Alice M. Noble-Allgire
Alice M. Noble-Allgire

With commencement ceremonies in the books for eight of Illinois’ nine law schools and the University of Chicago Law School scheduled for June 14, summer for law students has officially begun.

For educators at Southern Illinois University School of Law, it also means turning today’s high school students into tomorrow’s attorneys.

In one of the many events hosted by Illinois law schools this summer, SIU is partnering with the Illinois State Bar Association for the third straight year for the Illinois Law and Leadership Institute, a weeklong camp from June 22 to June 28 that teaches area ninth-and 10th-graders about the legal profession.

Acting as ISBA liaison to the event will be SIU law professor Alice M. Noble-Allgire.

“It’s really exciting to watch these young people get excited about the law and see what possibilities are out there for them,” Noble-Allgire said.

The students come from a mix of schools — some from southern Illinois, others from St. Louis — and spend the week experiencing life on a college campus.

During that week, students will participate in a mock trial in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Philip M. Frazier in Benton. The students also will conduct a moot court argument in an appellate case. The best oralists in the latter competition will win a flat $5,000 scholarship to SIU’s law school if the winners decide to pursue a legal career.

“The purpose of these scholarships is to inspire the students by telling them that we think so highly of their skills that we are confident they are going to go to law school one day, and we want them to come to the SIU School of Law,” Noble-Allgire said.

Other highlights include visits from Lt. Gov. Sheila J. Simon, Anthony Murray from the Innocence Project and Illinois Rep. Arthur L. Turner, D-Chicago. Finally, the camp will include a field trip to two St. Louis law firms for a variety of events.

The target number for the program is 30 students, a figure they are currently exceeding. The program is free and is funded in part through donations. Those wanting to sponsor students can contact Melissa Burkholder at (800) 678-4009 or mburkholder@isba.org.

Noble-Allgire recalled one mock trial during the program’s first year in which a student wowed audience members with his portrayal as a mother whose child had died.

“He played it to the hilt,” Noble-Allgire said. “It was an Academy Award-winning performance, complete with tears.”

Those are the highlights that Noble-Allgire appreciates.

“For me, it’s the ability to see the law through fresh eyes every year,” she said. “It’s really gratifying to inspire young people to think about the possibilities and to start seeing themselves in leadership roles.”

Other planned June events around the state are:

• Northwestern University School of Law’s Searle Center will hold a trio of conferences.

The fifth annual Searle Center Conference on Internet Search and Innovation is June 5-6, the fifth annual Chicago Forum on International Antitrust Issues is June 12-13 and the seventh annual Conference on Innovation Economics is June 19-20.

E-mail searlecenter@law.northwestern.edu for information on the antitrust conference and Derek Gundersen at d-gundersen@law.northwestern.edu for the other two.

• IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law will hold the 33rd annual Conference on Not-For-Profit Organizations on Thursday.

Desired attendees are experienced attorneys, experienced accountants, experienced not-for-profit staff and advisers.

• Northern Illinois University College of Law will hold its 10th annual NIU Law Golf Outing on June 6.

Golfers tee off at 11 a.m. at the River Heights Golf Course in DeKalb, and the event features a dinner, raffle and awards. It’s open to alumni and friends.

The school needs 100 golfers to close the course. To register, or for more information, contact Melody Mitchell at (815) 753-1027 or mmitchell@niu.edu.

• The University of Chicago Law School and the University of Chicago Association of Black Alumni will hold their annual UCABA Brunch on June 8.

The event costs $25 and will be at Public House, 400 N. State St. Go to uchicagoaba.org to register.

• Loyola University Chicago School of Law will present “Impact of Healthcare Reform on Provider Liability,” an online discussion, on June 11. The event is open to the public.

For more information, call the Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management at 312-915-8900.

• The John Marshall Law School will conduct its Job Placement Advisory Board Reception on June 11 at the law school.

The event is free though registration is requested. Visit events.jmls.edu to register.

• DePaul University College of Law will hold an Illinois Legal Aid Online’s operator volunteer training on June 19 at the school to address pro bono work and community service. For more information, e-mail Cheryl Price at cprice13@depaul.edu.

• University of Illinois College of Law professor Andrew D. Leipold will speak at the Northwestern Law conference What the Best Law Teachers Do: Education in Action on June 26 at 1 p.m. The conference runs June 25-27.

• And a reminder to law students: You can subscribe to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin for free. Use your school e-mail address at lawbulletin.com/students to sign up.