Three additions to the law school\u27s faculty are bolstering three of the School\u27s already-strong areas---intellectual property, writing and technology.  Learn about the new-comers\u27 accomplishments and their plans for the academic program

Leary, Betty Lynne

English

Digital Commons @ UM Law

Four historically strong areas in the School of Lawwere enhanced this semester with the hiring ofthree new faculty members-Lawrence Sung inintellectual property, Steven Schwinn in theWriting Center and Tom Perez in the ClinicalProgram (see story on page 23)-and AssistantDean for Academic Technology Mary Cornaby.These programs form a critical building block inthe law school's curriculum and serve as a funda-mental part of a student's education. Intellectualproperty is one of the fastest-growing legal fieldstoday and affects vi rtually every other area of thelaw. Students master the art of oral and writtencommunication within the Writing Center while thelatest academic technology offers students, facultyand staff a myriad of cutting-edge ways to learnand teach the law. The appointments of these newprofessionals was, according to Dean Karen H.Rothenberg, both strategic and serendipitous.17 JD MAGAZINE FALL 2001At left: Lawrence Sung;at right: Steven SchwinnBETTY LYNNE LEARYHOT PROPERTYAs the son of a biochemist and an immunologist, Lawrence Sung knewexactly what life held for a research scientist. During the final year ofhis own doctorate program in microbiology at the U.S. Department ofDefense, Uniformed Services University, Sung began searching for anew way to apply his knowledge and skills. A fortuitous decision totake the LSAT led him to become one of the rising stars in the field ofintellectual property-a career that perfectly melds his impressivescientific background with the law. But for those who think intellectualproperty pertains only to science, Sung quickly discredits that myth."It's not an esoteric aspect of the law," he says. "One look at The WallStreet Journal and it's hard to miss the impact that intellectual propertyhas across the board, from scienceand engineering to entertainment andthe Internet. They are all part and parcel of the intellectual propertysphere." As a newly appointed assistant professor, Sung wants his stu-dents to understand the policy aspects of how things get done and why."IP is a hot area right now," Sung explains, "and it affects so manyareas of the law-bankruptcy, corporation ownership, insurance andbasic contracts to name only a few.All of these related areas of generalpractice rub up against intellectual property."Sung, a graduate of The American University Washington Collegeof Law and a former judicial clerk to Judge Raymond C. Clevenger III,U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, will teach an intellectu-al property survey class which covers patents, trademarks, copyrightsand trade secrets-the "big four" in intellectual property. Also on hisschedule is Licensing & Technology Transfer Policy, a course designedto teach students how new things reach themarketplace."We'll discuss everything from the 'eureka'moment to regulatory issues, and ownershipissues to putting a product on the shelf," hedescribes. Next spring, Sung will offer apatent class and a biotechnology law class.Sung notes a marked increase in interestin intellectual property at law schools acrossthe country. As recently as five years ago,however, very few professors were actuallytrained in patents, Sung says, adding thatmost probably started in the copyright andtrademark areas."The last two to three years have seen ahuge surge in patent-trained professors," heattests. "Many are former court clerks whoare now driving the intellectual propertyprograms at law schools."A registered patent attorney himself, Sungspecialized in biotechnology patent litigationas an associate with Foley & Lardner, andthen as of counsel to Arter & Hadden, LLP,and McKenna & Cuneo, LLP."We are extremely excited to haveLawrence Sung on board," says Rothenberg."He has practical and analytical experiencethrough his scientific work plus clerking andteaching experience. He will help take thelaw school beyond law and health care,beyond environmental law, and into the bur-geoning biotech field."Maryland's proximity to the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH) and the 1-270corridor provides students with unparalleledopportunities in a variety of tech transferoffices. Sung encourages his students to takefull advantage of the positive relationshipsthe law school has with the NIH and thecompanies within the biotech corridor ofMontgomery County (Md.)."That type of clinical application isextremely valuable," he stresses, "and bringsthe relationships of our School and our neigh-bors closer together." Studying law in a timewhen intellectual property issues are likely togalvanize, law students will emerge as winnersin this legal and academic partnership."Without discredit to other institutions,Maryland is poised very well in the region'sbiotech industry," Sung says. "I hope mypresence contributes to that."COMMUNICATION CENTRALA major component of the law school'sreformed curriculum, especially for first-yearstudents, is the expansion of legal analysiswriting and research, dubbed LAWR 1, II andIII. As a newly appointed assistant professorand associate director of legal writing, StevenSchwinn plans to bring the analysis and writ-ing expertise of students to higher levels."We aim to teach our students the mostimportant lawyering skills," Schwinn explains."Communicating is central to what lawyersdo