The law school building opened in the fall of 2003 with a dedication ceremony held on October 17 (see inside front cover). The Interprofessional Center (IPC) for Counseling and Legal Services opened in 2003 as a collaboration between the School of Law, School of Social Work and College of Applied Professional Studies, now the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Among the first of its kind in the country, students fromeach discipline, under the guidance of IPC faculty, work together to represent and assist the underserved populations of the Twin Cities.
The Mentor Externship Program received the
The law school’s inaugural class consisted of 120 students. Classes were held in Terrence Murphy Hall until the law school building was completed in 2003. The Mentor Externship Program has been a distinctive aspect of a St. Thomas legal education since it was created. The program pairs every law student with a lawyer or judge in their area of interest each year of law school to help them gain work experience, develop relationships and navigate the legal field. Turn to page 24 to learn more about the Mentor Externship Program.
ABA’s E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award. This award recognizes the nation’s exemplary, innovative and on- going legal professionalism programs. “Roadmap: The Law Student’s Guide to Preparing and Implementing a Successful Plan for Meaningful Employment,” written by professor Neil Hamilton, won the award in 2015. ( Photo: Ryan Wensmann ‘12 J.D., right, poses with his mentor Thomas Ting, left, in 2011. Ting is one of 64 “all-star” mentors who have guided St. Thomas law students for 15 or more years.)
St. Thomas first opened a law school in 1923. It operated for 10 years before closing, in part, due to the Great Depression.
1923-33
1999
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
After a two-year study, the St. Thomas Board of Trustees recommended that the university reopen its School of Law. A core team of individuals was assembled, including the law school’s first Dean David Link (now Father Link), Sr. Sally Furay, Associate Dean Patrick Schiltz (pictured, now Judge Schiltz) and library director Edmund Edmonds, to hire faculty and staff, establish temporary facilities, recruit students, apply for accreditation and more.
Thomas M. Mengler served as the School of Law’s second dean from 2002 until 2012. During his tenure, Mengler oversaw many of the school’s early milestones, such as the construction and opening
Formed in 2004, the Terrence J. Murphy Institute for Catholic Thought, Law and Public Policy is a collaboration between the Center for Catholic Studies and School of Law. It works to engage the church, the academic community and the public in rigorous discussions that bring historical and contemporary Catholic perspectives to bear on debates about law and public policy. The Institute has hosted many prestigious speakers and thought- provoking events since it was created, including a 2017 discussion between New York Times columnist Ross Douthat (pictured right) and professor and political commentator Cornel West (pictured left) about Christianity and politics in the U.S.
The Thomas E. Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions, founded in 2006, provides innovative interdisciplinary research, curriculum development and programs designed to help both law students and practicing professionals become ethical leaders in their communities. The Holloran Center is at the forefront of a growing national movement focused on greater intentionality regarding professional formation. In 2006, the ABA unanimously approved full accreditation for the University of St. Thomas School of Law. (Photo: Students, faculty, staff and guests gather to celebrate the law school’s accreditation.)
of the law building and becoming accredited by
the American Bar Association (ABA).
Page 12 St. Thomas Lawyer
Powered by FlippingBook