KSCRP enjoys successful fall 2021


This article is from the spring 2022 issue of Hearsay, the semi-annual newsletter of the Wheat Law Library.

The Kansas Supreme Court Research Practicum (KSCRP) returned for another successful semester last fall.
 

Students enrolled in the KSCRP spend the semester researching topics provided by the Kansas Supreme Court and Office of Judicial Administration (OJA), writing informative papers based on that research and preparing presentations that summarize their findings. Taught by Wheat Law Library faculty Chris Steadham and Blake Wilson, this unique course offers students an opportunity to gain valuable research, writing and presentation skills while also serving the State of Kansas.
 

The semester typically begins with a visit to the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka to observe oral arguments and enjoy a lunch with the justices and judicial staff. Pandemic precautions required the meeting to be held virtually this year. The virtual meet and greet session allowed students to converse with members of the court and OJA and also provided an opportunity to ask questions related to the assigned research topics. As the semester concluded, the students had the privilege of presenting their research findings to the court and OJA in another virtual meeting. As has been the case every time the course has been offered, the KSCRP students rose to the occasion and represented KU Law exceedingly well.
 

In between the two events held with the court and OJA, the students worked tirelessly to gather relevant research, draft and revise outlines and papers and rehearse their presentations. They also enjoyed an in-class visit from Justice Keynen Wall, who provided encouragement and valuable insight on topics related to the course and legal practice in general.
 

For interested prospective students, the course is an upper-level elective and will be offered again during the fall 2023 semester.

Welco

Contact the Library

Circulation Desk
785-864-3026

Reference Questions
lawref@ku.edu
785-864-3025

Christopher Steadham, Director
csteadham@ku.edu