Memo One

Maran v. University of Biki State South Dakota

(also known as "Biki State University" and "Biki U")

Maran, a male of Polynesian descent, was denied admission to the Biki State University's Dental Program. Maran claims that he had a perfect 4.0 as an undergraduate. He states that he took all of the required science courses for the Dental Program and satisfied the general education requirements. Maran claims that he was denied admission because he is not a person of African, Latin, or Native American descent or a woman.

You work for the attorney that will represent Biki State University. Your attorney has asked you to research current case law and determine how he should defend the University against Maran's claims. Your attorney has told you that he remembers a US Supreme Court decision in which one of the parties was named Grutter. The attorney believes that decision should be helpful.

The attorney summarizes the instructions as follows:

In your comprehensive memorandum, please discuss all possible defenses available for Biki U and the evidence we would need to establish each possible defense.

In your memo, please review what we know so far about Maran's case. Assuming Maran's claims are true, could we succeed on our defenses? How?

You have overheard other paralegals talking. They said that the attorney you are writing for does not like unsupported general statements, and the attorney likes to read well-documented memos.