The Catholic University of America


 

Lucia Ann Silecchia
Professor of Law
silecchia@law.edu
Visit my research at http://ssrn.com/author=625430

Professor Silecchia  received her B.A. degree summa cum laude from Queens College (C.U.N.Y.) in 1987 and her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1990, where she was a senior editor of The Yale Law Journal,  a current topics editor of The Yale Law & Policy Review, and a Francis Coker teaching fellow. Following her graduation from law school, she practiced law in the litigation department of Rogers & Wells (now Clifford, Chance) in New York City.

Professor Silecchia has taught at Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law for twenty years. From 1991 – 1993, she served as the assistant director of the Lawyering Skills Program. After two years with the Lawyering Skills Program, she became an assistant professor in 1993 and an associate professor in 1997. She has been an ordinary professor since 2004, and served as the law school's Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in 2004 and 2005.   She also serves as the co-director of Catholic University’s new International Human Rights Summer Law Program in Rome.

She teaches or has taught Environmental Law, Property, Trusts and Estates, Corporations, Advanced Legal Research and Writing, Comparative Property, Environmental Crimes, Lawyering Skills, and Law Journal Writing. During her 2000-2001 sabbatical, she spent the fall semester as a Visiting Scholar at Yale Law School and the spring term in Rome conducting research on environmental ethics issues from the perspective of Catholic social thought. Her 2007-2008 sabbatical saw travel to Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, Spain, and Italy.

In April 2007,  Prof. Silecchia was one of nine Americans to participate in a Vatican conference on Climate Change and Development, organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.   She also serves on the executive board of the Association of Religiously Affiliated Law Schools, and was the 2008-2009 chair of the Conference on Catholic Legal Thought,  with which she has participated since its founding in 2006.

Professor Silecchia has written in the areas of environmental law and ethics,  Catholic social thought, legal education, law and literature, and legal writing.   Professor Silecchia has given presentations at national and international conferences for legal educators, law librarians, lawyers, religious groups, students, and environmental professionals. She has also participated in projects of the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace, advised  the Environmental Justice Project of the U.S. Catholic Conference, assisted the American Bar Association's CEELI Project in critiquing draft business association laws for Estonia, taught in Catholic University's cooperative programs at Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland, and lectured in Portugal as part of Catholic University's U.S. - Portuguese Law Initiative at the University of Lisbon. Her other "extracurricular" activities include membership in the Environmental Law Institute, the Association of Legal Writing Directors, the National Italian-American Bar Association, the Legal Writing Institute, The John Carroll Society, and the Bar Associations of New York State and the District of Columbia. She was also named one of three national "Persons of Distinction" by the Association of Legal Writing Directors and was Catholic University's "Mirror of Justice Scholar" in 1996. She has also been a member of the teaching faculty for the international law students in the Washington D.C.-based Institute for United States Law.

Professor Silecchia is admitted to the bars of New York, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

PUBLICATIONS:

Law Review Articles:

