The ‘best bet to succeed:’ 2L and Navy Reservist supports KU’s student veterans

Derek Kandt and the USS Enterprise.

Derek Kandt and the USS Enterprise in the Arabian Gulf in 2012.

Army Specialist Spencer Duncan was serving in Afghanistan when his helicopter was shot down in 2011, killing him and 37 other U.S. troops and support personnel.

Last month, 2L Derek Kandt, president of KU’s Student Veterans of America, helped honor Specialist Duncan’s memory by accepting a gift from the Spencer C. Duncan Make it Count Foundation. Duncan’s parents, former School of Architecture, Design and Planning lecturer Dale Duncan and his wife, Megan Duncan, established the fund to honor their son’s memory. The gift will fund scholarships for veterans.

“Specialist Duncan and his family have done and are continuing to do awesome work on behalf of men and women who have served,” Kandt said. “Duncan’s family and friends are passing on the message to his brothers and sisters in arms that they still have a life to lead and they can make it count. The Make it Count Foundation and Student Veterans for America both agree that the best way for them to do that is in pursuit of an education.”

Kandt is a Master-at-Arms Second Class in the United States Navy Reserve. He attended boot camp in 2009 and deployed in 2012, providing security and collaborating with independent security teams aboard a Navy supply ship. Last summer he interned with the Navy JAG Corps in Bremerton, Washington.

Kandt with the vessel's long range acoustic device.

Kandt on the ship’s signal bridge with a long range acoustic device. The device warns vessels away from the ship’s security perimeter.

“My job in the Navy is responsible for filling Military Police roles, so it has given me a lot of law enforcement insight,” Kandt said. “That provides a great foundation for criminal law. I also believe the military breeds a certain sense of professionalism that has served me well in law school and in my interactions with members of the legal community.”

Though law school ends for Kandt next year, he has no plans to stop serving his country. “I would very much like to continue to serve after completing my education,” Kandt said. “I was first inspired to pursue law school as a path to the JAG Corps. I am also considering the officer corps and continuing in my reserve capacity. The military will always be a part of my life.”

Kandt feels strongly about supporting veterans as they pursue higher education. This commitment led him to get involved with Student Veterans of America.

“I have a real passion for my fellow service members,” Kandt said. “They leave the service with a lot of opportunities and valuable skills, but many of them have been out of the classroom for a long time, or never felt like they belonged there in the first place. An education is their best bet to succeed after they get back.”

Saying ‘I do’ to marriage, homeownership and law school

sangeeta-wedding

We’ve all heard of the Rule of Threes. Things are supposed to be funnier when they happen in threes. Bad things happen in threes. And for me, this year has proven that the adage is true for big life events, too: I got married in May, bought a house in Lawrence two weeks before that (I wouldn’t recommend that timing to anyone), and dove headfirst into KU Law this August. While I’d known that I wanted to go to law school for some time, I definitely didn’t think I’d be enrolling as a wife and a homeowner.

sangeeta-headshotWhen I was an undergraduate and graduate student at the University of Missouri, I always worked best alone — and when the studying got rough, the help of a local pizza place and my trusty coffee shop were all I needed. Cooking meant firing up the oven for a frozen pizza. Cleaning my apartment meant I had to maintain 550 square feet in basic livable condition. And while I spent quite a bit of time with my roommates and friends, I could hide away by myself if I really wanted to, especially when I needed to buckle down and work. Everything else could be pushed to the back burner.

But then, I met my husband, Matt. We were engaged more than a year and a half before I started school at KU Law, and for much of our relationship before we got engaged, we commuted between Columbia, Missouri, where I was in graduate school, and Lawrence, where Matt was a professor at KU’s School of Architecture, Design & Planning. That had been a little tough, but combining wedding planning (which, in our case, was more stressful at times that anything I’ve done in law school so far) with the decision process of where I would be enrolling for law school was a new test for us. We had to figure each other out in different kinds of stressful situations. And when Matt decided he wanted to pursue a doctoral program at KU and secured funding to do incredible work in urban design and public health, we threw house hunting into the mix, knowing we would be in Lawrence for a while.

What we didn’t know was how this semester would look as husband and wife, law student and doctoral student, homeowners. We hadn’t truly experienced each other’s crazy habits while studying and working. Sure, we’d worked around each other before, but not like this – not with the hours and workload that law school or a doctoral program demands. Would he be driven nuts by my obsessive gum chewing while I studied? How about the fact that I work best at the crack of dawn? Just a few months into marriage, would we ever see each other? Would I be able to keep up with all the chores that being a homeowner entails? As we approached orientation at the end of August, the knot in my stomach grew tighter as I anticipated all the problems we might run into as the semester began.

