Monday, February 25, 2019
Fri, 22 Feb 2019
Edie Swann, Director of Public Affairs
Liberty University School of Law hosted the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims on Thursday, February 21, 2019, in the law school’s Supreme Courtroom with over 250 in attendance.
Presiding over the court were Judges Michael Allen, Margaret Bartley, and Coral Wong Pietsch. Although the principal office is located in Washington, D.C., the court sits by invitation from law schools around the country to hear oral arguments on actual cases. As part of these special sessions, the judges provide an open question and answer forum for students after the court recesses.
At the Liberty Law event, the judges began their day with a tour hosted by the law student ambassadors and lunch with honors students and school leadership. Students, faculty, and staff were also able to engage with the judges and their clerks at a meet and greet reception later in the day.
Colonel David J. Western, Associate Dean for Administration and Student Development, led in the coordination of the event which involved high-security procedures and multiple opportunities for student engagement with the judges and clerks.
“Transforming our law school into an actual federal courtroom provides an incredible learning experience for our students,” Western said. “Not only do they get to witness skillful attorneys argue a live case, but they gain first-hand knowledge of a new area of the law and understand the importance of advocacy.”
This is the second time in the past year that the School of Law has hosted a U.S. Court of Appeals and the school plans to continue to bring these unique opportunities to its law and government students. Director of Employer and Student Services, Kristine H. Smith, commended the program as another great example of experiential learning that is provided by the law school.
“Liberty Law strives to offer our students multiple and varied opportunities for practical skills training and experiential learning,” Smith said. “Observation of the Court’s oral arguments was an exceptional opportunity to further that goal and our students’ education.”
To learn more about Liberty University School of Law, visit our website.