Prof. Wolfe talks about preserving tracks outdoors at Eagle River Nature Center

Prof. Wolfe with brown bear track.

Prof. Jim Wolfe, Justice Center adjunct faculty, presented a program at the Eagle River Nature Center on March 9 entitled "Hot on the Trail of Animal Tracks."

Using techniques normally used for collecting shoe print and tire track evidence at crime scenes, Prof. Wolfe demonstrated how to photograph and cast animal tracks outdoors, including in the snow.

Prof. Wolfe is a former forensic scientist with the Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, and is currently a forensic consultant and trainer.

Dr. Chamard on "Social Issues in Anchorage" panel at 2nd Annual Urban in Alaska Conference

Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, is participating on the “Social Issues in Anchorage: What we Care About to Inform the Design of Public Spaces” panel at the 2nd Annual Urban in Alaska Conference: A Creative Placemaking Initiative, on March 28 in the UAA Student Union Cafeteria. Dr. Chamard will be part of a "conversation” on homelessness and affordable housing with Dr. Susan Bomalaski, the Executive Director of Catholic Social Services. The purpose of the conference is to bring together faculty, students, and community members in a community-wide participatory process focusing on social issues that impact the design of public space, such as race and ethnicity, youth violence and opportunities for youth, and alcohol and substance abuse and recovery.

Firearm Use in Violent Crime in the U.S. And Alaska, 1985–2012

The November 2013 issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet  presents national and statewide statistics from the Alaska Department of Public Safety's Crime in Alaska report and the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports program on the use of firearms in the commission of three violent crimes — homicide (murder and nonnegligent manslaughter), robbery, and aggravated assault —  in the U.S. and Alaska from 1985 to 2012. Data on the use of knives and other cutting instruments, strong-arm tactics, and other weapons in the commission of these crimes are also presented. The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC).

UAA Says No More week kickoff started with donuts - come to the March 19 panel discussion!

L to r: UAA students Camilla Hussein-Scott, Kristen Speyerer, Simona
Gerdts, Isabella Forshee, and UPD Officer Paul Honeman.

The UAA Says No More week kickoff with free donuts was held today in the lobby of SSB. Students were invited to have a donut, and to take a photo with their own statement: " I say NO MORE because..." and post it to the UAA Says No More Facebook page.

Don't miss tomorrow night's program sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and Alpha Phi Sigma, Omega Xi chapter, national criminal justice honor society.

What: "NO MORE Silence in the Dark"
Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Place: UAA/APU Consortium Library, LIB 307
Cost:  This program is free and open to UAA faculty, staff, students, and the public.
Parking:  Free parking in the library main lot off Alumni Drive

Panelists include Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty; Randi Breager, Alaska State Troopers Program Coordinator; Officer Rhonda Street and Officer Dave DeLesline, Anchorage Police Department; Shannon Eddy, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) Legal Project Staff Attorney; Dr. Angelia Trujillo, UAA School of Nursing, Forensic Nurse Examiner.
Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, is the moderator.

Student coordinators for this event are Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer. For more information contact the UAA Justice Center, 786-1810.

The event is part of the "NO MORE" national campaign to increase greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault. The week of March 17 is National "No More" Week and marks the one-year anniversary of this campaign.  The UAA event is part of this effort. Like us on the UAA Says No More Facebook page. 

Follow us on Twitter @uaajc
Join the conversation #nomoreweek

L to r: Students Isabella Forshee, Kristen Speyerer,
and Justice Center faculty advisor Prof. Ryan Fortson.

From the UAA Says No More Facebook page.

Free donuts at the kickoff for No More week at UAA on March 18!

What: Free donuts for No More Week Kickoff
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Place: Social Sciences Building (SSB) lobby by Kaladi's
Sponsors: Alpha Phi Sigma, National Criminal Justice Honor Society and the Justice Center 

Follow us on Twitter @uaajc
Join the conversation #nomoreweek

Don't miss the March 19 panel discussion on reducing domestic violence and sexual assault!

UAA students have posted their own statements about why "no more" on the UAA No More Facebook page.

As a precursor to National Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, the Alpha Phi Sigma, UAA Omega Chi Chapter of the National Criminal Justice Honor Society, and the UAA Justice Center are presenting a panel discussion on reducing domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska.

What: "NO MORE Silence in the Dark"
Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Place: UAA/APU Consortium Library, LIB 307
Cost:  This program is free and open to UAA faculty, staff, students, and the public.
Parking:  Free parking in the library main lot off Alumni Drive

The event is part of the "NO MORE" national campaign to increase greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault. The week of March 17 is National "No More" Week and marks the one-year anniversary of this campaign.  The UAA event is part of this effort. Like us on the UAA Says No More Facebook page.

