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June 2007
Welcome to The Drexel Docket – Drexel Law's e-newsletter. The Docket brings you updates about the college; stories about what the faculty and students are doing; and news we think will be of interest to current and prospective students, pre-law advisors, co-op sponsors, alumni of the University, and friends of the law school. If you have comments or suggestions, please send them to us using the link at the end of this issue. We invite you to visit us at http://www.drexel.edu/law.
- Grand Opening for New Building
- Barristers’ Ball Reaches New Heights
- Co-op Spotlight: Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Inc.
- Meet and Greet the New Dean
- Online Chats for Accepted Students
- Upcoming Events for the Class of 2010
- Faculty Focus
Grand Opening for New Building
It was a day eagerly awaited at Drexel Law. An eventful gathering of students, administrators, friends of Drexel, and distinguished guests — even a U.S. Senator and a Supreme Court justice.
The occasion was the ribbon-cutting for Drexel Law’s new home, which took place outside the front entrance to the building on April 9. Speakers included Drexel President Constantine Papadakis, founding Law School Dean Roger Dennis, Philadelphia City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Senator Arlen Specter, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
President Papadakis called the ceremony a milestone for Drexel University. “We are here to celebrate a great idea — Drexel Law,” he said. “Drexel was the right place for the idea of a unique law school, and this was the right time.”
Dean Dennis praised the first class of students, whom he called a very talented and committed group of individuals. “I very much want to thank our students for showing faith in the Drexel vision and for having the flexibility of working with us with good humor.” Dennis then introduced the first distinguished guest speaker, Councilwoman Blackwell.
On behalf of the City of Philadelphia and City Council, Councilwoman Blackwell thanked Drexel for its new undertaking. “Wonderful things are happening here,” she said. “We’re proud of the partnership [with Drexel, and] of all that Drexel does. We look forward to continuing on this journey.”
Senator Specter then took the stage. He commented on Drexel’s dramatic transformation of Market Street over the years, with the law school being the latest in a string of inspiring Drexel buildings. He told the assembled crowd that when he travels down Market Street, it’s clear that Drexel is everywhere. “It’s really a remarkable university.”
Justice Alito ended the ceremony with enthusiasm for the community’s commitment to the College of Law. He has several Philadelphia connections: his father emigrated from Italy and came ashore here, and Alito himself served on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. He also has a special Drexel Law connection: Professor Dana Irwin will clerk for him next year.
Barristers’ Ball Reaches New Heights
The night after completing finals, students celebrated a significant accomplishment — the end of their first year at Drexel Law. They celebrated in style with the Barristers’ Ball hosted by the Drexel Student Bar Association (SBA). It featured fine food, dancing, and a chance to mingle with staff, faculty, and administrators in an atmosphere far removed from the classroom.
Held on May 18 at the Top of the Tower — the 50th floor of the Bell Atlantic Building in downtown Philadelphia — the Barristers’ Ball attracted more than 200 guests. Floor-to-ceiling windows gave a panoramic view of the city below.
A large video screen had a slide show displaying images of events from the past year, both serious and humorous. A few lucky students won door prizes. After dinner, guests enjoyed dessert and dancing hosted by a DJ.
Jackie Lowthert, chair of the SBA’s Student Affairs Committee and one of the ball’s organizers, explained why she was excited about the event. Since it’s the first year for everything,” she said, “we wanted to put our handprint on something at Drexel. And we wanted to show that the SBA is not just about serious things, like the Code of Conduct, but also more fun things.”
Jennifer Rosato, senior associate dean for student affairs and professor of law, called the ball “a great way to celebrate the end of an eventful year and, most importantly, to celebrate the community we have created.
“The highlight of my evening,” she said, “was when the students presented me with a photograph of the inaugural class, which was a complete surprise. The students continue to amaze me with their commitment and thoughtfulness.”return to top
Co-op Spotlight: Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Inc.
Drexel’s Co-op program is delighted to partner with one of the essential legal-services clinics in Philadelphia, the Legal Clinic for the Disabled. Drexel Co-op’s connection with Legal Clinic came about, says Legal Clinic Director Tom Prettyman, “because the legal community in Philadelphia is pretty tight-knit, especially the public interest legal community. Drexel got the word out. We’re happy to have Drexel students in the program.”
Since its founding in 1990, the Legal Clinic has helped thousands of low-income disabled persons in the Philadelphia region by providing free or low-cost legal services. Drexel Co-op students will work side by side with the Legal Clinic’s three staff attorneys, conducting research, drafting briefs, and preparing legal documents. As they gain experience, students will be able to handle their own cases, including interviewing clients, negotiating with opposing counsel, and developing legal strategies. “They will often work with minimal supervision,” Prettyman says. “I think they will get a lot of substantive experience.”
