St. John's LL.M. Student Argues Amicus to En Banc U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Bill Bensinger, a student in the St. John’s University School of Law LL.M. in Bankruptcy program, recently argued an amicus brief before an en banc panel of the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. What makes the brief and the oral argument unique?  They were produced as part of Bensinger's law school course work in the St. John's LL.M. in Bankruptcy program.  Bensinger's amicus brief was ultimately filed on behalf of nine bankruptcy law professors, each from a different law school.

Richard Lieb, Director of the St. John's Institute for Bankruptcy Policy developed the idea for the amicus brief course based on his experience two years ago preparing a Supreme Court amicus brief for a group of law professors on a bankruptcy sovereign immunity issue.  (Lieb is pictured above with student Bill Bensinger).  According to Professor G. Ray Warner, Director of the St. John’s LL.M. in Bankruptcy Program,“This is the only law school course we know of that is focused on the writing of an amicus brief in a real case.”  St. John's website has more information about the case and the amicus program.