional Results,” has been nominated for the Next Big Idea Book Club.
Jun. 29, 2020—Birch was previously senior vice president for labor policy and league affairs with the National Football League. He will oversee legal affairs and manage team initiatives related to state and local government and business planning and strategy.
Jun. 15, 2020—Brown joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development's office of the general counsel as a legal honors litigation fellow in 2000 and later served in HUD's Program Enforcement Administrative Proceeding Division. She had most recently served as HUD's assistant general counsel for insured housing.
Jun. 11, 2020—The award, named for former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank F. Drowota III '65 (BA'60) honors a judge who has demonstrated extraordiary devotion and dedication to the improvement of the law, the legal system and the administration of justice in Tennessee.
Jun. 11, 2020—Ricks and Giancarlo were among four witnesses whose testimoney addressed “Inclusive Banking during a Pandemic: Using FedAccounts and Digital Tools to Improve Delivery of Stimulus Payments." They testified before the House Financial Service Committee Task Force on Financial Technology during a virtual hearing June 11.
Jun. 5, 2020—The recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and countless others form part of a long and tragic history of racial violence and injustice. It is time for us to act.
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May. 29, 2020—Judge Trauger was appointed to the Middle District of Tennessee in 1998 after serving as a federal bankruptcy judge. Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw '81 (BA'79), who nominated her for the award together with other Sixth Circuit colleagues, said, "Judge Trauger has demonstrated extraordinary industry, character and intellect in every position she has held in her distinguished career. Even more remarkable is the fact that, throughout her career, she has been the first or one of the first women to hold each position.”
May. 27, 2020—Brassel has practiced entertainment law in Memphis since his graduation from VLS and previously taught at the University of Memphis as an adjunct professor. He will join the university's permanent music business faculty this fall.
May. 26, 2020—The scholarship was endowed by a gift from the Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. Foundation to recognize Zeppos’ extraordinary tenure as Vanderbilt chancellor from 2008 through 2019. Ross Perot Jr., BA’81, announced the gift Feb. 7 at a meeting of Vanderbilt’s Board of Trust, on which he has served since 2010. The chancellor emeritus is currently on a yearlong sabbatical and will return to the Vanderbilt faculty as professor of law and political science.
May. 20, 2020—Rising 2Ls and 3Ls will work in federal and state judicial chambers, agencies and law offices, with prosecutors and public defenders, and with public interest and advocacy organizations.
May. 13, 2020—Akinnawonu will work as an immigration attorney at the Mississippi Center for Justice in Jackson. She connected with the MCJ while working at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Jackson during summer 2019.
May. 8, 2020—Hall-Hartman Awards are based on a poll of students in each first-year section and also honor outstanding teaching in large and small upper-level classes.
May. 8, 2020—21 2020 graduates honored for scholastic accomplishments, leadership and contributions to the Vanderbilt Law community.
May. 6, 2020—Banks is one of eight 2020 law graduates honored for their exemplary commitment to public interest law and pro bono work. She was a Garrison Social Justice Scholar.