UMD Carey Law Dean Teaches Mock Law Class

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1522","attributes":{"alt":"Tobin","class":"media-image","height":"320","style":"width: 250px; height: 167px; margin: 5px; float: left;","width":"480"}}]]More than a hundred UMD undergraduate students enjoyed the unique opportunity to learn about the law from the dean of a top law school, thanks to MLAW Programs. On Feb. 3, MLAW hosted a mock law class in Tawes Hall taught by Dean Donald B. Tobin of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

As in a real law school class, Dean Tobin expected students to be familiar with the case presented in event advertisements, Commissioner v. Duberstein, which concerns the tax implications of gifts, prizes and gratuities. Many attendees had done their homework, and were able to recall both details of the case and aspects of the legal issues involved from memory. Dean Tobin encouraged their questions, opinions, logical processes and legal interpretations, and he enhanced the lively discussion by showing videos from Good Morning America and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart that touched on topics related to the case.

“When you watch TV, you get to just enjoy it; I have to sit there and think about tax implications,” Dean Tobin joked as he queued up a clip.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1524","attributes":{"alt":"Student","class":"media-image","height":"167","style":"width: 250px; height: 167px; margin: 5px; float: left;","width":"250"}}]]At the end of his class presentation, Dean Tobin and a Carey Law admissions staffer then candidly answered questions about what the law school experience and what the law school application process are really like.

When asked why undergraduate students should consider pursuing a legal career, Dean Tobin touched on themes that mirror the College’s mission to Be the Solution to the world’s great challenges.

“We get to make a difference. We learn to understand the rules and constraints that help shape the way the world works, and we learn how to work within those constraints to make the world better,” he said.

This event was the first in an upcoming series of MLAW events this semester designed to give undergraduate students insights and access into the worlds of legal education and the legal profession. For more information about MLAW Programs, including upcoming events, visit www.mlaw.umd.edu.

Published on Tue, Feb 3, 2015 - 9:46PM