A little more than two months later, I’m looking back and realizing that we’re figuring it out just fine. We’ve absolutely had evenings when one of us is completely stressed out and the other just wants to watch a movie with a glass of wine. But I was fortunate enough to find a partner who is unbelievably supportive (and can make a fabulous latte), and I can only hope that I’m providing him with the same encouragement that he gives me every day. I know our schedules and strategies over the next few years will gradually change, but right now, there are three things that have made this transition easier:

  1. We each set up our own study spaces — with desks, shelves, bulletin boards and, in my case, plants that I’m struggling to keep alive — that we use when we need to push everything aside except for our work.
  2. We make sure we set aside at least a little time each day – whether that’s while we’re cooking or taking a study break later in the evening — to just talk about how our days went and what we’re excited and frustrated about.
  3. We reserve dedicated time on Sunday mornings to clean our house and clear the week’s accumulation of clutter to create space and refocus for the week ahead. The hour or two it takes — no matter how much I don’t want to vacuum — is always well worth it.

When I get too far into my own head about that Lawyering assignment due next week or exams looming on the horizon, Matt keeps me grounded. And in the craziness of being a 1L, that’s the greatest support I could ever ask for.

— Sangeeta Shastry is a first-year law student and KU Law Student Ambassador from St. Louis, Missouri.

Cowboy hats & friendly adversaries

KU Law student Portia Riggins

Student gets a taste of life and law in southwest Kansas

Call me Buck. Several days ago – never mind how many exactly – having little or no belt buckles in my dresser and nothing specific to interest me in Lawrence, I thought I would see the western part of Kansas. I have always wanted to see the rolling prairie, with blue skies and rich, full mustaches as far as the eye can see.

It was so fun! As a devout city-slicker, I never saw myself living in a tiny rural community on purpose, but the time I spent in Dodge City changed my mind. First of all, western Kansas is beautiful. In the evening, we could see thunderstorms in the distance in several different directions. It was quite beautiful. We also drove through the Flint Hills, and although I think they should have been named the Flint Lumps, they really are gorgeous, as were the undulating fields, wild flowers and sunshine.

Dave RebeinBut what really piqued my interest was the roundtable discussion where several attorneys and a few judges described their experiences practicing in the area. Some of my favorite points: Whether you work for a firm or go solo, you’ll hit the ground running, but not alone. If you work at a firm, you’ll be meeting with clients and going to court right away. If you are a solo practitioner, you could reasonably have more business than you know what to do with. It doesn’t matter if you are in criminal defense or trusts and estates. Either way, it won’t take long to be earning a decent living.

In either case, there will be a community of experienced lawyers who are eager to help you get on your feet, and get your feet into some sweet Tony Lama boots. Plus, on a professional level, the rules of engagement carry the expectation that opposing counsel are respectful, considerate and honest when dealing with each other. And I mentioned the boots, right? Well, there are also hats!

After the meeting, we went to the Long Branch Saloon (and Museum) for drinks and dancing (and food for the nerds who didn’t want to go straight to the drinks and dancing). I got to learn the two-step and joke around with three different judges who were extremely fun, and they even laughed at my jokes! Also, I asked a young attorney – a KU alum – if all the wonderful things everyone said in the meeting were really true. He said for the most part he thought so, and he definitely agreed about the work and financial opportunities.

Friday morning all the students went to a speed-interview session with several firms. Having a string of six-minute interviews one after the other was a bit strange, but it was also invigorating. It felt very low-pressure, and kind of like interview calisthenics. The interviewers were gracious and easy to talk to.

I am so glad I went on this trip. From talking to strangers to wearing a suit for more than five minutes, I did a lot of things I usually dread, but it was totally worth it. I got to know some of the students and faculty at KU, and they were all great, and my mind was opened to a new opportunity for life after law school. Plus, KU paid for the whole thing, and we got to stop for ice cream. Twice!

— Portia Riggins is a 2L and native Kansan. She collects belt buckles. Her ultimate goal is to find one that says, “Don’t Mess with Kansas, Either.” She was one of seven KU Law students to attend the Southwest Kansas Bar Association annual meeting in Dodge City, a yearly trip hosted by the KU Law Career Services Office and funded by the SW Kansas Bar.

KU Law students at the Southwest Kansas Bar Association annual meeting

Advocating for individual rights through media law: Jessica Frederick, L’16

A self-described advocate, Jessica Frederick pursued law with the intent to help others. She found her niche with the Media Law Clinic and its focus on First Amendment and individual rights.

Jessica Frederick, L'16

Jessica Frederick, L’16

Frederick was drawn to the clinic by Professor Mike Kautsch and his open, student-centered teaching philosophy. The seminar’s discussion format exposed Frederick and her classmates to a variety of timely topics, from changing Federal Communications Commission regulations to anti-slap laws, celebrity stalking, the use of drones in reporting and former Minnesota Gov. Jessie Ventura’s defamation case against the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. Kautsch invited legal experts to visit the class and weigh in on the issues, while students pursued independent research and writing projects.

“I love to write, but I wanted to write about what I’m interested in,” Frederick said. “I definitely was not disappointed.”

Frederick’s project focused on the FCC’s Open Internet rules, which protect access to legal online content and prevent providers from granting some clients faster connection speeds than others.

“The regulations came out in the middle of the semester. We were watching it unfold as it happened,” Frederick said. “It’s very important from a free speech standpoint. A more conservative company could have blocked or made access slow to more liberal sources. That was perfectly legal up until this point.”

Frederick’s research culminated in an analysis that was shared with legal professionals at a media law conference in Kansas City. She plans to publish her paper and share it with prospective employers during her job search.

