Assistant Dean Sowle’s Announcements, February 7 - February 11, 2022
COVID-19 Policies and Procedures for Spring 2022. The Law School's current policies and procedures for addressing the pandemic. If you have any questions, please email me at ssowle@kentlaw.iit.edu.
Additional Fall 2021 CALI Awards. Congratulations to the following students for earning CALI Awards this past Fall. The complete list of CALI winners is available by clicking here.
-Banking Law (Profs. Geiringer & McCauley): Martin J. Crowley
-Employment Litigation (Prof. Franklin): Spencer Davidson, Mark McDaniel
-Labor Law (Prof. Oswalt): Megan Lamb, Quinn Lewis
-Legal Writing 4 for LL.M. Students (Prof. Contento): Antonia Meyer Zu Rheda
Classrooms for Remote Use. We have reserved rooms at the Law School for you to use if you won't have sufficient time to travel from home to school (or vice versa) in between your remote class and an on-site class you have the same day. These rooms will remain the same throughout the semester. Click here for the list (by course). Please note: You will each connect to class individually in Zoom and should have earphones or headphones with you.
Wearing Masks and Reporting Violations. This is a reminder of that all members of the Chicago-Kent community and all visitors must wear masks (covering both your mouth and nose) while in the building. You may remove your mask only in the cafeteria and, even then, only while consuming food or beverages. In addition to the second and third floor cafeteria seating, there is cafeteria space on the sixth floor (just off the elevator lobby). You must observe social distancing while eating or drinking in the cafeteria areas. Please note: In recognition of recent reports about mask efficacy, we urge you not to use cloth masks, but instead to use N-95, KN-95, or three-ply surgical masks. In the event you are unable to obtain one of these types of masks prior to January 24, we will have a limited supply of surgical masks available at the front desk in the lobby.
If you witness any member of the community violating these policies, and you do not feel comfortable requesting that the person put a mask on, please either email me or, if you prefer to remain anonymous, please complete this form and I will address the issue with the person. You should also contact me (or use the form) to report any other safety issues you observe in the building.
Public Safety Escort Service. In the evening hours, a Public Safety officer will be available to provide a walking escort for those with concerns about their personal safety. This service applies to any location within a two block radius of the Conviser Law Center, including Union Station and many adjacent parking locations. Please see the officer(s) on duty at the front desk, or call the Public Safety number, 312-906-5030.
Legal Writing Ethics Guidelines. This is a reminder that the Chicago-Kent Legal Writing Ethics Guidelines apply to all Chicago-Kent students and all courses, including students enrolled in first-year and upper-level writing courses (Legal Writing 1, Legal Writing 2, Legal Writing 3, Legal Writing 4, and all seminars). The Guidelines, which address a variety of issues, including plagiarism, are available by clicking here. If you have not reviewed the Guidelines recently, please do so.
July 2022 Illinois Bar Applications. Applications for the July 2022 Illinois bar exam are due by February 15, 2022. You may file a late application up to May 15, but penalty fees apply. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site: www.ilbaradmissions.org. All information you disclose on the bar application should be consistent with answers to questions on your Application for Admission to the law school. Please note, however, that the bar application asks for a considerable amount of information that you were not asked to provide on our Application for Admission. You only need to be concerned about the consistency of your answers for questions asked on both forms. You can amend your Application for Admission, if necessary, by addressing a letter to me setting forth the details of the omission or misrepresentation and the reason for it.
Dean's Certificate: The law school sends a “Certification of Juris Doctorate” to the Illinois bar examiners for every student who graduates in December or May. Please be sure to file an Application for Graduation (see information above for how to file one) at the beginning of your last semester so we will know you plan to graduate at the end of that semester. Important note: We will not certify any student to the bar examiners if the student has an outstanding balance owed to the school.
Bar Exams in Other States. If you plan to take a bar exam outside of Illinois, you should provide the Registrar with appropriate forms for the Law School to complete as soon as possible (by email to regq@kentlaw.iit.edu).
MPRE: Registration Information for 2022 Test Dates. The Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is required for admission to the bars of most jurisdictions, including Illinois. Students planning on taking the Illinois bar exam may take the MPRE at any time during or after law school. Click here for a list of 2022 test dates and deadlines for applying.
Counseling Services. This is a reminder that the university provides counseling services free of charge for students. Click here for details on the available resources, including individual counseling through Skylight Counseling Services. In addition to resources available through the university, the Lawyers Assistance Program also provides assistance to law students. LAP provides free and confidential assistance to members of the Illinois legal community, including students, and can help you with issues of addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, focusing, worries about the character and fitness process, and having a successful first-year transition. Click here for more information about LAP and the services it provides.
Reminder About IIT's Policy on Firearms and Weapons on Campus. (From the IIT General Counsel's Office:) In general, carrying or bringing any type of firearm or other weapon in, on or to the campus or property of IIT is expressly prohibited by the IIT Policy on Firearms and Weapons on Campus. This prohibition applies even if you have all of the requisite permits to carry the firearm or weapon, including a concealed carry permit. The policy expressly defines “firearm,” “weapon,” “campus” and “property of IIT.” The policy does contain a very limited number of narrowly tailored exceptions, such as allowing ROTC to utilize firearms for training and permitting personnel of the Department of Public Safety and on duty police officers to carry firearms. The link to the full policy is available by clicking here. Everyone should familiarize themselves with it, as the policy will be strictly enforced.