Legal Studies Monthly News & Updates

May, 2023

Congratulations to our new alumni!

Sunday, May 21^st was a beautiful day for commencement, and it was wonderful to see so many family members and friends in attendance to celebrate the graduates. This year, over 60 graduated with a minor in legal studies!

The class of 2023 was truly special. After a first year interrupted by the pandemic, we got to know many of you through Zoom classes and remote office hours. I remember what a thrill it was to see you for the first time on campus as in-person classes resumed. It was especially meaningful to be able to hug and shake hands with you at graduation. You will be missed!

As we close out the 2022-23 academic year, I look back with fondness on all that we were able to accomplish together. From academic talks and community-engaged learning to trivia nights and ice cream, we gathered together to learn and to have fun. I’d especially like to thank our graduating UDRs, Sophia Reiss and Maxx Kipnes, who showed such enthusiasm and dedication to making this year memorable.

Have a wonderful summer everyone!

Rosalind Kabrhel, JD

Chair, Legal Studies Program

Goodbyes and Good Luck to the Class of 2023!

Celebrating our Graduating Seniors: Words of Wisdom from Brandeis LGLS Faculty

Legal Studies Highlights: 2022-2023 Memories at Brandeis

Message from our current UDRs

Message from Sophia Reiss:

"Serving as one of the Legal Studies UDRs has been an honor and a privilege. I really appreciate the chance to learn and grow through this role alongside the Maggie and Maxx. The Legal Studies Community is filled with such strength of character and intellect and caring nature. The passion for helping others and learning with and from each other were really strong attributes which we hoped to enhance through our initiatives. From the Meet the Minor and our much-loved Trivia Nights to the fascinating conversation about Judicial Politics and the fun End-of-Year Celebration, I have truly learned so much and enjoyed getting to know everyone. A huge thank you to both the phenomenal faculty who make our program unique and our amazing administrator Melissa McKenna who jumped in to this role with such inspiring dedication to help make everything happen."

Message from Maggie DiPierdomenico:

"I greatly enjoyed serving the Legal Studies program this school year, and I look forward to continuing again next year! Working with Sophia and Maxx was a pleasure, and I am so proud of what we accomplished! My favorite part about being a UDR this year was meeting and helping Legal Studies students and working to improve the program based on students’ feedback. While the UDRs intend to organize fan-favorite events again next year, we have some exciting new ideas that we cannot wait to share!"

Message from Maxx Kipnes:

"Being an Undergraduate Departmental Representative for Legal Studies this past year has been an incredible experience. I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside faculty to plan several successful events and have met with many determined students who sought advice about our minor and applying to law school. I’ve loved every moment of working alongside Sophia Reiss and Maggie DiPierdomenico. My time as a UDR has cemented my desire to become a lawyer, and I will be attending law school this fall."

Community Shout-Outs!

Students receiving program awards and prizes

Joshua Gladstone

Recipient of the Lester Martin Foundation Award in Legal Studies

Josh Shuster

Recipient of the Lester Martin Foundation Award in Legal Studies

Aiko Schinasi

Recipient of the Justice Louis D. Brandeis Internship Research Prize

Morgan Clark

Recipient of the Justice Louis D. Brandeis Internship Research Prize

Sophia Reiss

Recipient of the Justice Louis D. Brandeis Essay Prize

2023 Consortium for Undergraduate Law and Justice Programs (CULJP) Best Undergraduate Student Paper Award in Interdisciplinary Legal Studies

On May 10th, former Legal Studies student Savannah Jackson (2022) was awarded the Best Undergraduate Student Paper Award by the international Consortium for Undergraduate Law and Justice Programs (CULJP, of which Brandeis is a founding member) for her senior thesis, "Mediating Authenticity: Interpretation as a Social Process." Savannah posted, "It is an absolute honor to have been selected as the 2023 Winner of the Best Undergraduate Student Paper Award in Interdisciplinary Legal Studies by CULJP. My senior honors thesis was nominated by the phenomenal, one-and-only Professor Douglas Smith, who has continued to believe in and challenge me ever since I first stepped into his immigration & human rights legal studies class in Spring 2021. Receiving this recognition feels like an incredible affirmation for a piece of research that has as many legal and linguistic citations as it does sociological ones. To everyone who has questioned whether my research is based in sociology or legal studies or interpretation studies, my answer is yes. We need all three (and more) as we continue to study and imagine and implement more equitable alternatives for language access within the US legal immigration system."

Introducing our new UDRS for 2023-2024

Sophia Koolpe

skoolpe@brandeis.edu

Sophia Koolpe is a senior from Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is majoring in Health: Science, Society, and Policy and minoring in Legal Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She is passionate about understanding the intersection of public health and law, and how legal remedies can empower and achieve greater health outcomes for communities. Last spring, she interned at MLP Boston, a medical-legal partnership which equipped care teams with legal related tools that address social determinants of health. In her free time, Sophia volunteers at CareOne, a skilled nursing facility, and is a communication director for Brandeis' Partners in Health Engage club. She also plays guitar and has a love for classic punk rock music!

