Annual Barrister’s Ball Features Legal Experts Students Marcel Sumbry and Marshauna Graves at this year’s Barrister’s Ball Two Michigan legal experts were guest speakers at the MSU-DCL Barrister’s Ball in February. U.S. District Court Judge Marianne O. Battani, ’72, and Thomas J. Ryan, former president of the Michigan State Bar Association, shared their personal experiences and legal knowledge with students, faculty, staff and alumni in attendance. The gala, sponsored each year by the Student Bar Association (SBA), was organized by a team of SBA members under the leadership of second-year student Katie Gorrie. The event provides an elegant atmosphere where attendees can enjoy interacting outside the law school. Outstanding Service Awards were presented to Associate Dean Michael Lawrence, Professor Gregory Mitchell, Financial Aid Director Pam Shaw and students Kristine Lapinski, Jason Atkins and James Liggins, Jr. European Law Students Earn Transnational Law Certificates In partnership with Vytautas Magnas University (VMU) in Kaunas, Lithuania, MSU-DCL is educating European law students on topics related to doing business, practicing law and governing in an emerging market economy. The following VMU students completed the program during the 2001-02 academic year and have earned the Certificate in Transnational Law. The students were recognized during MSU-DCL’s commencement exercises in June. Jolanta Adzgauskiene Jurate Andriulyte Ramunas Ausrotas Mindaugas Bilius Olga Bondareva Ingriada Brazaityte Jurgita Blazauskaite Zilvinas Bubnys Ema Buteniene Kristina Civilyte Aiste Dominiene Juozas Gontis Andrius Jankauskas Jurgita Jankeviciute Evelina Jasiunaite Jurgita Juozenaite Darius Jurgutis Jelena Karuseva Jurgita Kilikeviciute Linas Krikscionaitis Nerijus Kukuraitis Asta Mackeviciute Vygantas Malinauskas Milda Mikusauskiene Dainius Mocevicius Edita Ozeliene Agne Pankuniene Eugenija Povilaitiene Indre Preibiene Eugenija Puciute Indre Raudaityte Arturas Reinis Kestutis Reklaitis Deimante Sapkeviciute Vaiva Skurdenyte Dalia Stakvileviciute Dainius Suscevicius Jurga Tallat-Kelpsaite Agne Tikniute Jurate Vaiciukaite Asta Valaitiene Jurgita Valaityte Dominykas Varnas Nerijus Veiksa Auste Raskinyte Yliene Trial Advocacy Competition Provides Practical Experience to Law Students MSU-DCL hosted its Second Annual National Trial Advocacy Competition in the Clif and Carolyn Haley Moot Court Room during October 2001. Organizers of the competition—Director Mark Richard, Advocacy Executive Assistant Kurt Lawler, Bailiff Superviser Kaya Salwin and Moot Court Executive Director Lindsey Wilson—coordinated more than 240 judges, participants and volunteers, with assistance from the college’s Development and Alumni Relations staff. The competition allows students from law schools throughout the country to participate in a mock trial in which they present arguments based on problems contrived by MSU-DCL’s Moot Court members. Sixteen law schools competed in the 2001 competition, won by students from Georgia State University College of Law. A renowned feature of the Moot Court, the competition allows students to gain practical courtroom experience while expanding their professional horizons. It is funded by the Samuel P. Frankel Endowment for Excellence, established by Sam Frankel, ’35, and his wife, Jean Frankel.