NOTE TO EDITORS: Please see attachment for a full list of the advisory committee members.

An advisory committee established to help coordinate and implement the creation of a law school at UNLV met for the first time April 4 and discussed its concern about a proposed Nevada Supreme Court rule that would allow an unaccredited law school to operate in Nevada for up to eight years.

The 23-member Law School Statewide Advisory Committee was appointed by UNLV President Carol C. Harter and was charged with providing guidance to the university as it begins the process of establishing a law school and securing accreditation from the American Bar Association. The committee includes judges, attorneys, and other leaders in the Nevada legal community. Harter appointed Las Vegas attorney Franny Forsman to chair the group.

"UNLV is strongly committed to establishing a law school that will offer quality legal education for the people of Nevada," Harter said. "I am confident that, with the assistance of our distinguished advisory committee, a superb consultant, and donor support, we will develop a very realistic plan to reach that goal."

Richard Jarvis, chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada, said following the advisory committee meeting, "A law school at UNLV will be good for the entire system and, in fact, for the entire state. I applaud the participation of the advisory committee and plan to present a case to the Regents for system-wide support of a law school at UNLV."

Forsman said, "I think it is important that Nevada have a quality law school with sufficient commitment of resources to assure that its students receive an excellent education."

At its first meeting, the committee discussed the proposed rule change under consideration by the Supreme Court of Nevada that would allow a new law school to operate in Nevada without accreditation by the ABA for a period of up to eight years upon showing that it would eventually comply with ABA standards. Graduates of non-accredited schools could not practice law outside Nevada. The committee agreed with the position taken by the State Bar of Nevada that any exceptions to the current requirements would reduce the quality of legal education and the quality of the lawyers produced.

Lyle Rivera, UNLV vice president for special projects, said, "We are not interested in seeking a change in the current rule. UNLV intends to pursue accreditation. In fact, we have hired a consultant, President Anthony Santoro of Roger Williams University, who has an excellent record of helping other law schools receive ABA accreditation. We are committed to establishing a program that will be accredited."

LAW SCHOOL STATEWIDE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Franny Forsman (chair)
President, State Bar of Nevada
Las Vegas

The Honorable Brent Adams
Second Judicial District Court
Reno

William S. Boyd
Chairman of the Board and CEO
Boyd Gaming Corp.
Las Vegas

Robert P. Dickerson
Dickerson, Dickerson, Lieberman & Consul
Las Vegas

Booker T. Evans, Jr.
Attorney at Law
Las Vegas

Dominic P. Gentile
Attorney at Law
Las Vegas

Kathryn Landreth
U.S. Attorney
Las Vegas

The Honorable Jack Lehman
Eighth Judicial District Court
Las Vegas

The Honorable John F. Mendoza
Chairman, Public Service Commission
Las Vegas

The Honorable Philip M. Pro
United States District Judge
Las Vegas

James T. Richardson
Director, Center for Justice Studies, UNR
Reno

Michael Saltman
Managing General Partner
The Vista Group
Las Vegas

Gary R. Goodheart
Jones, Jones, Close & Brown
Las Vegas

Salvatore C. Gugino
Gugino Law Firm
Las Vegas

The Honorable David W. Hagen
United States District Judge
Reno

Larry R. Hicks
Attorney at Law
Reno

William C. Jeanney
Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney
Reno

Dennis L. Kennedy
Lionel, Sawyer & Collins
Las Vegas

Thomas R. Sheets
Assistant General Counsel
Southwest Gas Corp.
Las Vegas

Susan Southwick
Supreme Court Librarian
Carson City
Larry Strate
UNLV Associate Professor, Legal Studies
Las Vegas

Richard M. Trachok, II
Bible, Hoy, Trachok & Wadhams
Reno

Terry Wright
President and CEO
Nevada Title Co.
Las Vegas