Category: General Announcements

The students at The University of Akron School of Law are accustomed to defeating other law schools in trial advocacy competitions. Akron Law consistently ranks among the best in the country in oral advocacy. But on Saturday, Akron Law students went head-to-head against each other to determine who is the best trial advocate at the 2012 Akron Law Intramural Trial Competition.

The advocates tried a difficult and complicated hypothetical case involving injuries caused by a bar bouncer to an intoxicated patron. After three rounds of competition, third- year students Elliott Lewis and Nicholas McGroarty took the championship. They narrowly defeated third-year students Brandon Trent and Corey Grimm in a riveting final round. The other semifinalists included students Michael Karst, Jon Sauline, Colin Wise, and Kassim Ahmed.

The trial lawyers of Tzangas Plakas, Mannos & Raies, Ltd. judged the qualifying rounds of the competition, with Judge Edward O’Farrell of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas presiding. Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas presided over the final round. This was the fifth year of the competition, which was held at the Akron Municipal Court.

“The Intramural Trial Competition provides not only an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Akron Law students, but also an occasion to remember the value of efficient and effective trial skills,” said Attorney David Dingwell of Tzangas Plakas, an Akron Law Alumni. “We are proud to show our ongoing commitment to the law school and the competition, and congratulate each of the participants for their hard work and dedication to the art of trial advocacy.”

The competition was a resounding success, with over 30 Akron Law students participating. To date, Tzangas Plakas has donated over $15,000 in its sponsorship of the Akron Law School Intramural Trial Competition.

For more information, contact Tzangas Plakas at (330) 455-6112 or visit www.lawlion.com.

A.L.i.C.E. Program – Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evaluate

As you may know, our UA Police Department has adopted the A.L.i.C.E. program teaching proactive measures to be taken when faced with an assailant entering a building or classroom.

A.L.i.C.E. stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate.  This nationally-renowned training was developed following examination of school shootings, such as the one that occurred at Colombine . . . and closer to our community we consider Appalachian School of Law, Case Western Reserve University and now Chardon.

UAPD will be here to deliver A.L.i.C.E. training sessions, as follows:

LAW STUDENTS (lunch hour)
Monday, March 26 – Noon to 1:00 – Law Student Lunchroom

LAW STUDENTS (dinner hour)
Wednesday, March 28 – 5:30 – 6:30 – Law Student Lunchroom

The faculty and staff went through this training yesterday and we highly recommend that all of you take part!  Come dressed ready to participate, there is an opportunity for interaction.

In the meantime, please view the brief intro training video prior to our in-service training session.  See:  http://www.uakron.edu/safety/police/services/training.dot.

I want to invite you to a special event.  Unless your class schedule conflicts with this event, you shouldn’t miss it.

Dr. Larry Snider is visiting my Trial Advocacy I class tomorrow — Friday March 23rd beginning at 9:00 in Law-151.  The class is scheduled from 9:00 AM until noon but we will likely meet for two hours.  Feel free to invite your friends.

Dr. Snider is Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at The University of Akron and is Principal Percussionist with the Akron Symphony Orchestra.  He has built a strong percussion program at Akron and his former students consistently achieve professional success as performers and educators throughout the world.  The percussion program’s most visible and widely acclaimed component is The University of Akron Steel Drum Band.  That’s right — steel drums in Akron!  How did that happen?

Steel drums were first created less than 100 years ago in colonial Trinidad as the people of that country struggled for independence.  Steel drum music was the music of the people and became the source of great conflict.  Authorities seized and destroyed the hand-hammered pans but the Trinidadians immediately rebuilt them.  Steel drum music is now a source of community pride, national identity, and economic development.  Dr. Snider brought steel drums from the tropical Caribbean to the often frigid northeast Ohio in 1980 by creating the University of Akron Steel Drum Band.

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH TRIAL LAWYERS?  DR. SNIDER TEACHES PERFORMANCE AND HE HAS VALUABLE LESSONS FOR US.  This is a rare opportunity to see a charismatic and tremendously talented artist share his gifts.

I hope to see you there.

Professor Cole

To learn more about Dr. Snider, visit http://www3.uakron.edu/music/faculty/assets/snider.html.

To learn about Hammer on Steel, a PBS documentary about the development of steel drums and their unlikely journey to Akron, Ohio, visit https://www.uakron.edu/artscollege/hammer-on-steel.dot?host_id=1.