Harvard Law School Students Honored with the Weiler Awards

L-R: Joshua Lee (3L), Jaimie McFarlin (3), Professor Emeritus Paul C. Weiler LL.M. ’65, Juan Arguello (3), Javier Oliver (3), Lecturer on Law and Sports Law Clinic Director, Peter Carfagna

On March 26th, four Harvard Law School students – Javier Oliver (3L), Juan Arguello (3L), Jaimie McFarlin (3L), and Joshua Lee (3L) – were honored with the Weiler Awards presented at the Committee on Sports and Entertainment Law’s 2015 Symposium. The awards are presented annually to eligible students who have participated in the HLS Sports and Entertainment Law Courses, in the Committee on Sports and Entertainment Law and the Journal on Sports and Entertainment Law activities, as well as in clinical placements through the Sport Law Clinic.

Lecturer on Law and Sports Law Clinic Director Peter Carfagna, kicked-off the event by recognizing Joshua Lee and Jaimie McFarlin with the 2014-2015 Weiler Award for excellence in legal writing in sports and entertainment. Then he recognized Javier Oliver and Juan Arguello as the 2014-2015 Weiler Scholars. He also recognized Professor Emeritus Paul C. Weiler LL.M. ’65, “the father of Sports and the Law” at Harvard.

“It was my great privilege and pleasure again this year to welcome back to HLS my lifelong professional colleague and friend, Professor Emeritus Paul C. Weiler,” Professor Carfagna said. “This year’s recipients of the Weiler Writing Prize and the Weiler Scholarship are truly deserving honorees–they walk in Paul Weiler’s trail-blazing footsteps (as do I), as we all work together to explore the ever-expanding boundaries of Sports and the Law.”

Javier Oliver has worked with the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Jose Sharks and is a Senior Editor for the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy and a Technical Editor for the Harvard Journal on Racial and Ethnic Justice.

“I feel humbled and honored to receive the Weiler Scholars Award. I want to thank Professor Carfagna for the nomination and all of his guidance throughout my work in the Sports Law program. I would also like to thank Professor Weiler for founding the program,” Javier said. “The Sports Law coursework introduced me to the complexity of this legal sphere, while simultaneously preparing me to approach the legal issues in sports law with confidence. My work with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Jose Sharks allowed me to develop and hone my contract drafting, negotiation, and legal research skills and also meet some amazing attorneys in the sports law field. The Sports Law program has truly been the highlight of my time in law school.”

Juan Arguello served six years in the Army National Guard as an enlisted infantryman. While at HLS he has advocated for undocumented immigrants, veterans challenging the denial of disability benefits from the VA, as well as indigent criminal clients in show cause hearings. Juan had a clinical placement with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he conducted in-depth an analysis of select provisions of the NBA CBA and is one of the current Co-Presidents of the Armed Forces Association of Harvard Law School.

“It is a true honor to receive the Paul C. Weiler Scholars award. I felt blessed to have had the opportunity to meet Professor Weiler, his family, and some of his former students,” Juan said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the courses and clinical opportunities in the Sports Law Program. In my clinical placements with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Sports Legacy Institute I have been able to use the skills I learned in Professor Carfagna’s classes. The courses and clinics of the Sports Law Program have been some of the highlights of my experience at Harvard Law School.”

Jaimie McFarlin holds positions with multiple student organizations and the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law. She captained the 2010 Washington University women’s basketball team to a NCAA Division III National Championship, and after graduating with both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration, Jaimie played professional basketball for Værløse Basketball Club in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“Winning the Weiler writing prize is a humbling honor,” she said. “For me this award represents the merge of two fantastic experiences at HLS — academic writing with one of my good friends, Joshua Lee, and the sports law program’s distinct setting for legal commentary in an ever-changing, fun and exciting area of law.”

Joshua Lee is involved in the HLS community as a resident assistant, teaching assistant, and a variety of other roles in prominent campus organizations. He has had an abiding interest in sports and entertainment since his time as an AAU basketball coach in Central Florida.

“I am honored and incredibly grateful to receive this outstanding prize for legal writing,” Joshua said. “Professor Weiler’s work here at Harvard Law within the area of sports law has given me, and countless others, the opportunity to explore a burgeoning and highly interesting field. To be awarded for my work with a Weiler prize is a true highlight of my time here and a memory I will cherish.”