Response from Public Officials and the Legal Community

Statement from Gov. Edward G. Rendell
I was proud to be named an honorary member of the Drexel University College of Law’s
inaugural Class of 2009 and to meet with incoming students who recognized the potential of
this new school when it first opened its doors in August of 2006.

Now, I’m equally proud that the College of Law has so quickly gained provisional
accreditation from the American Bar Association, which upholds national standards for the
education of new attorneys.

Drexel University holds a special place in Philadelphia’s history as an innovator in education.
Since its inception as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, the university has been
at the forefront of imparting practical knowledge and skills that support the career
aspirations of its students. This has also made Drexel a leader in addressing the needs of
industries and employers in the Delaware Valley region and all of Pennsylvania.

The newly accredited College of Law will prepare its graduates to grapple with the changing
face of commerce as technology rapidly evolves and becomes a more powerful force in the
state economy. While innovations in science and technology are helping to fuel the state’s
continued economic growth, they also pose new ethical and legal challenges for the business
community and the world at large.

I can think of no better way to prepare new attorneys for practice in health law, business law
and intellectual property law than to give budding lawyers opportunities to learn by working
with experienced practitioners in Philadelphia’s thriving business and legal communities.
Operating alongside Drexel’s Bennett S. LeBow College of Business, its College of Medicine,
its College of Nursing and Health Professions and the schools of public health and biomedical
engineering, the university’s College of Law will play a critical role in enhancing legal
practice in Pennsylvania and the region as a whole.

Once again, Drexel is demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to education that will
serve the community in immeasurable ways.

Congratulations for a job well done.

With best wishes,
Gov. Edward G. Rendell

The Honorable Anthony J. Scirica, Chief Judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals
“This is wonderful news for the Drexel law school and for the greater legal community. I’m
confident that the Drexel faculty and students, under the enlightened leadership of Dean
Roger Dennis, will make significant contributions to legal scholarship and legal practice, not
just in this area, but throughout the country.”

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter
“The accreditation of the Drexel University College of Law places a shining new star in Philadelphia’s legal firmament. The law students who receive practical training in Philadelphia businesses, law firms, courthouses and service organizations are enhancing efforts to nurture and renew this great city. The pro bono representation that students provide to city residents puts justice within reach for more members of the community, and that can only serve the greater good in Philadelphia. Congratulations.”



The Honorable C. Darnell Jones, President Judge of the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia
“I congratulate and commend the superb leadership and faculty of Drexel University College of
Law upon receipt of accreditation by the American Bar Association. The vision of the
university, the initial and continuing support of the legal community and the trust of the students
and their families have joined to create a formidable and innovative force in the nation’s legal
education system. I am certain that their desire to meet or exceed the requirements of the ABA
will always be a driving force for the continued success of the law school and its students.”



Jane Leslie Dalton, Esquire, Immediate Past Chancellor, The Philadelphia Bar Association
“ With their high quality students, their excellent faculty and their co-op program, it really will
provide an avenue of exchange between Philadelphia law firms, Philadelphia businesses and the
law school that’s going to be of benefit to everyone. I would really congratulate
the law school, I would congratulate President Papadakis and I would congratulate executive
Vice President Carl (Tobey) Oxholm for having the vision and the tenacity to do what hasn’t
been done in a very long time, which is establishing a new law school with a new concept.”