Panelists include Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty; Randi Breager, Alaska State Troopers Program Coordinator; Officer Rhonda Street and Officer Dave DeLesline, Anchorage Police Department; Shannon Eddy, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) Legal Project Staff Attorney; Dr. Angelia Trujillo, UAA School of Nursing, Forensic Nurse Examiner.
Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, is the moderator.

Student coordinators for this event are Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer. For more information contact the UAA Justice Center, 786-1810.

Follow us on Twitter @uaajc
Join the conversation #nomoreweek

Dr. Chamard awarded minigrant for public safety project in downtown Anchorage

Anchorage street scene at night.

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice faculty, has recently been awarded a UAA Center for Community Engagement and Learning minigrant. This Spring 2014 community-engaged project, "Late Night Public Safety in Downtown Anchorage," involves research to be completed by students in Dr. Chamard's JUST 490 Business and Crime class.

The issue to be researched is the violence that has been associated with "bar break" - the time when the majority of bars close and patrons leave the establishments in large numbers.  The project includes a review of academic literature on this issue, a review of policies and practices from other jurisdictions, a survey of people who live or own property in or close to the downtown late night entertainment area, a survey of bar owners/managers, and a CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) analysis of downtown bars.

The Anchorage Downtown Partnership Ltd. is a partner in this research effort. Results of the project will be presented to stakeholders in early May.

All minigrant recipients will present their research results at the annual Community Engagement Forum in April.

CNN series of articles on violence against women in Alaska cites Justice Center research

A recent series of articles in February and March by CNN reporter John Sutter explored the issue of violence against women in Alaska.  For the series, Mr. Sutter interviewed Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, and highlighted research on this topic from the Alaska Victimization Survey and other Justice Center reports.  Links to articles in the CNN series are listed below.

Dr. Rosay also participated in a CNN webinar with John Sutter on February 4 about this tragic problem.

Impact of the Alaska Victimization Survey
From February 7 article, "Governor: "Alaska has an epidemic"

Across Alaska, I saw the power of a statewide survey analyzed by the University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center, and funded by the state.  "The survey effectively ended debate about whether Alaska has a problem with domestic violence and sexual assault," said André Rosay, director of the center. The 2010 survey of 871 adult women found 37% had suffered sexual violence and 59% had been the victim of sexual violence and/or intimate partner violence in their lifetimes.

"It was shocking and distressing for many people" to see how common violence against women really was in Alaska, said Lauree Morton, executive director of the Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, a state-funded agency. That survey also has spurred change.

How You Can Help
From February 6 article, "This 104-year old woman started a secret women's shelter; help her change Alaska"  (The following is a condensed version. Please see the original article for the full text.)

"Here are five simple ways you can help make a difference:

1. Donate to worthy organizations
2. Start a petition to get cops in every village
3. Tell your story as part of the 'We are the 59%' [59% refers to the statewide estimate of the number of adult women in Alaska who have experienced intimate partner violence or sexual violence or both in their lifetime according to the 2010 Alaska Victimization Survey]
4. Host a 'Choose Respect' rally (from your phone) [the next Choose Respect event will be March 27 in Alaska communities statewide. See Governor Parnell's webpage for details.]
5. Demand rape kits are counted and tested"

Links to CNN series articles by John Sutter:

• Change the list: The rapist next door
  Feb 4, 2014 — CNN.com
• The lawless 'end of the land'
  Feb 4, 2014 — CNN.com
•  Opinion: The lawless 'end of the land' (video)
  Feb 3, 2014 — CNN.com
• Meet Alaska's pioneer woman
  Feb 4, 2014 — CNN.com
• Opinion: Alaska's 'resident evil' of rape (video)
  Feb 3, 2014 — CNN.com
• List: States where rape is most common
  Feb 4, 2014 — CNN.com
•  This 104-year-old started a secret women's shelter; help her change Alaska
  Feb 6, 2014 — CNN.com
• Governor: 'Alaska has an epidemic'
  Feb 7, 2014 — CNN.com
• 'We are the 59%'
  Feb 13, 2014 — CNN.com
  
• Nope, not too many men in Alaska
  Feb 17, 2014 — CNN.com
• Kids in Alaska don't have to take sex ed
  Mar 4, 2014 — CNN.com
  
• https://mobile.twitter.com/cnnbrk/status/430571715295338496
  Feb 3, 2014 - Twitter
  

Video of March 5 marijuana law and policy discussion now on Justice Center website

Prof. Jason Brandeis (podium) poses a question to the panel.
Dr. Troy Payne (r) collects questions from the audience and Twitter.

