Celebrating 10 Years in Fort Worth - Texas Wesleyan School of Law ...

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Photo by Dane Porter Photo by Lauren O. Burkett feature story 2005 John Maddux, chair of the Texas Wesleyan University board of trustees, and Anne Skipper, vice chair of then-board of trustees, cut the ribbon to officially open the renovated law school. of Law is one of only a handful of schools nationwide with such a requirement. “Coming face-to-face with clients who desperately need legal assistance but cannot afford it makes a huge impact on law students,” Turner said. “The gratification that they experience of giving back to the community inspires many to contribute far more than the mandatory 30-hour pro bono requirement. I think this shows their dedication – not just to those they are helping, but to the profession as a whole.” Since its inception, 793 students have completed more than 40,000 hours of pro bono service, and the development of programs such as the Wesleyan Innocence Dr. Sarah Weddington, the attorney best known for successfully arguing Roe v. Wade, addressed Texas Wesleyan law students in March 2003. Weddington was the youngest woman ever to argue before the United States Supreme Court. Do the Math Take a look at how some of the numbers at Texas Wesleyan have changed over the last ten years: • In the 1997-98 school year, 985 law school applications were received; in the 2007-08 school year, 1,941 law school applications were received • In 1997, the median LSAT score of Texas Wesleyan law students was 149; in 2007, the median LSAT score of Texas Wesleyan law students was 154 • In 1997, the law school had 806 alumni; as of 2007, the law school has more than 2,500 alumni Project and the Wesleyan Law Fellowship further demonstrate the passion with which the student body has embraced its community service. “It is amazing how much [pro bono work] enhances the students’ education,” Gershon said. “They are giving so much to the community, but they get something in return.” 24 Timeline: July 1997 – Law school relocates to downtown Fort Worth from Irving January 1998 – Law Clinic opens July 1998 – Texas Wesleyan University School of Law Alumni Association forms March 1999 – Supreme Court of Texas visits law school August 1999 – Law school receives full ABA approval Fall 2002 – Law school adopts mandatory pro bono requirement for graduation August 2003 – Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno addresses law school community September 2003 – Law school faculty recognized as No. 1 in classroom instruction and faculty accessibility in a Texas Lawyer magazine survey of the state’s nine law schools March 2004 – Law school kicks off renovation project Spring 2005 – Law Clinic announces expansion to include children’s rights clinic October 2005 – Law school renovations completed (additional 40,000 square feet of class space, library renovation) October 2005 – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy visits law school October 2006 – Second Court of Appeals hears oral arguments at the law school March 2007 – Texas Court of Criminal Appeals holds oral arguments at the law school Photo by Lauren O. Burkett
feature story Attracting the Best Just as important as the increased activity in student programs was the addition of numerous faculty members. The size of the faculty at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law has increased steadily throughout the school’s existence, as well as from its relocation to Fort Worth. From 25 faculty members in 1997 to 34 in 2007, the law school has never failed to attract teachers of an outstanding caliber. Law schools represented by the faculty’s degrees include American University, Columbia, George Washington, Harvard, Texas, and the University of Southern California, with graduate law degrees from such schools as Chicago, Georgetown, Notable Visits March 1999 – Supreme Court of Texas August 2003 – Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno April 2005 – Second District Court of Appeals of Texas October 2005 – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy October 2006 – Second District Court of Appeals of Texas March 2007 – Texas Court of Criminal Appeals October 2007 – Second District Court of Appeals of Texas Justice Anthony Kennedy speaks about the importance of law in our society at the dedication ceremony at Bass Hall. (From left to right): Justices Holcomb, Keasler, Womack, Meyers, Keller, Price, Johnson, Hervey, and Cochran of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law on March 1, 2007. Occasionally, the state’s highest criminal court travels to law schools around the state