Lucia A. Silecchia, Pope John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae and the 'Horizon of the Good', 1 J. CHRISTIAN L. THOUGHT 17 (2011). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia A. Silecchia, Reflection on the Right to Environmental Health as a Condition for Development, 2 COMPARATIVE LAW PORTUGESE-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES 301-344 (2010) (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia A. Silecchia,  Integrating Catholic Social Thought in Elder Law and Estate Planning Courses: Reflections on Law, Age, and Ethics, 7 VILLANOVA J. OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT 353-405 (2010). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia A. Silecchia,  The ”Preferential Option for the Poor:" An Opportunity and a Challenge for Environmental Decision-Making, 5 U. ST. THOMAS L. J. 87-142 (2008). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia A. Silecchia, Discerning the Environmental Perspective of Pope Benedict XVI, 4 VILLANOVA J. OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT 227-269 (2007). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia A. Silecchia, Faith in the Public Square: Some Reflections on Its Role and Limitations From the Perspective of Catholic Social Teaching, 6 U. MD. L. J. RACE, RELIGION, GENDER & CLASS 69-80 (2006). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Catholic Social Teaching and Its Impact on American Law: Observations on the Past and Reflections on the Future, 1VILLANOVA J. OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT 277-312 (2004). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Environmental Ethics from the Perspective of NEPA and Catholic Social Teaching: Ecological Guidance for the 21st Century, 28 WILLIAM & MARY ENVTL. L. & POL'Y REV. 659-798 (2004). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, The Catalyst Calamity: Post-Buckhannon Fee-Shifting in Environmental Litigation and a Proposal for Congressional Action, 29 COLUMBIA J. ENVTL. L. 1-87 (2003) (lead article). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Things Are Seldom What They Seem: Lawyers and Judges in the Tales of Mark Twain, 35 CONN. L. REV. 559-646 (2002). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Reflections on the Future of Social Justice, 23 SEATTLE U. L. REV. 1121-1154 (2000). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Integrating Spiritual Perspectives With the Law School Experience: An Essay and an Invitation, 37 SAN DIEGO L. REV. 167-209 (2000). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Pinning the Blame & Piercing the Veil in the Mists of Metaphor: The Supreme Court's New Standards for the CERCLA Liability of Parent Companies and A Proposal for Legislative Reform, 67 FORDHAM L. REV. 115-202 (1998). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Of Painters, Sculptors, Quill Pens and Microchips: Teaching Legal Writers in the Electronic Age, 75 NEBRASKA L. REV. 801-846 (1997). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, On Doing Justice and Walking Humbly With God: Catholic Social Thought on Law as a Tool For Achieving Justice, 46 CATHOLIC U. L. REV. 1163-1187 (1997) (Text of the "Mirror of Justice" Lecture delivered at Catholic University on November 18, 1996). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Ounces of Prevention & Pounds of Cure: Developing Sound Policies for Environmental Compliance Programs, 7 FORDHAM ENVTL. L. REV. 583-634 (1996 Symposium Issue). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Judicial Review of CERCLA Cleanup Procedures: Striking a Balance to Prevent Irreparable Harm, 20 HARVARD ENVTL. L. REV. 339-395 (1996) (lead article). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Legal Skills Training in the First Year of Law School: Research? Writing? Analysis? or More?, 100 DICKINSON L. REV. 245-301 (1996). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, New York Attorney Malpractice Liability to Third Parties: Toward a Rule of Reason and Predictability, 15 PACE L. REV. 391-457 (1995). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Designing and Teaching Advanced Legal Research and Writing Courses, 33 DUQUENSE L. REV. 203-248 (1995). (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Additional Writings:

Lucia A. Silecchia, Reflections on the Link Between Faith and Intellect, (2011) (available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)

Lucia A. Silecchia, After Copenhagen, Some Lessons from Rome (2010) (published on-line with the Catholic Conservation Center and available at http://ssrn.com/author=625430)


Lucia Ann Silecchia, When Do Claims Challenging a Statute's Effect on Pre-Existing Contracts Accrue?, PREVIEW OF UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT CASES, April 2002.

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Raising the Bar in Law School, LEGAL TIMES, Sept. 6, 1999 at S29. (reprinted as Lucia A. Silecchia, Law School Survival and Success, TEXAS LAWYER, Nov. 15, 1999 at 38).

Joseph DiMento & Lucia Ann Silecchia, A Time to Put Things Together and ... A Time to Question Strategies of Environmental Law in the Mid '90's in RAPPORTO MONDIALE SUL DIRITTO DELL'AMBIENTE 659 (Stefano Nespor, ed., 1996) (American contribution to "A World Survey of Environmental Law" published by the Italian environmental law journal, RIVISTA GIURDICA DELL' AMBIENTE).

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Challenges for Environmental Professionals in a Climate of Increased Criminal Enforcement of Environmental Violations in PRACTICAL ENVIRONMENTAL DIRECTIONS: A CHANGING AGENDA 55 (1996 Conference Proceedings of the National Association of Environmental Professionals).

Lucia Ann Silecchia & Michael J. Malinowski, Square Pegs and Round Holes: Does the Sentencing of Corporate Citizens for Environmental Crimes Fit Within Guidelines?, 8 FED. SENT. RPTR. 230 (1996).

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Regulation and Certification of Environmental Professionals, J. ENVTL. L. & PRAC. 38 (Nov./Dec. 1994).

Lucia Ann Silecchia, The Environmental Professionals Training and Certification Act: A Critique, NAEP NEWS 5 (May/June 1994) (reprinted as Lucia Ann Silecchia, Congress Seeks to Certify Environmental Professionals, ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE 3 (Oct. 1994).

Book Chapters:

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Skill Development, in J.P. OGILVY ET AL., LEARNING FROM PRACTICE: A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEXT FOR LEGAL EXTERNS (2nd ed., Thompson West, 2007).

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Management Skills, in J.P. OGILVY ET AL., LEARNING FROM PRACTICE: A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEXT FOR LEGAL EXTERNS (2nd ed., Thompson West, 2007).

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Skill Development, in J.P. OGILVY ET AL., LEARNING FROM PRACTICE: A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEXT FOR LEGAL EXTERNS (West 1998).

