Welcome to The Drexel Docket – Drexel Law's e-newsletter. The Docket brings you updates about the college; stories about what the faculty and students are doing; and news we think will be of interest to current and prospective students, pre-law advisors, co-op sponsors, alumni of the University, and friends of the law school. If you have comments or suggestions, please send them to us using the link at the end of this issue. We invite you to visit us at http://www.drexel.edu/law.

Roger J. Dennis Named Founding Dean of Drexel Law

Drexel University’s year-long search for a dean to lead its new law school ended on January 30 with the selection of the top official at Rutgers-Camden, Provost Roger J. Dennis. He begins as Drexel Law’s founding dean on May 1.

An expert on corporate and antitrust law, Dennis was dean of the Rutgers-Camden law school for six years, and has served as provost since 1997. In addition to his ample administrative experience, Dennis has worked extensively with the American Bar Association on law school accreditation. That background should prove helpful to Drexel, which will begin the long process of winning ABA approval in the fall.

“The chance to create a new law school is a pretty unique opportunity,” Dennis said. “It’s a legacy job. It’s really an opportunity to help an institution shape something new and exciting.”

Joseph Jacovini, Esq. Honored by American Jewish Committee

Drexel University’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees Joseph H. Jacovini, Esq. was recently honored with the Judge Learned Hand Award from the American Jewish Committee. Mr. Jacovini is the chairman of Dilworth Paxson, LLP (www.dilworthlaw.com), where he has practiced law since 1965. Mr. Jacovini has more than 35 years of experience as a corporate/securities lawyer and has been a leader and role model in the Philadelphia legal community. He also is a member of the Visiting Committee of the College of Law.

Drexel Law Co-op Spotlight: SAP

As plans for Drexel Law’s co-op program kick into high gear, students interested in intellectual property or corporate law have not one, but two opportunities to consider at SAP, the world’s leading provider of business software solutions. The company is offering one placement in the Global Intellectual Property (GIP) group of SAP AG and another in the legal department of SAP America.

“Working at SAP through Drexel Law’s co-op program will help students focus in on their interests and get a little dose of reality at the same time,” said Anthony DiBartolomeo, vice president of IP litigation for SAP’s GIP group. “They’ll see the way in-house lawyers engage with business people and get an inside view about patents and corporate litigation. They’ll come away with practical experience and the opportunity to evolve their own interests.”

The idea of participating in the co-op program originated when Drexel President Dr. Constantine Papadakis spoke at an SAP-sponsored event with Brad Brubaker, senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary for SAP America. Brubaker and other SAP executives were impressed with Drexel’s approach to co-operative education and believed the program would be a good match.

“I think the co-op program is a great idea because it gives students real work experience and helps set expectations,” said Brubaker, a former systems engineer with RCA and GE who also worked as an attorney with the law firm of Brown & Connery. “At SAP, we can give them a sense of what it’s like to be a corporate lawyer who’s working as part of a business team to create value for the company’s shareholders, rather than as an outside legal expert providing advice.”

Ranked by FORTUNE magazine in its 2006 “Most Admired Companies” survey as among the top three computer software companies in America, SAP helps customers with enterprise resource planning and related software solutions such as supply chain management, customer relationship management, product life-cycle management, and supplier relationship management. More than 32,000 customers in more than 120 countries run SAP software in industries such as high-tech, health care, retail, public sector and financial services. The company employs more than 34,000 people in more than 50 countries.

Located in Newtown Square, Delaware County (approximately 12 miles from Drexel’s campus and accessible by car or bus), SAP offers each co-op placement distinct opportunities. The GIP group’s attorneys strategically monitor, protect, and leverage the company’s intellectual property through patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, IP transactions, and employee education. The legal department is responsible for providing all general corporate legal and compliance services to the SAP group of companies located in the United States and for coordinating legal affairs for the Americas regions, including Canada and Latin America. (The legal department is separate from SAP America’s contracts department.)

The student chosen for the GIP group placement will have work assignments centered on IP litigation, with possible additional assignments relating to patent portfolio development and licensing. “Co-op students will be exposed to several different areas of our department, including the various phases of litigation,” said DiBartolomeo. “We work with our government relations department on IP-specific issues and reforms, so the students learn about public policy matters, help research legal issues, and possibly participate in the development of amicus briefs.”

For the legal department co-op experience, students may assist with drafting and negotiating general business contracts (such as computer software licenses and services, partner, development, and marketing agreements) and help provide legal services and due diligence in connection with corporate mergers, acquisitions, and joint venture arrangements or other strategic partnerships. They may also provide general litigation support; advise and assist corporate human resources staff with legal matters related to employee relations, company benefits plans, and equal employment opportunities; and provide compliance, tax counsel, and other legal advice to the corporate accounting department.

Brubaker said he is pleased with the fact that Drexel Law co-op students will get to spend a full six months with the company and enjoy a more meaningful experience during the company’s busy third and fourth quarters. DiBartolomeo agreed and said he is heartened by the way the school is engaging the community. “When I spoke to some of the students recently, I got the sense they were very excited about the many opportunities the school is providing and all of the efforts its administrators are making to create a first-class experience,” he said.