The video of "Time to Legalize? A Public Discussion of Marijuana Law and Policy" is now available.  The live program was held March 5, 2014 at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium.

Click here for full information about the program on our website.

This program is part of 2014 National Criminal Justice Month.  The event was sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and the UAA Justice Club.

Panelists were Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance; Sheriff Lance Buchholtz (Ret.), Wisconsin, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP); Ben Cort, Colorado, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) ; Dean Guaneli, former Chief Asst. Attorney General for Alaska; and Taylor Bickford, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska. Prof. Jason Brandeis, Justice Center faculty, was the moderator.

The event page for this program also includes information on the ballot initiative regarding the legalization of marijuana in Alaska and a list of media mentions.

For audio only of the event, go to the KSKA Public Radio website.

Prof. Brandeis teaches courses on American government, constitutional law and civil liberties, and is a frequent speaker on constitutional law and other legal issues. Prof. Brandeis also maintains a private law practice through which, subsequent to the date of this program, he provided legal representation in administrative agency proceedings for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska.

Marijuana law and policy discussion airs on KSKA, Tuesday, March 11 at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

"Time to Legalize? A Public Discussion on Marijuana Law and Policy," sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and the UAA Justice Club is scheduled to air on KSKA Public Radio "Addressing Alaskans" on Tuesday, March 11, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.  Click here for more information.

L to r: Panelists listen as Prof. Jason Brandeis (podium) poses a question from the
 audience.  At right, Dr. Troy Payne collects questions from the audience and Twitter.

Panelists were Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance; Sheriff Lance Buchholtz (Ret.), Wisconsin, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP); Ben Cort, Colorado, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) ; Dean Guaneli, former Chief Asst. Attorney General for Alaska; and Taylor Bickford, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska. Prof. Jason Brandeis, Justice Center faculty, was the moderator. This program is part of 2014 National Criminal Justice Month.

The radio broadcast includes the panel discussion only.  The opening keynote by Ethan Nadelmann is available on the KSKA website.

See a video of the keynote and panel discussion on the Justice Center website.


Prof. Brandeis teaches courses on American government, constitutional law and civil liberties, and is a frequent speaker on constitutional law and other legal issues. Prof. Brandeis also maintains a private law practice through which, subsequent to the date of this program, he provided legal representation in administrative agency proceedings for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska.

Save the date! March 19 panel discussion on reducing domestic violence and sexual assault

As a precursor to National Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, the Alpha Phi Sigma, UAA Omega Chi Chapter of the National Criminal Justice Honor Society, and the UAA Justice Center are presenting a panel discussion on reducing domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska.

The event is part of the "NO MORE" national campaign to increase greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault. The week of March 17 is National "No More" Week and marks the one-year anniversary of this campaign.  The UAA event is part of this effort. 

What: "NO MORE Silence in the Dark"
Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Place: UAA/APU Consortium Library, LIB 307
Cost:  This program is free and open to UAA faculty, staff, students, and the public.
Parking:  Free parking in the library main lot off Alumni Drive

Panelists include Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty; Randi Breager, Alaska State Troopers Program Coordinator; Officer Rhonda Street and Officer Dave DeLesline, Anchorage Police Department; Shannon Eddy, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) Legal Project Staff Attorney; Dr. Angelia Trujillo, UAA School of Nursing, Forensic Nurse Examiner.
Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, is the moderator.

Student coordinators for this event are Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer. For more information contact the UAA Justice Center, 786-1810.

Over 200 attend Marijuana Law and Policy event sponsored by UAA Justice Center

L to r: Panelists listen as Prof. Jason Brandeis (podium) poses a question from the audience. 
At right, Dr. Troy Payne collects questions from the audience and Twitter.

Over 200 students, faculty, and members of the public attended the March 5 event,  "Time to Legalize? A Public Discussion on Marijuana Law and Policy," sponsored the UAA Justice Center and the UAA Justice Club.  This program is part of 2014 National Criminal Justice Month.

Over 200 people attended the event.

Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a national drug law reform organization headquartered in New York City, was the keynote speaker.

Other panelists included Sheriff Lance Buchholtz (Ret.), Wisconsin, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP); Ben Cort, Colorado, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) ; Dean Guaneli, former Chief Asst. Attorney General for Alaska; and Taylor Bickford, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska.

