The Willamette University College of Law is preparing future attorneys to succeed in a changing world. A new Signature Strengths Initiative has been developed to emphasize the importance of integrating core strengths into the law school curriculum. This initiative is part of the School of Law’s historically progressive approach to legal education.
The inaugural class of the Willamette Law Bruce Spaulding Trial Competition concluded its final round of contests in September. The competition features leading legal scholars and third-year students from the law school. As a result, many of these new law students have already had a taste of the legal profession.
Another exciting new program that is set to launch this fall is the Children’s Law Training Center. The Center is being directed by Prof. Josh Gupta-Kagan. He will be joined by Professors Etienne Toussaint and Madalyn Wasilczuk. Its immersive learning simulations will help improve efforts to protect children in South Carolina.
In addition to the new faculty, the Willamette University College of Law has received a generous gift from the Konduros Fisherman Fund. The fund has donated more than $1 million to the school. The gift will enable the college to expand its experiential learning program, as well as its curricular modernization.
This year, the School of Law welcomed 217 new first-year students. These incoming students are the most academically accomplished in the school’s history. They came from as far away as California and Rhode Island. Most of these new law students will be joining a network of faculty and peer mentors throughout the Midlands.
Willamette Law has announced the addition of six new professors to its faculty. Each of the new faculty members brings expertise in their area of specialization. Their areas of expertise include criminal law, business and real estate law, labor and employment law, intellectual property, international and public finance, and civil rights and ethics.
Other new faculty members include David Friedman, who is an Associate Professor of Law. His research focuses on technology, business, and government. Additionally, he is working with the Standard Life Insurance Company to support the organization’s work in the legal profession.
Two other members of the law school’s new faculty are Assistant Professors Jaclyn Cherry and Bennett Nelson. Both will be teaching at the law school in the coming academic year. Previously, Cherry and Nelson were faculty at Willamette Law.
Also this year, the law school received a generous gift from Jim Averill and Pat Averill, who have given more than 34 years to the law school’s annual fund. They also recently promoted 10 law faculty to tenure.
With the addition of these new faculty, the law school will continue to provide a wide range of opportunities for students to prepare for the law career of their dreams. From the first Cybersecurity Legal Institute to the Signature Strengths Initiative, the Law School is prepared to help students develop the skills they need to succeed in a changing world.
Several members of the Law School’s new faculty have also been assisting the school in developing new resources to support local educators. For example, the law school has been working with local teachers through the Adopt a Teacher program. Moreover, the School of Law’s Lawyers & Leadership seminar aims to prepare graduates for leadership roles.