What is the agency looking for in a co-op student? “The person must be patient and flexible,” Prettyman says. “And he or she should have an interest in public interest law.”
In the past, Prettyman says, “our law students have been great. They’re motivated. They like working here. I like working with them. We have a laid-back atmosphere. I think that any person who’s worked here as a law clerk will tell you that it’s great place to work.”
Meet and Greet the New Dean
Roger Dennis was speaking with Karl Okamoto, a former colleague at Rutgers who had been offered a teaching job at the new Drexel College of Law. Okamoto had asked Dennis for his opinion on whether Okamoto should accept the offer. During the conversation, Okamoto suggested to Dennis that he consider working at the new law school, too.
At the time, Dennis was the provost of Rutgers University’s Camden campus, a position he’d held since 1997. For six years before that, he had been the dean of the Rutgers Law School — enough time, he says jokingly, “to mess things up.” Dennis hadn’t considered taking a new job. But he was coming off a semester in which he had a highly positive experience teaching a first-year law class. That, along with Okamoto’s suggestion, got Dennis thinking …
“It was appealing,” says Dennis. “My wife said I was ready for a change, and I always listen to her.” He interviewed with the search committee, and at the end of January, the deanship was his.
“It’s exciting to be back in legal education,” he says. “Because law schools are professional communities, their deans are more involved in day-to-day operations than deans of other schools. Dealing with financial matters, fundraising, alumni relations — they’re like small-college presidents. That’s unusual in deanland. There’s never a dull moment.”
Being in a research university, Dennis says, “is what allows us to attract both young and experienced faculty members. The faculty we’ve been able to attract are outstanding. The curriculum — all that — is new here. People get to play an important role in structuring the enterprise. Each person has a profound impact.”
Another aspect that intrigued Dennis was Drexel Law’s pursuit of accreditation. He had served as vice chair of the ABA’s accreditation committee, and he had written standards for accreditation. So, he thought, “I could give some good wisdom and counsel to this important process.”
On the morning of May 1, his first day on the new job, Dennis hosted a “Meet and Greet the Dean” reception for students. “What impressed me then,” he says, “and what I’ve been very impressed by at other times, is the maturity of our students. And I’m more than impressed by the diversity of who they are and where they come from. They’re a really good group. They’re remarkably resilient and understanding.”
Drexel students can feel free to contact Dennis with questions and concerns. “I like to do management by walking around,” he says. “My door is open.”
Online Chats for Accepted Students
Accepted students, check out the following online chats scheduled for the summer. All are Eastern Daylight Time.
| Dates and Times | ||
|---|---|---|
Preparing for Law School |
June 19 | 8 – 10 PM |
Meet the Faculty – Book & Movie Review |
July 25 | 7 – 9 PM |
Orientation Questions |
August 7 | 7 – 9 PM |
To participate in a chat, call 215-895-1LAW.
return to topUpcoming Events for the Class of 2010
Day at the Ballpark: Saturday, June 16
Second Deposit Due: Sunday, July 1
Quizzo Night: Monday, July 9
Lucky Strikes Bowling Night: Thursday, August 2
Orientation Begins: Monday, August 20
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Faculty Focus
In addition to teaching his torts classes and working on the next edition of his widely used health law case book, Professor Barry Furrow spent time earlier this year building a relationship with National Taiwan University. While there, he engaged in a number of activities, including participating in a roundtable discussion on how to develop a Bioethics and Law Center; presenting on “The Evolution of Patient Safety Regulation in the United States: From Liability to Payment Systems”; teaching a medical school class on medical ethics; and presenting to the Department of Ob/Gyn.
As the Director of the Health Law Concentration, Professor Furrow has been developing the requirements of the curriculum as well as preparing for Drexel Law to host the Health Law Teachers Conference in June 2008. He recently presented at the 2007 Health Law Teachers Conference on “Global Issues in Patient Safety.”
For more information on faculty activities,
go to: http://www.drexel.edu/law/faculty-news-07.asp.
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The Dean is fully informed as to the Standards and Rules of Procedure for the Approval of Law Schools by the American Bar Association. The Administration and the Dean are determined to devote all necessary resources and in other respects to take all necessary steps to present a program of legal education that will qualify for approval by the American Bar Association. The Law School makes no representation to any applicant that it will be approved by the American Bar Association prior to the graduation of any matriculating student. Visit http://www.drexel.edu/law/accreditation.asp for more information about the ABA accreditation process.