SAP is one of approximately 90 placements that will be overseen by the associate dean for Experiential Learning, Susan Brooks. Dean Brooks, who will be joining the College of Law full-time this summer, will be working with the co-op coordinators/professors to ensure that the experience is a valuable one for all students through ongoing feedback, supervision, and reflection.

Conversations with the Profession: Pepper Hamilton Challenges
Intelligent Design

On January 30, the second of a three-part series at Drexel Law sponsored by Fox Rothschild, “Conversations with the Profession,” featured law partners Eric Rothschild and Steve Harvey of Pepper Hamilton LLP, who led the counsel for the plaintiffs in the controversial intelligent design case (Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District) in 2005.

Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District was the first legal test of the constitutionality of teaching intelligent design as science, and the most significant case on religious issues in public school science classes since 1987, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the teaching of creation science.

In an engaging presentation, Rothschild and Harvey demonstrated how they were able to successfully and categorically argue that intelligent design was a religious rather than scientific concept and that the Dover School Board had acted with the mission of promoting religion. In ruling for the plaintiffs, Judge Jones found that intelligent design is a religious, non-scientific proposition, and that teaching intelligent design in public schools violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Drexel Law Organizations Enrich Community

First-year law students have to balance a lot — keeping up with the pace of their classes...getting accustomed to a new city...figuring out what kind of summer experience to pursue. Now imagine adding the time needed to start a new student organization from scratch!

But that’s exactly what has been happening at Drexel Law as a significant percentage of the inaugural class has been establishing more than two dozen student organizations. Time pressures didn’t stop most first-years from attending a student organization fair in the fall quarter to meet and explore options. The goal? To create opportunities for students who share similar interests to spend time together and also connect to the broader legal community.

“Student organizations are part of the lifeblood for any law school, and we’re here to help them develop,” says Teresa Wallace, acting associate dean of students for the law school. “I admire our students’ ambition and enthusiasm; they’re off to an absolutely amazing start.”

The range of proposed organizations is incredibly diverse. They include political groups such as the Federalist Society and the American Constitution Society; service organizations such as the Student Public Interest Network; fraternal organizations such as Phi Delta Phi; affinity groups including the Justinian Society, Christian Law Students, OUTLAW, and Jewish Law Students; and practice-oriented organizations centering on such areas as business, criminal, environmental, health, intellectual property (IP), sports and entertainment, and international law. Dean Wallace points out that, while some of the groups are not yet officially affiliated with the respective national organizations because affiliation depends upon accreditation, each one is laying the foundation in order to be ready once accreditation is achieved.

The Women’s Law Society hosted the first major event with “Kidney Klaus,” in which the society’s members worked with the Drexel Law community to provide a needy family with a computer and other wonderful gifts during the December holiday season.

Now that the newly formed Student Bar Association has distributed initial funds to the fledgling groups, their members are busy creating organizational structures and making plans for their first events, programs, and issues to address. For most of them, the intention is to bring in speakers or panels, plan social events, make a difference in the community, and meet relevant professionals in their areas of interest. Some of the organizations have already become involved with corresponding groups at nearby law schools, leveraging interests with university-related groups and outside organizations.

“It’s important in law school to make connections with other students — your future colleagues — and working professionals you can learn from,” says Dean Wallace. “You create bonds with your classmates and build connections to the outside world. This is what starts to create the web throughout your professional career and personal life.”

Current students wanting to learn more about joining an organization can contact Wallace at 215-571-4817 or tawallace@drexel.edu. Prospective students can contact the Admissions Office at 215-895-1LAW to connect them with student organizations they are interested in knowing more about.

Apply to Drexel Law

Make sure we receive your application in time to give it our best consideration. Please visit www.drexel.edu/apply/law. And remember: if you apply online, we’ll waive your application fee.

On-Campus Information Sessions

On-Campus Information Sessions
College of Law	February 27, 2007	4 p.m. – 6 p.m.	More Info	Register

Wednesday Information Hours
College of Law	Wed., February 21	3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	More Info	Register
College of Law	Wed., March 7	3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	More Info	Register
College of Law	Wed., March 14	3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	More Info	Register

return to top

Drexel Law Admissions Has New Home

Please note that the Admissions Office has moved to its new home in the Law building. You may contact the Admissions staff at:

Office of Admissions
Drexel University College of Law
3320 Market Street Suite 130
Philadelphia, PA 19104

215-895-1LAW

If you have comments, questions, or suggestions about The Drexel Docket, please contact us.

Drexel University’s College of Law has been provisionally accredited by the Council of
the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar
Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610.

Students at a provisionally accredited law school and individuals who graduate while
the school is provisionally approved are entitled to the same recognition given to
students and graduates of fully approved law schools. Graduates of Drexel’s law
school will be eligible to sit for the bar exam in any jurisdiction.

More information about accreditation can be found on the ABA’s website or by calling
the association at (312) 988-5000.