Rising 3L Amy Carter will be working in Alaska over the summer.

This year, Gonzaga Law was one of only 12 law schools in the country to be chosen by the Patton Boggs Foundation for the Public Policy Fellowship. This fellowship is given to the schools to help fund an exceptional law student who will spend their summer working on public policy matters at a non-profit or government agency. Gonzaga Law rising 3L student Amy Carter was awarded this prestigious fellowship for the Summer of 2013 and will be working in Anchorage with the First Alaskans Institute’s Alaska Native Policy Center.

Focusing on Native Policy

During the Spring 2013 Semester, Carter worked with Gonzaga Law’s University Legal Assistance in the Indian Law Clinic, which provides legal assistance to local tribal members. This experience led to an interest in Native American law and policy. While working with the First Alaskans Institute’s Alaska Native Policy Center, Carter will conduct legal research, writing and analysis on public policy issues affecting Alaska Natives.

An Interest in Alaska

Carter received her BA in International Political Economy at Colorado College and her MA in Political Science at Vanderbilt. Carter’s interest in Alaskan policymaking issues began while working in the Environment and Fisheries Department of the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. During that time, Carter worked on issues such as the exploration of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. While working in K-12 education, Carter taught several American policymaking courses. Carter hopes that the work she does as a part of this fellowship will help her develop a better understanding of Native American and Alaskan issues, as she hopes to return to Alaska after finishing law school.

About the Patton Boggs Fellowship

The Patton Boggs Foundation, which funds the Fellowship, was established in 2000 with funds from the attorneys’ fees earned from a successful 25-year pro bono class action employment-discrimination case won by John Oberdorfer. Created to honor one of Patton Boggs’s founding partners, Jim Patton, the Foundation is committed to creating public policy-oriented opportunities for new attorneys.

The annual VABANC scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the needs of the Vietnamese-American or Vietnamese community. Open to all currently enrolled law students, the scholarship is intended to provide assistance to students towards their public interest or social justice goals.

VABANC has historically awarded 2 scholarships of at least $1,000 each at our past annual scholarship dinners. The award amount may increase based on fundraising. Priority will be given to those who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the Vietnamese-American or Vietnamese community in Northern California, and to those who will be using the scholarship award towards public interest or social justice work, either by pursuing post-graduate work or for a summer position.

The 2013 scholarship recipient(s) will be recognized at VABANC’s annual scholarship dinner on September 27, 2013, at the University Club in Palo Alto. Attendance at the scholarship dinner is mandatory and conditional to the award. Please note that VABANC is unable to pay for any expenses, including transportation and lodging, in connection with your interview and/or attendance at the Scholarship Dinner.

How to Apply

Email completed applications to scholarship@vabanc.org.
Completed applications must include:
1) A completed application form;
2) a résumé and three references; and
3) a personal statement (no more than 800 words) describing:

• What you see as a pressing concern(s) facing the Vietnamese-American or Vietnamese community, and how you see yourself contributing to or engaging in such an issue; and/or
• Your contributions to or activism within the Vietnamese-American community and/or Vietnamese community; and/or
• Your experience(s) in overcoming socioeconomic and/or other barriers.

Get the full Application Information form (PDF)

On May 11, 2013, the Gonzaga Law Class of 2013 Commencement was held at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Honorary degrees were conferred on John Morey Maurice and commencement speaker Judy Clarke.

Watch the 2013 Law Commencement Ceremony

Additional 2013 Commencement Awards and Speakers

The Dean’s Academic Achievement Award: Catherine Kardong
The Holly Caudill Award: Shannon Elyse Fields, Teresita del Carmen Varela, and Hunt Meyer Whaley
Dean’s Pro Bono Award of Distinction: Christal Seen-Yan Lam
Class of 2013 Student Speaker: Phillip Meurig Mason
Faculty Speaker: Patrick Charles

Fulfilling A Childhood Dream

After receiving her undergraduate degree at Hawaii Pacific University, Lamari spent nearly ten years working as a teacher, including 5 years of teaching English in Korea, France, and Poland. “When I was making the decision to go back to school, I asked myself what I had wanted to do when growing up, and the answer was become a lawyer. So I took the LSAT and started law school within just a few months.” Lamari will be spending the summer working with the Environmental Law Clinic, as well as volunteering her time with the variety of boards and organizations she is involved with.

A Dedication to Diversity

Lamari is involved in a variety of activities, both at Gonzaga Law and as a part of outside organizations. Lamari serves as a member of the SBA Diversity Committee, incoming Vice president for the Native American Law Students Association, treasurer for the Spokane County Bar Association Indian Law Section, Spokane Ambassador for QLAW, the Washington State GLBT Bar Association, the the Advocacy and Education Chair for the GSA Outlaws, and more.

About the SBA Scholarship

The SBA Scholarship is a scholarship established by the Gonzaga University Student Bar Association with reserve funds from SBA student dues. The endowed scholarship is given to a student “who has been active on-campus. The goal is to honor a student who has brought something to the school outside of the classroom.” This is the second year the scholarship has been awarded.

Professor John Maurice

Professor John Maurice’s academic journey began with an undergraduate history degree cum laude at the University of Colorado and was completed with a Juris Doctor degree from the New York University School of Law. John’s accomplishments as a student have been recognized in prestigious scholarships; Fulbright, Wilson and White House Fellowships; and Phi Beta Kappa membership.

John Maurice’s life reflects the many ways he, in turn, rewarded society through his public service as a member of the Spokane Civil Service Commission; President of the Board of Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho, as well as of The Inland Empire Association of Phi Beta Kappa. John’s contributions demonstrate the truth of Lee F. Hamilton’s observation that public service “is not just a way of life; it is a way to live life fully.”

Maurice has spent nearly four decades teaching generations of Gonzaga law students. Maurice created both the Thomas More Scholarship Program and the Florence Summer Program. The former, which he directed for twenty five years, has provided a unique educational experience for more than 200 Gonzaga Law School graduates committed to the law through public service. The latter, begun with his colleague Mary Pat Treuthart, has given Gonzaga law students the opportunity to become familiar with international legal issues directly in Italy. John created (and for twenty-seven years directed) Gonzaga’s Continuing Legal Education program, and, as chair of the Building Committee, oversaw the design and construction of Gonzaga’s law school building. His career has been marked by numerous awards that acknowledge his excellence as a teacher.

Professor Alan McNeil

Alan McNeil has been teaching clinical law at Gonzaga for over 35 years. His areas of focus have included general civil litigation, criminal law, disabilities law, and domestic relations. For the past 10 years, McNeil has involved the clinic in a variety of consumer protection issues including predatory mortgage lending practice, usury, fraud, insurance claims credit issues, and pay day loans. McNeil graduated from Ohio University in 1970 and taught special education until he entered law school in 1974. While teaching at Gonzaga Law, McNeil supervised full time in the general clinical program and created the Consumer Law Clinic. He has taught a survey course on consumer law and courses on wrongful convictions.

Mr. McNeil has served in various capacities for 25 years on the Board of Directors of Skils’kin, a local non-profit agency that provides employment opportunities for the developmentally disabled. McNeil is also a member of the Washington State Trial Lawyer’s Association, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Consumer Law Center and American Motorcycle Association.