Monday, February 24, 2014

2014 ASL Barrister's Ball (Photos by Sabrina Mullins)


Click link for photos:
https://plus.google.com/photos/102220115898421547777/albums?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/102220115898421547777/albums/5984048711126818609

ASL Students Compete in the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition


ASL’s team of Jessica Conway, Tessa Neal and C.J. Roberts competed this past week in the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition at Pace University Law School.  Although they did not bring back a team trophy, both CJ Roberts and Jessica Conway were recognized for individual arguments during preliminary rounds, each receiving a ‘top oralist’ designation among the six students who compete in each preliminary round room.  The team worked exceptionally hard, and represented ASL with class and substance.  They were ably assisted by assistant coach Cathy Houlihan, and we’re all grateful to the many students and faculty who helped prepare them for competition.
 
Everyone in the ASL community can take pride in the performance and accomplishments of Ms. Conway, Ms. Neal and Mr. Roberts. 


The Appalachian School of Law is hosting an exhibit of paintings entitled, “Surrounded by Paintings” by David Lucas



The Appalachian School of Law (ASL) is hosting an exhibit of paintings entitled, “Surrounded by Paintings” by David Lucas, a self-taught Kentucky artist described by Matt Collinsworth as “one of the most important artists working in Appalachia.” Lucas’ brightly colored images depict rural life in small towns, Biblical images and architectural studies. ASL Trustee Joe Wolfe, Esq., has donated two Lucas paintings to the Law School, “Modern Coal Miner” and “Day Dreaming.”


 At the opening reception on Friday, Feb. 21, Collinsworth explained that the Kentucky Folk Art Center, a cultural and educational service of Morehead State University, has been collecting and promoting Lucas’ work and that of other self-taught artists whose work is also described as “primitive” or “naive.” The exhibit, co-hosted by the Southwest Virginia Community College’s Art Department, is at the second-floor gallery in the Booth Center on ASL’s campus through April 2.
 
Click link to view photos:
 

 
 
 

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Senator Mark Warner to Visit Professor Barger’s Criminal Law and Procedure Classes



Professor Barger and ASL are proud to host Senator Mark Warner via video conference on Thursday, February 27, 2014.  Senator Warner will be giving a presentation on the state of affairs in Washington and then engaging in a question and answer session with students.

 Senator Warner was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2008, and serves on the Senate Banking, Budget, Commerce and Intelligence committees.  Senator Warner has established himself as a national leader in efforts to find bipartisan consensus to create balanced solutions to reduce the federal debt and deficit. He has been a champion for military men and women, their families, and our military veterans. Senator Warner is also a leader in Congress in efforts to promote private-sector innovation and to help our nation's small businesses and start-up companies succeed. 

From 2002 to 2006, Senator Warner served as Governor of Virginia, where he worked in a bipartisan way to turn record budget deficits into a surplus. Governor Warner also focused on improving public education and expanding economic opportunity in every region of the state. He recruited 135,000 new jobs to Virginia during his four-year term. When Governor Warner left office in 2006, Virginia was consistently recognized as the nation’s “best-managed state," the “best state for business” and the state offering the best educational opportunities to its young people.

 

Friday, February 7, 2014

Receive Volunteer Income Tax Assistance at ASL


Appalachian School of Law is the site again for the annual VITA Program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance).  Volunteer students at ASL have had extensive IRS training to be prepared to prepare income taxes free of charge for Buchanan County residentsand students with the help of Peoples, Inc.  VITA is under the direction of Cathy Houlihan, president and Staci Shelton Montgomery, Vice President.  It is located in Booth Center room 223 Monday through Thursday.  For more information, including qualifications please email choulihan15@my.asl.edu  or sshelton15@my.asl.edu 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Jerry Grantham visits ASL Professor Pat Baker's Class



On Wednesday, Febuary 5th in Professor Pat Baker's Oil and Gas class, Jerry Grantham, Vice President of Range Resources, discussed the technology, geology and science behind natural gas production in Central Appalachia. He also discussed the geology of oil and gas and hydrofracturing.
A native of southwest Virginia, Mr. Grantham has 30 years of experience in the gas and oil industry throughout the United States. He currently holds the position of Vice President of Range Resources’ Southern Appalachia Division, which explores for natural gas -- both conventional and coalbed methane -- in southwestern Virginia. He has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia and a Masters’ degree in Geology from Michigan State University.

Clean burning natural gas currently represents 99% of the hydrocarbon production in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Coalbed methane makes up the majority of this production, and Virginia is now ranked 5th in coalbed methane production in the nation. All of the gas in Virginia is produced from a 7-county area in the very southwestern corner of the state (also home to ASL). The development of this resource by the gas industry benefits the region and the Commonwealth by creating high paying jobs, generating revenue through royalty and tax payments, and providing the cleanest burning fossil fuel available. According to Grantham, “Natural gas clearly should be part of the solution of meeting the future energy needs of both the Commonwealth and our nation."


Chris Fortier to speak at ASL


Chris Fortier, Class of 2005, will be addressing our students on Monday, April 7th at 11:30 in the Appellate Courtroom.  Lunch will be provided. This is a new date added for the Career Services events this semester.

Chris was the 2013 recipient of the Virginia State Bar R. Edwin Burnette Jr. Young Lawyer of the Year Award. He is employed by the Social Security Administration as an Attorney Advisor. Please RSVP with Janie Castle ( 276-935-4349 ext.1209 jcastle@asl.edu) if you plan to attend this event, so that she can get a head count for catering purposes.


 
For more information on Chris Fortier see ASL Professor Paula Young's Blog: