Private support provides the margin of excellence

by Jamie White (JD 00)
Director of Development,
UM School of Law

Private support provides the margin of excellence. These words are the underlying philosophy of our development activities. We strive to attract the best and brightest students, faculty and staff. Skillfully preparing the future lawyers who will serve the needs of the state of Mississippi—while providing our students with a world-class educational experience—is our primary objective. To meet this goal, we must define our priorities.

• Scholarships: Scholarships ensure that we have a talented and diverse group of deserving students.
• Clinics: Clinical programs provide students with real-world practice opportunities. Our clinical programs also emphasize the importance of serving those in need.
• Program support: Support for programs, such as Moot Court and the Mississippi Law Journal, provide our students with courtroom experience and the research, writing and analytical skills that define our profession.
• Chairs, Professorships and Lectureships: Endowments for chairs, professorships and lectureships enable us to maintain a strong faculty whose expertise benefits our students and the larger world of scholarship and research.

Each of these components, which are funded almost exclusively through private support, is critical to our success as a law school. The priorities listed above are far from exclusive, however. Among other initiatives, we are in the planning stages of a comprehensive ethics and professionalism program. The law library and research are areas of constant growth, and we hope to enhance our speaker series program, which complements the formal education our students receive.

Our school has a rich tradition of producing distinguished attorneys. Next year, our school will move into a new building that will reflect the esteem and heritage of our family. The new building is a critical step toward elevating legal education in Mississippi. A renewed emphasis on private support will take us to even greater heights.

We ask that you make the School of Law a priority in your charitable giving plans. We need the devoted support of our alumni and friends to improve the education we provide and to be recognized as a preeminent legal education center. Your support provides the margin of excellence.

Law school says ‘thank you’ to donors

by Macey Edmonson (JD 01)
Director of Stewardship,
UM School of Law

Thanking those who provide the law school with great opportunities is a goal that we hold high. Our donors play an integral part in ensuring that our students, faculty and staff have the resources needed to obtain a quality experience at The University of Mississippi School of Law.

This semester we hosted a scholarship reception to thank those who have provided scholarships for our students and endowments for chairs, professorships and lectureships for our faculty. These gifts enable us to attract the brightest and most talented faculty and students, and they are imperative to the success of our law school.

We have planned various events and activities to include our donors in the upcoming Law Weekend. We are also busy planning events to commemorate the opening of the new law building. We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events and thank you, again, for your very important continued support!

Law Alumni Chapter plans variety of events

by Scott Thompson
Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs and
Executive Secretary of Law Alumni Chapter

Perhaps you have heard of the Law Alumni Chapter, but did you know that as a former student at the UM School of Law, you are a member of this chapter? The Law Alumni Chapter (LAC) is part of the UM Alumni Association. The alumni office and the law school work together to design programming that is attractive to our graduates.

Every chapter within the Alumni Association has a board of directors. The LAC board of directors consists of alumni who are members of the chapter. Board members work with the chapter’s executive secretary to provide insight on planned events and fresh ideas that lead to new events.

Most recently, the LAC board established the UM Law Hall of Fame. Because our alumni become innovators, mentors and leaders, the board recognized a need to formally recognize the school’s most distinguished alumni with a Hall of Fame induction ceremony. By now, the UM Law Hall of Fame Selection Committee has met and has chosen the inaugural class. To see who will be honored, go to Page 30 or www.law.olemiss.edu/alumni/halloffame.html. The induction ceremony will take place during Law Weekend, which is set for Feb. 26-27, 2010.

Though we celebrate reunions for specific classes, all law alumni are invited to attend. You will receive a brochure and registration form in the mail within the next couple weeks. Please take time to look over all the events planned and consider attending.

Alumni events are not always tied to the Oxford campus. In July, the Mississippi Bar Convention plays host to many UM law graduates. In Destin, Fla., the LAC presents a UM Law Alumni Luncheon, where we announce the UM Law Alumnus of the Year.

If you are a member of the Lamar Order, a fun, new event has been designed exclusively for you. Last year, members were treated to a family-friendly cookout that also featured a build-your-own-sundae bar. From our reserved spot on the deck, members and their families had a comfortable area to watch the annual fireworks show.

The Law Alumni Chapter board of directors and the Alumni Association work diligently to keep you connected to your School of Law. If you are interested in serving as a board member or if you would like more information on law alumni events, please do not hesitate to contact me.