to give students a chance to see how appeals are handled in the state’s criminal justice system. Photo by Dane Porter Harvard, New York University, and the University of Virginia. Nonlaw doctoral and master’s degrees include Stanford, Michigan, Chicago, Columbia, and Harvard. “More and more candidates express serious interest in coming to Texas Wesleyan University School of Law,” Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Vickie Rainwater said. “They know we have a genuine interest in accessibility. Over the years we have continued to place a high value on the closeness of students and teachers, on a relationship that’s free and comfortable. Additionally, our faculty members have published an increasing number of articles and participated in more conferences over the years. The numbers continue to increase every semester, which raises our visibility.” That accessibility Rainwater mentions received widespread attention in 2003 when a Texas Lawyer magazine survey ranked Texas Wesleyan University School of Law’s faculty No. 1 in classroom instruction and faculty accessibility in a survey of students at the state’s nine law schools. “An exceptional level of interaction occurs between faculty and students at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law,” Fountaine said. “Being able to speak oneon-one with professors is an important element of a law student’s education. Learning takes place in many ways – both inside and outside of class. As a faculty, we think it is very important to maintain an open and friendly environment for our students, rather than a closed, intimidating environment.” Growth Spurt Programs and faculty recognition were not the only parts of the law school that experienced growth in the new millennia. When Fred Slabach took the role of Texas Wesleyan University School of Law’s fourth dean in 2003, he soon found himself in the midst of a capital campaign to raise funds for an expansion that would provide the school some room for physical growth. 25 “The community as a whole was extremely supportive,” Slabach said of the fundraising efforts. “The city of Fort Worth was very generous. There is no doubt in my mind that the community has adopted the law school.” The $6.5 million renovation project was kicked off in March 2004, with two phases incorporating over 40,000 square feet of additions and updates. Phase one involved the transformation of the second floor – a space which had previously been occupied by the Internal Revenue Service – into a 40,000 square-foot space that included the 248-seat Amon G. Carter Lecture Hall, the Bernie Schuchmann Conference Center, four 100-seat Former United States Attorney General Janet Reno visited Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in August 2003. classrooms, one 70-seat classroom, four seminar classrooms, and office space for administration. Phase two saw the Dee J. Kelly Law Library grow from 14,222 square feet to 30,021 square feet, plus space for librarian offices. Upon completion of the renovation and expansion in October 2005, United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy visited the law school and was welcomed as the keynote speaker for the dedication ceremony. “We were honored to have Justice Kennedy dedicate our new building into a new era of legal education,” Slabach said. “It symbolized the way in which Texas Wesleyan was moving to the forefront of legal education.” Photo by John M. Veilleux
Page 1 and 2: Texas Wesleyan fall/winter 2007 Tex
Page 3 and 4: message Dear Alumni and Friends: We
Page 5 and 6: Photos by Malinda Seymore story fea
Page 7 and 8: Opposite page: Teaching at Xiada La
Page 9 and 10: around campus Kimble said. “So th
Page 11 and 12: around campus gave presentations du
Page 13 and 14: Photo by Abby E. Dozier around camp
Page 15 and 16: Photo by Abby E. Dozier story featu
Page 17 and 18: story feature growing importance in
Page 19 and 20: Photo by Abby E. Dozier Chief Justi
Page 21 and 22: academia in Paul George Professor o
Page 23 and 24: academia in Malinda Seymore Profess
Page 25: feature story of the university, Ja
Page 29 and 30: feature story Books to the Ceiling,
Page 31 and 32: Photo by John M. Veilleux feature s
Page 33 and 34: Photo by Abby E. Dozier alumni repo
Page 35 and 36: alumni report Letter from Director
Page 37 and 38: feature story a phone call in 1996
Page 39 and 40: alumni news & notes Sherry L. Shipm
Page 41 and 42: Honor Roll of Donors Our annual Hon
Page 43 and 44: feature story Everett Chambers, dir
Page 45 and 46: The Texas Wesleyan University Schoo
Page 47 and 48: You know what it takes to graduate

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