Sophia is excited to be a Legal Studies UDR and is happy to be a liaison between students and the legal studies department!

Jacqueline (Yiyu) Lan is a senior from Guangzhou, China, majoring in Economics, International and Global Studies, and minoring in legal studies. She interned at the Virtual Court Service Center under the Massachusetts Trial Court last year through the Legal Studies Internship class. She was also an orientation leader and a global fellow. She joined the Brandeis Mock Trial Association two years ago and is looking forward to providing more detailed information about the club to anyone interested. She enjoys taking legal studies classes and also, is familiar with some of the cross-listed classes of both the Economics and the IGS department. Jacqueline is very excited to be a Legal Studies UDR and is more than willing to answer any potential questions related to the department :)

Jacqueline Lan

yiyulan@brandeis.edu

Maggie DiPierdomenico

mdipierdomenico@brandeis.edu

Maggie DiPierdomenico is a senior from Woodstock, Connecticut, majoring in American studies and Politics, Philosophy, & Law (PPL), an IIM, with minors in legal studies and Italian studies. Maggie is the President of the Student Association for The Right to Immigration Institute, a coordinator for Big Siblings, the Community and Social Justice Coordinator for Waltham Group, the Director of Communications for the Brandeis Law Journal, a Community Advisor, and a member of the Brandeis Educational Justice Initiative. During the spring semester, she studied abroad in Milan, Italy, and interned at an Italian law firm. This summer, she will intern for the Worcester District Attorney’s Office. She is very interested in immigration law and criminal justice reform and plans to go to law school after graduating.

Maggie is thrilled to be a Legal Studies UDR and would love to talk about the minor or answer any questions!

Curriculum Spotlight

New and Exciting Course for Fall 2023!

LGLS 126a: Forced Migration Clinic

Attention all students interested in human rights law! There is a new course being offered called LGLS 126a: Forced Migration Clinic taught by Professor Doug Smith. This course is an incredible opportunity for students to gain real-world experience representing migrants who have fled persecution or torture int heir home countries and seek refuge in the United States. This is a course that will allow students to handle every aspect of representation in cases and causes that may determine whether a client will be granted asylum or face deportation.

Recent Event Highlights

BEJI and Legal Studies Event: Voices of Reentry Event

On May 2nd, BEJI (Brandeis Educational Justice Initiative) and Legal Studies collaborated to host a powerful event, "Voices of Reentry," aimed at raising awareness about the challenges individuals face upon reentering society after incarceration. Attendees enjoyed a thought-provoking film screening and engaged in a dynamic panel discussion featuring formerly incarcerated men and women, making it a successful event that fostered dialogue and understanding.

Faculty News

Professor Breen Unveils the Progressive Potential of Shareholder Activism: A Brandeis Faculty in the Field Event Recap

On April 23rd, Professor Daniel Breen attended a Brandeis Faculty in the Field Event in Washington DC. The topic was the progressive possibilities of modern Shareholder Activism. The photo shows all the alumni who attended this event.

Professors Kabrhel and Sherman discuss carceral reform and education in Chicago

Professors Rosalind Kabrhel and David Sherman (English) met with alumni in Chicago on May 7th to share how the Brandeis Educational Justice Initiative (BEJI) is helping to improve the lives of people who have been impacted by incarceration through its educational programs and advocacy. Thank you to Yehuda Cohen '81 for hosting, and to Steve Wander '97, immediate past president of the Chicago Alumni Club for helping to organize a wonderful Faculty-in-the-Field event!

ENACT Summer Institute: Brandeis University Welcomes 22 Faculty Fellows from Across the Country

ENACT will be hosting 22 ENACT faculty Fellows from across the country at Brandeis University on June 5-June 7 for the ENACT Summer Institute.

Professor Ariel Ludwig's Visual Abolitionism: Rethinking PREA Assessment in NYC Jails

A collage of images from Professor Ludwig's article, vividly capturing the visual narrative surrounding the implementation of the PREA assessment during intake in New York City jails. These thought-provoking visuals offer glimpses into the ethnographic journey and shed light on the experiences within the incarcerated community.

Prepare to be captivated by Professor Ariel Ludwig's upcoming article, 'Designing the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Assessment in the New York City Jails: A visual abolitionist resistance to data infrastructures of harm,' soon to be published in the prestigious journal Design and Culture. This groundbreaking piece seamlessly weaves together visual art and academic writing, offering a thought-provoking exploration.

Professor Doug Smith Participating in the Law and Society Association Conference in Puerto Rico

Professor Doug Smith will be attending the annual Law and Society Association conference in Puerto Rico in June, where he will present a paper titled "Authentic Advocacy Constructing Rights from the Bottom Up by Breaking Down Lawyers' Monopolies on Access to Justice," and he will chair a discussion on "Elite Capture and Epistemic Difference in Law and Social Movements," with a panel that includes once and future Brandeis legal studies student, Alejandro Bracamontes (2024), who is now completing a Soros Justice Fellowship with The Right to Immigration Institute.