Frederick is pursuing the Media Law Certificate, which requires a course load heavy in individual rights classes, including Digital Privacy Rights in an Open Society, Copyright Law and Digital Works, and Media and the First Amendment. Frederick drew upon the knowledge she gained in her Media Law coursework during her summer internship with Lambda Legal, a New York City-based organization that advocates for the rights of LGBT people and those living with HIV. Lambda Legal works in a variety of areas, from youth and transgender rights to election rights and media law.

“The thing about LGBT advocacy is they’re just people. It’s not like they’re only concerned about family law and trusts and estate law,” Frederick said. “They’re everywhere. You have to have attorneys good at everything. I’ve put my Kansas education to use. One attorney wanted to know the legal statues pertaining to the Kansas Open Records Act, which we discussed a great deal in Kautsch’s class.”

Frederick looks forward to applying the skills she honed in the Media Law Clinic to her future career in advocacy or government.

“The idea that I can help people secure individual rights or help the government in assisting low-income people better their lives is way more important to me than a paycheck,” Frederick said.

Building confidence through the Criminal Prosecution Clinic: Thomas (T.C.) Penland, L’15

As an aspiring prosecutor, the Criminal Prosecution Clinic was one of the factors that drew T.C. Penland to KU Law.

Thomas Penland, L'15

Thomas Penland, L’15

“I knew about the clinic through the admissions process,” Penland said. “That was one of the things that pushed me toward KU. I went in with full expectation of participating in the clinic.”

The Criminal Prosecution Clinic has two components: a weekly class taught by clinic director Professor Suzanne Valdez, and an internship. Weekly sessions cover topics pertinent to criminal prosecution, from confidentiality to conflicts of interest.

Penland calls the internship the “heart of the clinic.” Valdez pairs each student with a city or county district attorney’s office. Students appear in court and handle proceedings. “I was doing everything in front of a judge short of an actual jury trial,” Penland said.

While many legal internships focus on developing research and writing skills, the Criminal Prosecution Clinic offers courtroom experience as well. “You’re writing responses to motions, researching the law, learning how to write in a persuasive, competent manner,” Penland said. “Criminal prosecution gives you the opportunity to get in front of a judge and develop your oral skills.”

Penland recalls one case involving three armed men who stormed a convenience store and brutally assaulted an off-duty law enforcement officer. Penland sifted through the defendants’ phone calls, searching for incriminating evidence to build a case against the men.

Another case involved a man who took explicit photos of his mentally handicapped 14-year-old stepdaughter. The defendant argued that the photos were obtained unlawfully and could not be used against him. Penland wrote a response to the defendant’s motion to suppress the photos, and the judge ruled in his favor. “Without the pictures, there was no case,” Penland said. “I felt a lot of satisfaction from prevailing.”

Penland looks forward to applying the skills he learned to his future career as a prosecutor. “The clinic has given me confidence in my legal research and writing and developed my oral argumentation skills,” he said. “I don’t have a fear of researching, writing or stepping into the courtroom and presenting a case to a judge. That’s a big advantage I’m glad I have.”

Learn more about KU Law clinics. 

My Summer Internship: Getting familiar with the justice system at the federal courthouse

hannah-brass-judicial-clerkship

I finished my first year of law school pretty unsure of what type of legal career I was interested in. I thought KU’s Judicial Clinic would fit well with my 1L skill set and provide exposure to a variety of legal careers. I accepted a federal clerkship in Wichita with Chief Judge J. Thomas Marten of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, and it has been a great experience. It was kind of intimidating trying to be an effective summer clerk after just one year of law school, but I’ve been able to use my foundation in research and writing to produce valuable work – even as a rising 2L with minimal substantive knowledge of the law.

I spent most of my summer writing draft orders, which allowed me to utilize and refine my research and writing skills. I worked on a wide variety of legal issues, writing orders on Social Security disability appeals, motions for reconsideration and review, and an objection to a magistrate’s order. I also got to watch proceedings in the courthouse, including arraignments, sentencings, plea changes, motion hearings, and jury trials.

Working in a courthouse has been invaluable because it exposed me to many facets of our justice system. In addition to the judges, the U.S. Marshals Service and probation office were in the courthouse, and the U.S. Attorney’s and Federal Public Defender’s offices were just across the street. I met and spoke with people from all these offices, which helped provide me with a more thorough understanding of our legal system.

My first week in the courthouse, I observed KanTrac, which is a re-entry court for high risk offenders on supervised release. KanTrac is made up of judges, probation officers, federal public defenders, and assistant U.S. attorneys. One of the women with whom we spoke was just finishing the 12-month KanTrac program, and she kept saying how she felt more accountable to her re-entry and drug rehabilitation because of her extended personal experiences with these people who she had always seen as being on “the other side” of the system.

This clerkship helped humanize my understanding of our legal system, whether it was through observing programs like KanTrac, watching jurors during trial, or even just reading pleadings in cases. My summer experience has made me realize that hands-on learning opportunities – whatever they may look like – are an essential part of a good legal education.

— Hannah Brass is a rising 2L from Wilmore, Kansas.