Clinical Professor Linus Chan has been awarded the 2017 University Outstanding Community Service Award for his work at the Binger Center for New Americans. It is the highest honor the University of Minnesota gives for service to the University and community.

“Professor Chan has made a tremendous impact on the lives of countless immigrants and refugees, and their families, through his work at the center,” says Ben Casper Sanchez (’97), clinical professor and director of the Binger Center.

Law School students Katie Ziomek (’17) and Kristin Emmons (’17) won a pair of recent intellectual property moot court competitions.

In a regional competition in Boston, Ziomek and Emmons defeated teams from Columbia Law School, Georgetown Law, Boston University School of Law, Suffolk Law School, and the University of New Hampshire School of Law. The victory earned them entry into a national IP moot court competition next month in Washington, D.C.

Andrea Walsh (’88) has been named chief executive officer of HealthPartners, a Minnesota-based nonprofit with 1,700 physicians, seven hospitals, 55 primary care clinics, 23 urgent care clinics, and numerous specialty care clinics.

Walsh will replace Mary Brainerd, the current top executive, who plans to retire in June.

“I’ve been fortunate to work closely with Mary for much of my career,” said Walsh. “I look forward to leading HealthPartners and continuing our focus on providing the best and most affordable care and coverage for our patients, members, and the community.”

A team of Law School students won the 2017 Clara Barton International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Competition, which is conducted by the American Red Cross. Students Peter Grenzow, Brendan Delany, and Amanda McAllister, all 3Ls, traveled to Washington, D.C., for the competition.

The Law School team defeated UCLA in the semifinals and the U.S. Air Force Academy in the finals. The semifinal topic centered on the legality of autonomous weapons. In the finals, participants simulated a war crimes trial at the International Criminal Court.

LL.M. students at the Law School now have a unique way to gain practical experience, working with actual clients on real legal matters, in a new pro bono program begun by Karen Lundquist, assistant professor of ESL and legal skills. Lundquist, who also teaches legal writing in the LL.M. program, launched the pro bono opportunity in collaboration with LegalCORPS, a Minnesota nonprofit that provides free legal assistance in transactional matters to low-income entrepreneurs and innovators and small nonprofits in the state.

The Burton Foundation has announced that Alysha Bohanon (’17) is the winner of a 2017 Distinguished Legal Writing Award—one of just 10 students from U.S. law schools to be so honored. In the 18 years since its creation, Law School students have snared a Burton Award nine times.