Lucia Ann Silecchia, Management Skills, in J.P. OGILVY ET AL., LEARNING FROM PRACTICE: A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEXT FOR LEGAL EXTERNS (West 1998).

Unpublished Reports:

Lucia Ann Silecchia, COMMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL ON JUSTICE AND PEACE: RESPONSE TO THE CHAIRMAN'S PAPER FOR THE SECOND PREPATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (March 14, 2002).

Lucia Ann Silecchia, THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA OF THE 104TH CONGRESS: A LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS SUBMITTED TO THE UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE (February 20, 1996).

Lucia Ann Silecchia, COMMENTS: DRAFT FORMS OF BUSINESS ENTERPRISES LAW FOR ESTONIA (March 25, 1995).


SPEECHES & PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

• International Human Rights and Environmental Law: Connecting Contemporary Legal Principles and Catholic Social Teaching
  Faculty Workshop, Marquette University
  February 18, 2011 (Marquette Wisconsin)

• More Will be Expected: Catholic Social Thought and International Environmental Stewardship
 The 2011 Marquette University Simnos Lecture
 Marquette University
 February 17, 2011 (Marquette, WI)

• What Faith Has to do with the Intellectual Life
 The Catholic University of America,
 Presidential Inaugural Event
 January 18, 2011 (Washington, DC)

•Catholic Coaltion on Climate Change: Climate Ambassador Training
 December 2-5, 2010 (Bethesda, MD)

• The Changing World of Trusts and Estates: Scholarship
  Southeastern Association of Law Schools
  August 2, 2010 (Palm Beach, FL)

• Toward a Pro-Life Environmental Movement
  University Faculty for Life Annual Meeting
  June 5, 2010 (Washington, D.C.)

• Panelist, Discussion of Francis Cardinal George’s THE DIFFERENCE GOD
  MAKES: A CATHOLIC VISON OF FAITH, COMMUNION, AND CULTURE
  Conference on Catholic Legal Thought
  Loyola Law School
  May 25, 2010 (Chicago, IL)

• Integrating Catholic Social Thought in Elder Law and Estate Planning Courses:
  Reflections on Law, Age and Ethics
  Joseph T. McMullen Jr. Symposium on Catholic Social Thought and the Law
  Villanova Law School
  September 25, 2009 (Villanova, PA)

• The Environment, Poverty and Sustainable Development: Reflections on Our
  Common Responsibilities
  The Rosalie Rendu Roundtable on Religion and Science Lecture
  St. John’s University
  February 19, 2009 (Queen’s NY)

• Moderator and Discussant, Scholarly Career Planning as a Christian
   Conference on Catholic Legal Thought
   Seattle University
   May 29, 2008 (Seattle, WA)


• Panelist, The Challenge of Inclusion: Avoiding the "Us" and "Them"
  Conference of Religiously Affiliated Law Schools
  Boston College Law School
  April 8, 2008 (Boston, MA)

• Reflections on the Right to Environmental Health as a Condition for Development
   University of Lisbon
   March 10, 2008 (Lisbon, Portugal)

• Ecological Guidance for the 21st Century
   Fordham Law School
  Catholic Lawyer's Program on Globalizing Justice
  November 1, 2007 (New York, NY)

• The Preferential Option for the Poor: An Opportunity and a Challenge for
  Environmental Decision-making
  University of St. Thomas
  September 21, 2007 (Minneapolis, MN)

• Participant, International Conference on Climate Change and Development
   Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
  April 26-27, 2007 (Vatican City)

• Religion in the Public Square: Some Reflections on its Role and Limitations from the
  Perspective of Catholic Social Teaching
  University of Maryland
  Symposium on Religion and the Law
  April 11, 2006 (Baltimore, Maryland)

• Respondent to Sen. Lisa Maurkowski's Presentation, Climate Change: An Alaskan
  Perspective
  Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
  February 13, 2006 (Washington, D.C.)

• Discerning the Environmental Perspective of Pope Benedict XVI
  Villanova University
  Conference on Catholic Social Thought and Ecology
  November 11, 2005 (Villanova, Pennsylvania)

• Catholic Social Teaching and Its Impact on American Law: Observations on the Past and
  Reflections on the Future
  Villanova Law School
  Symposium on Catholic Social Thought and the Law
  October 3, 2003 (Villanova, Pennsylvania)

• Environmental Stewardship
  St. Patrick's Church
  Lenten Lecture Series on Catholic Social Teaching
  April 16, 2003 (Washington, D.C.)

