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Top Gun Gets $10,000 in Winner-Take-All Mock Trial Competition, June 2-6
 Baylor Law School is known throughout the nation for its intensely rigorous trial advocacy program. Now, 16 other law schools in the nation will experience the same type of rigor during the first week in June - with one winner emerging as the nation's Top Gun. Read more.Nicholas Sarokhanian and Ronnie Turner Compete in Wortham Top Gun Competition Speaking of Top Gun, Baylor Law held its intrascholastic Wortham Top Gun competition on May 24. Finalists Nicholas Sarokhanian and Ronnie Turner battled it out during a fictional negligence case that focused on whether an 18-wheeler hit a passenger car. Turner represented the plaintiff while Sarokhanian served as counsel for the defense. After the end of the three-hour trial, Sarokhanian was named Top Gun."The biggest challenge of Top Gun was the mental and physical exhaustion after each and every trial," he said. "It's understandable how much time you have to pour into preparing for trial, but what's really surprising is how much a trial actually takes out of you." Both men will graduate in August. Sarokhanian will then join Patton Boggs LLP in Dallas as an associate in their litigation department while Turner will begin work at Provost Umphrey, L.L.P., on Sept. 1. You can watch Sarokhanian and Turner give their opening statements by visiting Baylor Law's Facebook page. Baylor Law School to Welcome Three New Faculty Baylor Law School will welcome three new faculty members, including President (Judge) Ken Starr, during the summer. Starr will join the faculty upon his arrival at Baylor on June 1. He will be a part of the program in a setting consistent with his presidential schedule and duties. Prof. Luke Meier, currently at Drake Law School, and Prof. Jill Wieber Lens, currently at the University of Louisville’s School of Law, will join the Baylor faculty, respectively, in mid-May and early July and will begin teaching in the fall. Read more.'The Blind Side' Director John Lee Hancock Delivers Oscar-Caliber Speech at Baylor Law Commencement May 1 If there was an Oscar for Best Commencement Address, John Lee Hancock surely would win it. The writer and director of the Academy Award-nominated film The Blind Side and a Baylor Law alumnus was the keynote speaker at Baylor Law School's commencement exercises on May 1 and delivered memorable comments.“John Lee was a brilliant commencement speaker, and he is so modest about his accomplishments," said Baylor Law Dean Brad Toben. "He really was puzzled that he was selected by our graduating class to be the speaker, but I thought he had a wonderful message for our students. Namely, that every case and ever client has a compelling story to tell and that a lawyer’s job is to find and communicate that story.” “Why me?” said the humble Hancock. “There is nothing I could say that would be that interesting or provocative considering I have spent much of my professional life in a room by myself.” Read more. Walter Umphrey Receives Blackstone Award from Jefferson County Bar Association
 Baylor Law alumnus Walter Umphrey, co-founder of the Provost & Umphrey law firm, received the Blackstone Award during Law Day ceremonies at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The local Law Day activities were sponsored by the Jefferson County Bar Association and the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association. Read more.Baylor Law Student Recognized as 'Top 10' Scorer on CPA Exam  Nikki Laing, a Baylor Law School student, was in the news when she was recognized as one of the Top 10 highest scorers in Texas on the CPA exam. Now her Baylor Law Review article on the Texas Margin Tax is garnering attention. Read this article in the Houston Chronicle to learn more. Student Spotlight: Meet Dana Mays, 2010 Spring Starter Among the 4,692 applications Baylor Law received for a scant 150 slots, Dana Mays’ credentials stood out. The Atlanta, Texas, native and member of the Spring 2010 entering class learned at an early age to strive for excellence by participating in a variety of activities. She cheered, ran cross-country and track, took dance and piano lessons, and held leadership positions in her church youth group. Dana’s competitive energy and drive carried forward with her as she entered Baylor University to begin her undergraduate career. At Baylor she was a Coed Yell Leader for three-and-one-half years, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, participated actively in All-University Sing, and