Faculty Research and Scholarship (April 2025)

May 1, 2025

ByCharleston Law

20th Anniversary, Faculty, News

Charleston School of Law

Faculty Research and Scholarship (April 2025)

Charleston School of Law faculty has generated an impressive list of published academic research and scholarship during the 2024−25 academic year. Below is the latest news from April 2025.

Sean Ashoff

Atlantic Legal Foundation cites Professor Ashoff’s article, F-1 Student Visas and the Student Debt Crisis, 39 J.L. & Com. 95 (2020), in its amicus curiæ brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case, Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. United States Department of Homeland Security, et al., (cert. denied), now available. Here is the abstract of Professor Ashoff’s article:

The article analyzes the declining numbers of F-1 student visas (temporary visas for international students) from the years 2016−19. The article theorizes the reasons for the steep decline and its impact on universities. In doing so, the article offers a sharp critique of immigration law and policy as it was enforced during those years and suggests a sharp turn in policy to attract more international students to the United States. The article utilizes comparisons from the Canadian international student population and draws correlations between President Trump’s first term immigration policies and the adverse impacts on university revenue streams during those years.

Katie Brown

On April 10, Dean Brown presented a virtual session at the Artificial Intelligence and Legal Data Management Conference for Paralegals, an all-day event focused on AI’s impact on legal workflows. Dean Brown’s session, titled “Use of AI for Document Drafting,” explored practical applications of AI in drafting legal documents, emphasizing efficiency, accuracy, and ethical considerations in leveraging AI-powered tools for document creation and review.
On April 17, Dean Brown presented to Charleston Law students Business Law Society on the topic of drafting generative AI Prompts for transactional documents and other in-house counsel documents like policy documents, legal holds, project charters, and competitive intelligence reports; as well as, the importance of understanding the Gen AI tools T&C’s when considering ethical duties and how to use it as a lawyer, intern, extern, or summer associate.
On April 18, Dean Brown was notified that her proposed program, “Who is Shaping Technological Competence in ABA-Accredited Law Schools?” has been accepted for inclusion in CALICon 2025; she will present virtually on June 6, 2025.

Suzanne Chapman

Professor Chapman has been invited to present at the 2025 Capital Area Legal Writing Conference held by Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. Her presentation, “Do you have 10 seconds? Then you can teach Persuasive Rhetoric and Ethical Advocacy,” explains how to use a 10-second car crash video and a suggestively worded questionnaire to introduce legal writing students to concepts of Persuasive Rhetoric and Ethical Advocacy.

Kevin Eberle & Frank Ulmer

Professors Kevin Eberle and Frank Ulmer were accepted to present at the 2025 Carolinas Legal Research and Writing Colloquium to be held on May 21, 2025, at Duke Law School. Profs. Eberle and Ulmer will discuss crafting trial and appellate problems for Legal Writing and Advocacy programs.

Margaret Lawton

Dean Lawton was appointed to be Charleston Law’s representative on the S.C. Access to Justice Commission.

Dylan Malagrinò

In April, Dean Malagrinò accepted an invitation from the Real Estate Section Council for the South Carolina Bar, to be a guest speaker at its annual seminar at the 2026 S.C. Bar Convention that will be held in Savannah, Georgia January 22−24, 2026. The working title for the seminar is “Who Says Dirt Law is Boring?” Prof. Malagrinò will discuss real estate fundamentals—specifically presenting on the law of easements.

Meet Our Faculty

Jessica Moeller

In April, the Wisconsin Bar asked Dean Moeller to write a feature article for the May edition of Wisconsin Lawyer magazine (the WI State Bar’s printed monthly publication). The Wisconsin Bar selected Dean Moeller’s article for the cover. The article is titled “Balancing Protection: Defending Adults from Financial Abuse while Preserving Dignity.” Here is a summary:

This article examines the challenge of safeguarding vulnerable adults from escalating financial abuse while upholding their individual autonomy. It highlights the rapid growth of financial exploitation, often perpetrated by trusted individuals, and explores various protective measures in Wisconsin, ranging from powers of attorney to traditional guardianships, noting the potential for the latter to strip essential rights through findings of incompetency. To strike a balance, the article proposes a renewed focus on “spendthrift guardianships” as a less restrictive alternative that can offer timely financial protection without requiring a declaration of incompetence, thereby preserving autonomy for adults at risk while still preventing further exploitation.

Further, Dean Moeller was elected to serve on the Dispute Resolution Board for the Wisconsin State Bar. This body provides resources for practitioners who engage in all forms of ADR, assists in the certification of mediators, and provides educational opportunities for lawyers throughout the state.

Jennifer North & Erica McElreath

In April, Professors Jennifer North and Erica McElreath were accepted to present at the 2025 Carolinas Legal Research and Writing Colloquium to be held on May 21, 2025, at Duke Law School. Profs. North and McElreath will discuss using an AI generated podcast as a prompt for an office memo.

Melanie Regis

On April 14, Professor Regis presented to law students at a virtual luncheon meeting sponsored by the Temple Law Review. The Temple Law Review Note/Comment and Diversity Editor extended the invitation based on Prof. Regis’s article, Testing the Validity of a Verdict, published last year.

Jean Steadman

In May, Prof. Steadman will be presenting at:
- AALS International Clinical Education 2025 Transactional Clinical Conference. I will be a panelist speaking on Access to Transactional Justice – Increasing Opportunities for Transactional Learning in Non-Clinical Courses.
- Ninth Biennial Conference on the Teaching of Transactional Law and Skills sponsored by Emory University School of Law. I will be a co-presenter on: Experiential Transactional Opportunities with Doctrinal Classes and Creating Practical Skills Possibilities for Law Students.
- NBI CLE Conference “The Contract Strategists Guide to Complex Deal Drafting and Negotiation” speaking specifically on the topic of Preserving the Parties’ Relationship in the Event of a Breach.

In June, Prof. Steadman will be presenting at:
- NBI CLE “Contracts for the Sale of Goods” speaking specifically on the topic of Key Elements of a Sale/Purchase of Goods Contract.

Nancy Zisk

On April 25, Professor Zisk gave a presentation to the South Carolina Medical Association on the current status of abortion law and women’s health care since Dobbs was decided and, along with a practicing physician, gave an update on the impact of the Dobbs decision on the practice of medicine. The presentation was in Columbia, S.C.

Charleston School of Law