whether it's written, oral or electronic."He describes Maryland's new curriculum ascutting-edge, adding, "It better integrates thewriting analysis component into the wholelaw school experience. And we're very excitedabout that."Schwinn is a 1995 graduate of TheAmerican University Washington College ofLaw and most recently served as the associatedirector of the legal research and writing pro-gram at George Washington University LawSchool.Susan Hankin, director of the School'swriting center, works closely withSchwinn to help students honetheir writing and researching skills.The center opened in 1997 and isstaffed by teaching assistants (TAs)trained by Schwinn and Hankin."We help the TAs with advancedwriting skills, plus we teach themhow to teach others," Hankinexplains. Assistants learn peer-review techniques, how. to workone-on-one with students, and howto make comments on papers.While seeking help from the writ-ing center is strictly voluntary,many students take advantage ofthe opportunity. With 18 newassistants in training plus eight vet-erans who returned this fall,Hankin hopes to keep the centerstaffed full-time.Schwinn describes the writingcenter as a fantastic resource, not-ing that with the improved facilitiesin the new building, "we'll be ableto do some very creative thingsthere." Rothenberg notes thatSchwinn brings his own brand of creativityto his role in making legal writing and analy-sis come alive in the classroom."We have made the effort to increase bothhuman and financial resources for the newLAWR 1, II and III offerings," Rothenbergsays. "We are so fortunate to have Steve, whocomes to us with experience and creativity inworking with an extensive adjunct facultyand in preparing our students for writing ina real-world context."TECHNOLOGICAL WIZARDTeaching faculty to utilize fully the techno-logical capabilities of the new building fallsto Mary Coma by, the School's new assistantdean for academic technology. Her expertiselies not in computer science but in classroomtechnology, such as distance education initia-tives, bringing in speakers via video hook-upsand helping faculty place course materialonline so students have better access to it."The new building and its resources willequip Maryland to equal or surpass any lawschool in the country,"Cornaby asserts. "Theopportunity of technologyenrichment in the class-room, especially for peoplewho learn differently, isincredible." She describeshow a hearing impaired stu-dent will be able to use ahuman transcriber to send areal-time transcription of alecture to a laptop. "That'san example of technologythat currently exists in thecourts and is now beingbrought into the class-room," she adds.Lawyers practicing in a tech-drenchedmarketplace learn to harness technology fortrial organization functions as well as theelectronic presentation of evidence, exhibitsand transcriptions."We previously spenthundreds of hours doingthose tasks, and usedmany support personnelto retrieve information.Now information can becalled up at a moment'snotice," Cornaby relates."That makes a triallawyer a road warrior. Itchanges the trial dynam-ics and it changes howwe teach trial practice."Instead of physicallypassing exhibits to thejury, a lawyer can projectit overhead in full color,recreating an accidentscene complete with ani-mation. Cornaby notesthat students soon dis-tion we can offer them," Cornaby says."Maryland has extraordinarily good teachers,and I get the privilege and opportunity tohelp them reach more students." A formerresearch librarian for the law school, Cornabyreturned to Maryland after serving as directorof academic computing at VillanovaUniversity School of Law in Pennsylvania.She received her juris doctor in 1980 from theSeattle University School of Law.Although the new building won't openuntil the summer, she is already workingwith faculty on enhancing their teachingtechniques. "I'm grateful for the faculty'swillingness to examine the advantages thattechnology has to offer and that the facultyare trying to integrate technology into themanner in which they teach," she says."Faculty acceptance is everything."Rothenberg characterizes Cornaby as anational leader in the integration of technol-ogy into legal education.She describes the adminis-tration's strategic plan tohave the critical humanresources to match the tech-nological wizardry of thenew building."We have three goals forthis technology," Rothenbergsays. "To enhance the peda-gogy, to provide more oppor-tunities for distance learning,and to significantly improvethe productivity betweenstudents and faculty."With the talents andfresh perspectives broughtto the School by these threenew recruits, Maryland stands well-preparedto build on its strengths and expand intoexciting new areas of opportunity whilepreparing its students for lawyering in the21 st century."1[he opportunity oftechnology enrichmentin the classroom,especially for people who learndifferently, is incredible."-Mary Cornaby, assistant dean for academic technologycover this type of technology has both posi-tive and negative aspects.Technological advances also help facultyaccommodate students with different learn-ing styles. Lectures augmented with Power-Point slides and video clips enhance theeducation for students more adapted to visuallearning."We can serve our students in so manydifferent ways. They will get the best educa-19 JD MAGAZINE FALL 2001Above: Mary Cornaby

Building on Our Strengths

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Building on Our Strengths

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