Dickinson Law News

March 3, 2021 — Jasmine Rand, attorney to the Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown families and international legal and media strategist for the George Floyd legal team, will share her insight, experience and pioneering efforts for social justice during a virtual talk titled “Oppression of Equality: Being the Only Woman in the Room” on Monday, March 8, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. EST. Hosted by Dickinson Law, the event is open to the University community Learn more

February 22, 2021 — Dickinson Law alumni and victim advocacy experts will collaborate to deliver a virtual CLE program, “Justice for All? Addressing Systemic Barriers experienced by Victims of Color and Advocating for Change,” hosted by Dickinson Law and the Steele Family Leadership Program in Gender and Racial Equity on Thursday, March 18, from 9 a.m. to noon EST. The program is free to attend; advance registration is required. Learn more

February 22, 2021 — In recognition of Black History Month, Dickinson Law is proud to host Derrick Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as its keynote speaker. Johnson will deliver his remarks, titled “Make Black History Month All Year Long,” on Zoom Thursday, February 25, from 1 to 2 p.m. Time will be allocated for Q&A following his keynote address. Co-sponsored by Dickinson Law’s Black Law Students Association and Office of Academic and Student Services, this event is open to the University community. Learn more

February 22, 2021 — Dickinson Law Review will virtually present “Wrongful Convictions: Pursuing Justice for Juveniles and Correcting a Flawed System,” beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 9, 2021. Experts will highlight issues such as false guilty pleas, the misuse of statistics, and the unpleasant disparities that juveniles face when they are forced through the current legal framework. Juveniles are more likely to be wrongfully convicted than adults, but we can rely on evidence to implement positive systemic changes. Advance registration is required here. Read more

January 26, 2021 — Dusty Elias Kirk, a 1979 graduate of Dickinson Law, was the first person in her family to go to law school as well as the first in her family to attend college. She is a successful real estate attorney and partner at Reed Smith in Pittsburgh; a member of the Executive Council of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Women in the Profession Committee; and a member of the Dickinson Law Leadership Council Advisory Board and avid alumni volunteer for Penn State Dickinson Law, among her many positions. Full story

January 19, 2021 — Third-year Penn State Dickinson Law student Samantha Jacques ’21 was recently awarded the Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC) “My Life as a Lawyer” national scholarship. The award is given to law students who strive to foster diversity within the legal profession. Read more

January 13, 2021 — Dean Conway joined with 156 law school deans across the country to release a joint statement addressing the 2020 election and the events that took place at the Capitol last week. Full story

January 7, 2021 — A statement from Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law Danielle M. Conway about the events in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. Read more

December 17, 2020 — For her unique contributions to the core values of community, teaching, research, and scholarship at Penn State Dickinson Law, Assistant Professor of Law and Founding Director of the Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic Medha D. Makhlouf has been named the inaugural recipient of Dickinson Law's faculty of the year award. Makhlouf approaches teaching with the goal of helping her students to develop “roots and wings.” Full story

December 8, 2020 — Tracy Steele (class of 1995) and her husband, Kevin Steele (class of 1992), have both overseen the hiring of attorneys during their careers. Tracy formerly served as a hiring partner for a large international law firm, and Kevin is the district attorney for Montgomery County in Pennsylvania.