Prof. Jason Brandeis, Justice faculty, was the moderator, and Dr. Troy Payne, Justice faculty collected questions from the audience and Twitter. Prof. Brandeis teaches courses on American government, constitutional law and civil liberties, and is a frequent speaker on constitutional law and other legal issues. Prof. Brandeis also maintains a private law practice through which, subsequent to the date of this program, he provided legal representation in administrative agency proceedings for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska.

The program is scheduled to air on KSKA Public Radio "Addressing Alaskans" on Tuesday, March 11, at 2:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.  Click here for more information.

A video of the event is on the Justice Center website.

L to r: Ben Cort, Lance Buchholtz, Taylor Bickford, Prof. Brandeis, Ethan Nadelmann, Dean Guaneli, Dr. Payne.

Prof. Fortson volunteers at statewide mock trial competition for high school students

L to r: Volunteer evaluators Sharon Marshall, D.A.'s Office
and Prof. Fortson listen to opening argument.

Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Justice faculty, is the State Coordinator for the Alaska High School Mock Trial Competition. At this year's 25th annual competition, he was one of 70 judges, lawyers, and non-lawyer volunteers for the event held in Anchorage at the Boney Courthouse on February 27 - March 1.  The competition is sponsored by the Young Lawyers Section of the Anchorage Bar Association, the Law Related Education Committee of the Alaska Bar Association, and the Alaska Court System.

Judge Jennifer Stuart Henderson, District Court, swears in witnesses.

The Alaska High School Mock Trial Competition consists of teams of 6 to 9 high school students competing in simulated trials based on a fictional problem drafted by the competition organizers. Nearly 50 students from 7 schools in Anchorage, Sitka, North Pole, and Wasilla participated. The West Anchorage High School team prevailed over Sitka High School in the finals and will go on to compete in the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Wisconsin in May.

Magistrate Judge Suzanne Cole waits for the cross-examination of a witness.

Each year, the preliminary rounds are judged by attorneys from the Anchorage legal community, and the semifinals and finals are judged by sitting and retired judges from the Alaska and Federal Court Systems.

In addition to volunteers at the event, high school teachers and lawyers volunteered to coach teams in preparation for the competition. Volunteer lawyer coaches included Florina Altshiler, District Attorney's Office, Anchorage and Jude Pate, Public Defender Agency, Sitka.

Organizers for the competition included Lars Johnson, Alaska Public Defender Agency; Kimberly Tsaousis, Office of Public Advocacy; Brittany Goodnight, Alaska Public Defender Agency; and Bonnie Calhoun, Alaska District Court Law Clerk.

L to r: Organizers - Brittany Goodnight, Public Defender Agency;
Bonnie Calhoun, District Court Law Clerk; Kimberly Tsaousis,
Office of Public Advocacy; Lars Johnson, Public Defender Agency

Alpha Phi Sigma presents panel of experts on how to reduce violence against women in Alaska

As a precursor to National Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, the Alpha Phi Sigma, UAA Omega Chi Chapter of the National Criminal Justice Honor Society, and the UAA Justice Center are presenting a panel discussion on reducing domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska.

The event is part of the "NO MORE" national campaign to increase greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault. The week of March 17 is National "No More" Week and marks the one-year anniversary of this campaign.  The UAA event is part of this effort. 

What: "NO MORE Silence in the Dark"
Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Place: UAA/APU Consortium Library, LIB 307
Cost:  This program is free and open to UAA faculty, staff, students, and the public.
Parking:  Free parking in the library main lot off Alumni Drive

Panelists include Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty; Randi Breager, Alaska State Troopers Program Coordinator; Officer Rhonda Street and Officer Dave DeLesline, Anchorage Police Department; Shannon Eddy, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) Legal Project Staff Attorney; Dr. Angelia Trujillo, UAA School of Nursing, Forensic Nurse Examiner.
Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice faculty, is the moderator.

Student coordinators for this event are Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer. For more information contact the UAA Justice Center, 786-1810.

Don't miss tonight's event! Time to Legalize? A panel discussion on marijuana law and policy

Don't miss the March 5 panel discussion on marijuana law and policy sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and the UAA Justice Club for National Criminal Justice Month!