• Perspectives on Law Teaching
  AALS Faculty Recruitment Conference
  October 18, 2001 (Washington, D.C.)

• Introduction to Environmental Law in the United States
  Institute for United States Law
  August 1, 2001 and August 5, 2002 (Washington, D.C.)

• Introduction to American Property Law
  Institute for United States Law
  July 26, 2001 and July 31, 2002 (Washington, D.C.)

• Introduction to Corporate and Business Law
   Institute for United States Law
   July 24, 2001 and August 1, 2002 (Washington, D.C.)

• Teaching Advanced Legal Research Through the Use of Research Journals: Sources &
   Strategies
   American Association of Law Librarians
   July 16, 2000 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) (via videotape)

• Spiritual Perspectives on Law Practice and Professionalism
   St. Thomas More Society of Rhode Island
   May 16, 2000 (Providence, Rhode Island)

• Catholic Perspectives on the Future of Social Justice  "Major Address" at the Dedication of Seattle
  University Law School Building
  October 18, 1999 (Seattle, Washington)

• Bridging the Gap Between Teaching and Scholarship
  Association of Legal Writing Directors' Bienniel Conference
  July 31, 1999 (Boston, Massachusetts)

• Litigation, Achieving Justice, and Catholic Social Thought
  St. Thomas More Society of Rockville
  May 20, 1999 (Rockville, Maryland)• Reports from the Field: Advice to New Law Teachers
  AALS Workshop for New Law Teachers
  July 26, 1997 (Washington, D.C.)

• Reports from the Field: Advice to New Law Teachers
  AALS Workshop for New Law Teachers
  July 26, 1997 (Washington, D.C.)

• Introduction to American Law: Legal Writing
  American Association of Law Librarians (Workshop for the Non-JD)
  July 16, 1997 (Washington, D.C.)

• Ethics and The National Environmental Policy Act
  A.L.I. - A.B.A. Course on N.E.P.A.
  April 17, 1997 (Washington, D.C.)

• Launching an Academic Career
  Yale Law School
  March 4, 1997 (New Haven, Connecticut)

• Ethical Dilemmas for the Environmental Lawyer as Policy Maker
  A.L.I. - A.B.A. 27th Annual "Environmental Law" Course of Study
  February 15, 1997 (Bethesda, Maryland)

• Professors and Professing: Faith and Students in the Academy
  Law Professors' Christian Fellowship Conference on "Following Christ in the Legal   Academy" January 3,
  1997 (Washington, D.C.)

• On Doing Justice and Walking Humbly With God: Catholic Social Thought on Law as
  Tool for Advancing Justice
  The Eighth Annual Mirror of Justice Lecture, Guild of Catholic Lawyers
  November 18, 1996 (Washington, D.C.)

• Law Teaching as a Service Profession: Advice to New Law Teachers
  AALS New Law Teachers' Conference
  July 27, 1996 (Washington, D.C.)

• Legal Writing in the Electronic Age
  Legal Writing Institute Biannual Conference
  July 19, 1996 (Seattle, Washington)

• Law, Legal Discourse and the New Technology (discussant)
  Joint Meeting of the Law & Society Ass'n/Research Committee on the Sociology of Law
  July 13, 1996 (Glasgow, Scotland)

• Challenges for Environmental Professionals in a Climate of Increased Criminal
  Enforcement of Environmental Violations
  21st Annual Conference, National Association of Environmental Professionals
  June 4, 1996 (Houston, Texas)

• Corporate Compliance and the Self Evaluative Privilege
   Symposium on Recent Developments in Environmental Crime (hosted by the
   FORDHAM JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW)
   February 29, 1996 (New York City, New York)

• Preparing for a Career in the Legal Profession
  Women & the Law Conference (sponsored by the Public Leadership Education Network)
  November 5, 1995 (Washington, D.C.)

• Implementing Curricular Reform in Legal Research & Writing Programs
  Association of Legal Writing Directors' Conference
  July 29, 1995 (San Diego, California)

• Scope of Coverage in Legal Research & Writing Programs
  Luncheon Speaker, Mid-Atlantic Regional Legal Writing Conference
  May 22, 1995 (Villanova, Pennsylvania)

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Supreme Court of the United States (May 1995)

• District of Columbia (November 1991)

• State of New York (May 1991)

• State of Connecticut (December 1990)

MEDIA

Quoted by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Catholic News Service, Newsweek, The Journal Record, and Science & Technology News, discussing topics such as the Catholic majority on the Supreme Court, environmental ethics, Catholic social teaching, purchase agreements for preconstruction condominiums, and indoor air quality.