volunteered at the local animal shelter, Baylor Steppin’ Out and Waco King’s Club. Dana notes that her proudest accomplishment, next to gaining admission to Baylor Law School, was maintaining a perfect 4.00 undergraduate GPA.Dana is no stranger to the rigors of Baylor Law’s academic program. Her father, grandfather and uncle are Baylor lawyers. Now in her second quarter of law school, Dana is one more example of the outstanding students at Baylor Law. Ambassador Lyndon L. Olson, Jr., to Serve as Vice Chairman of LBJ Foundation Ambassador Lyndon L. Olson, Jr. and Ben Barnes will serve as Vice Chairmen of the LBJ Foundation. Olson was the US Ambassador to Sweden from 1998-2001. He previously served as President and CEO of Travelers Insurance Holdings, Inc., and the Associated Madison Companies, Inc. Olson was chairman of the Texas State Board of Insurance from 1979 to 1981 and from 1983 to 1987. A graduate of Baylor University and Baylor Law School, Olson was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 to 1978 where he was Chairman of the Committee on Higher Education. Olson lives in Waco, Texas. moreOn-Campus Interviews Scheduled for AugustBaylor Law School will be hosting On-Campus Interviews during the week of August 16, 2010. We want to take this opportunity to ask you, a Baylor Law alum, for your help in making this a successful event. If you are responsible for recruiting and hiring decisions in your office, please make plans now to visit us in August. If you are not responsible for recruiting and hiring, you nevertheless can help by encouraging your colleagues to register and take part in the OCI process. To make traveling to Waco more convenient, we have arranged to cover the cost of a hotel room for your interviewers while in Waco. If the August dates are inconvenient, we can schedule an alternative time for you to come to campus. And if visiting the law school in person is not possible, we also can offer alternatives, such as resume collection or interviews by video conference. Please join us in our effort to be sure our students have the best possible opportunities to begin their careers. We are sending this notice to any Baylor Law alum for whom we have an e-mail address, but please help to spread the word to your fellow Baylor lawyers. To sign up for interviews, contact Monica Wright at (phone) 254.710.1210, (toll free) 800.229.5678 (options 3; 1), or (e-mail) Monica_Wright@baylor.edu. We appreciate your help. Mike Berry Director, Career Development Office Welcome Berkley Scroggins as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Berkley Scroggins has joined the Baylor Law Alumni Team as the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations. Scroggins, a 2010 Baylor Law School graduate, transitioned from student to staff upon graduation. She attended the University of Texas at Austin for her undergraduate education and received a degree in Public Relations. Scroggins was raised in Amarillo, Texas. Her family then moved to Fredericksburg to enjoy living in the Texas Hill Country. Scroggins is excited to be a Wacoan and become actively involved in the Waco and Baylor communities. She is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where she looks forward to helping with the children's Sunday school program. Scroggins is also a CASA advocate of McLennan County and has served as an advocate to six local CASA kids. "What a privilege to join the incredible Baylor Law team as the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations," she said. "I am thrilled for the opportunity to keep you connected to our Law School. As a 2010 Baylor Law graduate, I have a strong allegiance to the Law School, and I look forward to connecting with you soon. Baylor Law School has an outstanding community of Baylor Lawyers, and with your support and active involvement, together we can continue the Baylor Law legacy." 25 Ways to Stay Involved At |
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Wondering how to stay involved with Baylor Law? Your Alumni Team created a list of 25 Ways to Stay Involved At Baylor Law. Today, we'll spotlight #11. Let the Career Development Office know about open positions at your firm or other firms. Email Mike Berry, Director of Career Development, Michael_R_Berry@Baylor.edu. 
Join Dean Brad Toben, President-elect Ken Starr, Faculty and fellow alumni at the Baylor Law Alumni Reception in conjunction with the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 10, at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, 1300 Houston Street, Fort Worth. RSVP today at: 