What: Time to Legalize? A Public Discussion on Marijuana Law and Policy
Date:  Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Time:  6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Place:  UAA Wendy Williamson Auditorium

Parking: Free in auditorium west side lot 
Cost:   Free to all UAA students, faculty, staff, and the public

Opening remarks by:
Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a national drug law reform organization headquartered in New York City

Panelists:
Sheriff Lance Buchholtz (Ret.), Wisconsin, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
Ben Cort, Colorado, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)
Dean Guaneli, former Chief Asst. Attorney General for Alaska
Taylor Bickford, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska
Prof. Jason Brandeis, UAA Justice Center, moderator
 

Follow us on Twitter @uaajc
Join the conversation #AKpot

Prof. Fortson writes UAA student's guide to landlord/tenant law

Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Justice faculty, has written A College Student's Guide to Landlord/Tenant Relations in Alaska to help UAA students as they get ready to start college or transition out of university housing and are looking to rent an apartment.

The guide covers:

• Renting an Apartment
• Leases and Subleases
• Living in the Apartment
• Problems with the Apartment
• Landlord Powers
• Evictions
• Moving Out
• Public Housing

The guide is available on the Justice Center website under the Student Forms and Resources tab and  on the  UAA Student Union & Commuter Student Services webpage.

The landlord/tenant guide grew out of volunteer work Prof. Fortson did in developing the "Housing" chapter for the Alaska Bar Association web publication, Alaska Youth Law Guide: A Handbook for Teens and Young Adults.  The publication was created by the Alaska Bar Association Law Related Education (LRE) Committee to help young Alaskans understand the law and how it may affect them.  Prof. Deb Periman, Justice Center faculty, was the chair of the drafting sub-committee for the handbook.

Time to legalize? A panel discussion on March 5 on marijuana law and policy

Don't miss the March 5 panel discussion on marijuana law and policy sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and the UAA Justice Club for National Criminal Justice Month!

What: Time to Legalize? A Public Discussion on Marijuana Law and Policy
Date:  Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Time:  6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Place:  UAA Wendy Williamson Auditorium

Parking: Free in auditorium west side lot 
Cost:   Free to all UAA students, faculty, staff, and the public

Opening remarks by:
Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a national drug law reform organization headquartered in New York City

Panelists:
Sheriff Lance Buchholtz (Ret.), Wisconsin, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
Ben Cort, Colorado, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)
Dean Guaneli, former Chief Asst. Attorney General for Alaska
Taylor Bickford, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska
Prof. Jason Brandeis, UAA Justice Center, moderator

Prof. Brandeis teaches courses on American government, constitutional law and civil liberties, and is a frequent speaker on constitutional law and other legal issues. Prof. Brandeis also maintains a private law practice through which, subsequent to the date of this program, he provided legal representation in administrative agency proceedings for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska.


  Follow us on Twitter @uaajc
Join the conversation #AKpot

Brooke Gladstone talks to Justice students about biases in journalism

Brooke Gladstone (center) talks about how she came to write a graphic novel about journalism.

L to r: Brooke Gladstone and Dr. Everett

Brooke Gladstone, host and editor of NPR's "On the Media," spoke to students in Dr. Ron Everett's Justice Theory and Policy Analysis class and Prof. Deb Periman's Legal Ethics class on February 26, as part of her visit to Alaska for UAA/APU Books of the Year.

She discussed her book, The Influencing Machine, which was chosen as one of the UAA/APU Books of the Year for 2013-2014.  During her remarks she focused on the need to think critically when reading media reports on issues related to justice and the legal system, and she encouraged students to look for the, often hard-to-discern, biases in journalism. Ms. Gladstone also described how she came to write a graphic novel, the process of creating the novel, and what a typical work week is like at "On the Media."

Her book is a media manifesto in graphic form, listed among the top books of 2011 by The New Yorker, and among the “10 Masterpieces of Graphic Nonfiction” by The Atlantic. Ms. Gladstone's career includes stints as an NPR Moscow-based reporter, its first media reporter, senior editor of NPR’s "All Things Considered," and the senior editor of "Weekend Edition" with Scott Simon. 

Core Grammar for Lawyers online tool now integrated into Legal Studies program

Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., Legal Studies Program Coordinator, recently announced that "Core Grammar for Lawyers" is now part of the curriculum for UAA Legal Studies students enrolled in Legal Studies 215 and will be required for the Legal Studies Senior Seminar.

Core Grammar for Lawyers (CGL) is an online, subscription-based, self-directed learning program that helps law, pre-law, and paralegal students, as well as practicing lawyers and paralegals, develop the grammar and punctuation skills that are critical to successful legal writing. The lessons are self-paced and allow students to progress, no matter what their skill level when they begin the program.

The program includes interactive exercises and immediate feedback to students about why a particular answer is correct or incorrect. It focuses on the technical style and citation requirements of legal writing.