The Belmont Law Review in the College of Law welcomed 73 local attorneys to campus on Friday, Oct. 28, for its 11th annual Law Symposium. With a central theme of Learning Together, the day featured an accomplished lineup of speakers who led informative sessions regarding topics that fell under the scope of modern developments in education law.
“Education law has been such a hot topic recently, both in the court system and in the news,” Executive Symposium Editor and 2024 J.D. Candidate Natalie Anders said. “We wanted to provide a forum to explore the dynamic landscape of that field. We wanted our attendees to receive a holistic understanding of the current state of education law, so it was important to us to showcase diverse perspectives from across the country.”
Belmont’s Executive Vice President for External Engagement and University Counsel Jason Rogers and Deputy University Counsel Lauri Chaudoin engaged attendees during an insightful session called “Adapting to Shifting Standards in Higher Education,” which concentrated on the implications of changes to Title IX policy and regulations.
The Belmont team covered a range of important topics related to Title IX, from controversial aspects of the 2020 regulations brought on by the Trump administration to pregnancy protections to transgender athletic participation and potential changes in Title IX regulations under the Biden administration.
“This is a heavily politicized area of the law,” Chaudoin said. “I think that's one of the reasons that Title IX coordinators across the country typically stay in that job for one to three years before leaving higher ed altogether. You're constantly having to toss everything out the window and start over.”
Other topics covered in the symposium sessions included free speech at public schools, discrimination, transgender status and school bathrooms, and more.
Angie Sanders, General Counsel for the Tennessee State Board of Education, Jordyn Conley, Education Attorney at the Nashville Defenders Education Rights Project, and Lauren Bush, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Murfreesboro, discussed the state of education in Tennessee on a varying viewpoints panel.
The distinguished group of law practitioners who spoke at the symposium consisted of:
- Richard Marsico, professor of law and the director of the Wilf Impact Center for Public Interest Law at New York Law School
- Emily Gold Waldman, professor of law and the Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Operations at Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law
- Mark Dorosin, Associate Professor of Law and the Director of Legal Clinics and Field Placements at Florida A&M University College of Law
- Peggy Nicholson, clinical professor of law and supervising attorney in the Children’s Law Clinic at Duke University Law School
- Jenny Rodgriguez-Fee, professor and the director of the Children’s Rights Clinic at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, Calif.
- Shaka Mitchell, senior fellow for the American Federation for Children
- John Callison, consulting attorney at Latitude Legal Solutions
The Belmont Law Review is an annually published student-managed and edited scholarly journal at Belmont University College of Law. In addition to publication, the Belmont Law Review hosts the annual law symposium.
Each year, the symposium aims to create an intellectual melting pot where thought leaders, seasoned practitioners and students converge to explore nuanced legal challenges that are driving the evolution of the legal field. It also serves as an approved continuing legal education credit, useful for fulfilling a large portion of the annual requirement for Tennessee-licensed attorneys.
“The Belmont Law Review's annual symposium stands as a testament to our commitment to nurturing a vibrant legal community in Nashville,” Anders said. “This Symposium not only serves as a valuable platform for in-depth discussions on contemporary legal issues, but also as a beacon illuminating the diverse expertise and knowledge found within Belmont Law. Through these meaningful conversations and fruitful connections, we are not only enriching the legal landscape but also solidifying Belmont Law’s reputation as a hub of innovative legal discourse and expertise.”
This year’s attendees were mainly from Nashville/Davidson County and Rutherford County, with a few attorneys who practice in Kentucky and North Carolina in attendance.
