Events Calendar

Renowned attorney, author and professor Lawrence Lessig will give the keynote address "The 'Corruption' of Our System of Money and Politics" at an event hosted at The University of Texas at Austin on Monday, Feb. 28.

The event, which includes a panel discussion after Lessig's presentation, takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Thompson Conference Center. The talk is free and open to university students and faculty with an ID and the public, but seating is limited.

Law School Dean Lawrence Sager will introduce Lessig, a Harvard University law professor who is the founder and chairman of the board of FixCongressFirst and director of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics at Harvard.

For much of his academic career, Lessig has focused on law and technology, especially as it affects copyright. He is the author of five books on the subject and has served as lead counsel in a number of important cases marking the boundaries of copyright law in a digital age.

His work on institutional corruption (relationships that are legal, even ethical, but that weaken public trust in institutions) led to his founding of Change Congress (now FixCongressFirst) where he champions the necessity of democratic citizenship.

Lessig's presentation will be followed by a panel discussion "Are Our Elected Officials for Sale: If So, What Can Be Done?" featuring Lessig; Steve Bickerstaff, adjunct professor at the School of Law; Sherri Greenberg, interim director of the LBJ School's Center for Politics and Governance; Mark McKinnon, political strategist, media consultant and a founder of No Labels; and Brian Roberts, a University of Texas at Austin government professor. Harvey Kronberg, a political analyst and editor of the Quorum Report, will moderate the panel.

Sponsors of the event include The Center for Politics and Governance at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, the School of Law, the Department of Government, Public Citizen and Coffee Party Austin.

For more information contact Joanne Richards, Coffee Party Austin, 512-345-4479 or phjfr@swbell.net.

The Thompson Conference Center is at the southwest corner of Dean Keeton and Red River streets. The entrance to its free parking lot is on Red River.

For more information, contact: Kerri Battles, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs, 512-232-4054; Laura Castro, School of Law, 512-232-1229.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2011/02/28/11123/

Texas Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights, with the Immigration and Nationality Section of the State Bar, presents its annual symposium: "Civil Rights on the Border." The keynote speaker will be James Ho, former Texas Solicitor General. Mr. Ho will speak on birthright citizenship and the Fourteenth Amendment. Additional panels will include discussions of litigation surrounding Immigration Detention Centers, the Dream Act, and Operation Streamline.

Symposium Agenda:

1) Coffee and Registration 9:00 - 9:30AM

2) Barbara Hines, Lisa Graybill (Detention centers and Hutto Litigation) 9:30 - 11:00, Presentation and Q&A

3) Jose Torres (Dream Act student) 11:00 - 11:20

4) Horatio Aldredge (Operation streamline) 11:20 - 11:40

5) Q&A for Jose and Horatio 11:40 - 11:50

6) Lunch 12:00 - 1:00

7) Keynote Speaker James Ho (Birthright citizenship and the 14th Amendment) 12:00 - 12:30, during lunch

8) Birthright Citizenship Panel Dr. Ronald Trowbridge (Texas Public Policy Foundation), Dr. Gary Endelman (Attorney at BP, Houston), and Dan Kowalski (The Fowler Law Firm, Immigration Litigation) 1:00 - 2:30PM

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2011/03/01/10747/

The Law School is hosting a reception for DC area alumni and admitted students on March 1st at Rosa Mexicano, 5:30 p.m.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2011/03/01/9105/

Come learn about Equal Justice Works’ public interest programs and initiatives. Equal Justice Works’ senior program manager Charlene Gomes will discuss both summer and postgraduate opportunities with Equal Justice Works and options for relieving educational debt after you graduate.

The Equal Justice Works Summer Corps Program provides financial support for law students who dedicate their summer to providing critically needed legal assistance in low-income and underserved communities. Summer Corps members are awarded a $1,132 Americorps Education voucher for their service.

The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellows Program places fellows in one- or two-year fellowships at host organizations around the country. Fellows play a critical role in securing affordable housing, lost wages, orders of protection, health care, public benefits and education for low-income and underserved communities.

The Equal Justice Works Postgraduate Fellowship Program provides financial and technical support to lawyers working on innovative and effective legal projects. The two-year fellowships offer salary and generous loan repayment assistance.

The Public Defender Corps is an Equal justice Works and Southern Public Defender Training Center program that provides three-year fellowships aimed at addressing the ongoing national crisis of providing quality representation to accused persons who cannot afford counsel.

Lunch will be provided. RSVP by Tuesday, March 1, on UT Law Symplicity by selecting the “Events” tab.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2011/03/02/10904/

The Alumni Association is hosting a reception for all New York area alumni and admitted students on Wednesday, March 2 at the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski, 666 Fifth Avenue.

The reception for admitted students begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the alumni reception at 6:00 p.m.

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2011/03/02/8601/

Please join the Teach for America Austin Alumni Association for our 4th Annual Policy Forum with our featured speaker, AISD Superintendent, Dr. Meria Carstarphen. She will discuss AISD's efforts to close the achievement gap and other current issues in education. The event is being co-sponsored by the UT Law/Webb Middle School Youth Court.

Please RSVP but no need to print your ticket. We will have a list at the event.

Here is the link to the invite. http://4thannualpolicyforum.eventbrite.com/

Full event information: https://law.utexas.edu/calendar/2011/03/02/11084/