Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 3, 1975)
dailyM friday, October 3, 1975 volume 99 number 23 lincoln, hebraska Law student research assists state's attorneys n - r fix f A Photo by Kvt Klgtoy Tom Cullinan, administrator of die Law Student Research Service. Plant Industries bldg. Lab classes to resume ' Classes will resume next week on lower floors of the Plant Industries Bldg. which was damaged by fire Aug. 22. The basement, first and second floors are nearly restored, but the top floors and attic will remain closed until a permanent roof is installed, according to Ray Coffey, assistant UNL business manager. Coffey said he believed every room or lab in the building sustained damage of some sort. A damage estimate will not be available until all equipment damaged by smoke and water is reparicd. . n "TV.- 1.1 . l . 1 .h . 1 .. and cultures which are not replaceable ex- cept through time, aid College of Agriculture Dean Ted Hartung. The slope roof and wooden beams in the attic burned immediately, but the con- crete slab on each floor level prevented the fire from spreading. The plant pathology laboratories and growth chambers in the attic were completely destroyed, causing major setbacks in the research of 10 gradu ate students working there. "The biggest setback for me is the lack of facilities and space," said Gary Odvody, presently working on corn and sorghum stalk rot. Odvody estimated that it would take him an additional -two or three months to finish his work. Plant pathology students currently are working In the Bio-Chemistry Nutrition Bldg. Other graduate 'students have been moved to the dentistry, entomology and , introductory biology departments and Filky Ilall. By Terri Waison Since the Law Student Research Service (LSRS) started business almost three weeks ago, it has been challenged with at least 12 research problems from Nebraska attorneys and questions concerning its own law practice ethics. " According to its administrator, Tom Cullinan, the LSRS, a board of five senior ' law students and a research team of 26 law students, provides out-state lawyers with law clerk service. . Since Nebraska has only two law schools (the UNL College of Law and Creighton University's Law College), year round student law clerks are scarce in areas other than Lincoln and Omaha, he said. 2,600 attorneys There are 2,600 practicing attorneys in about 800 law offices throughout Nebraska, according to a Nebraska Bar Association official. The attorneys handle client relation ships while the LSRS researches laws and their specific aspects by using the UNL College of Law Library, Cullinan said. Although Cullinan said initial response has been favorable from student research ers, the Law College and the Nebraska Bar, ' one law professor, who wished to remain anonymous, questioned the LSRS's send ing of letters to every law office, in v Nebraska explaining its service. - The professor questioned whether the " letters of advertisement Illustrated an un authorized ' practice of law and a violation cf professional ethics. This question will be answered after the LSRS receives an adviser opinion from the Nebraska Bar, Cullinan said. Research problems . Meanwhile, research problems have been coming in by mail and telephone from Omaha and from small towns around the state including Norfolk, Beatrice, Arapa hoe, Cozad, OgalaDa and Lexington. Problems have been varied, Cullinan said. One case concerned a man unable to find a commercial carrier to transport his corn to the buyer; another dealt with a vman who rented defective farm machinery and consequently suffered, crop losses. Other cases have concerned alimony termination, criminal cases and pharmacist negligence. - Cullinan said the attorneys usually specify whether they want a Nebraska law researched or one from another jurisdiction. The process starts when an attorney sends his problem and Cullinan assigns one of 16 seniors and ten juniors on the re search staff to work on the specific prob lem over a 10-day to two-week period, he said. Mails findings . . Cullinan said he mails findings to the attorney, accompanied by a bill charging $6 an hour for research and writing time, and further billing for- any photocopying. He said he hopes the LSRS's $6 an hour price will raise wages for law clerks in Lincoln, who are now paid $4 hourly. The attorney is quoted a price based on an estimate of how much research time he thinks his problem will take. Each re searcher is paid $330 to $4 an hour and 60 cents per page for typing. Remaining profit A goes into forming a LSRS bank account which later will make it possible to hire a secretary and pay Cullinan, he said.' Money search The LSRS is sponsored by the Student Bar Association, which allotted $350 for the organization's start from its treasury of membership dues. Cullinan's salary origi nally was to be financed through work study programs in the Financial Aid Dept., but Cullinan said he did not qualify and added that the LSRS is looking for money from other sources, including the Nebras ka Foundation, "Lincoln Foundation, Student Bar Association and Nebraska Bar Association. Describing the LSRS as an organization within an organization, Cullinan said he has set up bookkeeping and matched student researcher's interests with attorneys' problems. The senior law student, who carries 12 academic hours and has clerked for a local law firm, Maton-Ricketts-Davies-Stewart-Calkins, said he was given the job because he had the time for it. Last .summer, five senior law students, Susan Carlson, Paul Canarsky, Bob Cannon, Gary Baker and Ton) Houtchens researched the. possibility of forming LSRS. After investi gating similar programs at Creighton, Colorado, Duke, Oklahoma and Southern California universities, they realized the vast collection of law books at UNL could be put to better use, Cullinan said. lond visit set for Sunday Union entrance renovation includes planters, railings Construction on the south side of the Nebraska Union may be causing students some inconvenience right now but the project is designed to improve the safety and appearance of the area, according to Tom Nycum, Physical Plant assistant director. At a cost of $36,000, N.D. Judd Co., of Lincoln, is replacing the steps and sidewalks . leading to the south entrance of the union. Tha concrete and steps in the aica were cracked and broken, said Nycum, which caused the steps to shift. 1 The new steps will be flame-treated to make them more abrasive, lie said. The renovation project will include brass railings, soft lighting and brick , planters, Nycum said. Ground cover and planters also wffl be phctd along the curb of R St. to front of the Union. . " The project is -scheduled for com ' plctlon by Dec. 1 , NycunYsaid.. , Julian Bond will speak on" "The New Politics" Sunday, at 7:30 p.m. in the ' Nebraska Union." Bond received national recognition' during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, where he was the first black in American history to be nominated for Vice President. He withdrew his name from con sideration because he was only 23 years old at the time-. Under the VS. Constitution, a . . vice president must be at least 35 years old. Elected to the Georgia House of Repre- " sentatives, Bond at first was barred from taking his seat by legislators who objected to his statements on the Vietnam War. Bond served four terms in the House and is now in the Georgia State Senate. Bond also serves on th4 Board of Direc tors of the Voter Education Projects, is the board chairperson of the Southern Elections Fund and President of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Nebraska Union Program Council's Black Activities Committee is sponsoring Bond's visit. inside k i Weather Friday: Sunny and warmer. Tempera tures in the high 70s. Southwest winds ranging from 10 to 20 m.pJt. Friday night: Fair with lows from 40 to 45. . Satimlsy: Unseasonably warm mi suray. II0hs from 75 to 0. " -