A Note from the Dean

Dear Alumni and Friends:

If you follow news articles about the legal profession and legal education, you will not be surprised to hear that this is a challenging time for law schools. I agreed to serve as interim dean, beginning in mid-March, because I believe the challenges facing legal education provide an opportunity to improve legal education in general and this law school in particular. The urgency of the situation makes us more efficient and more creative. Our plans for change began about one year ago when we decided to review the curriculum and bring it more in line with the current needs of both our students and the profession. The faculty has worked diligently on this project and we will begin to implement the revised curriculum in August 2013.

One of our most significant changes is a greater emphasis on skills and learning through experience, beginning in the first year. This requires smaller classes, more regular assessment, more practice-related opportunities, and more teaching resources. You can assist us by providing opportunities for our students, by serving as mentors for them, by assisting in classes and, of course, by your financial contributions.

Through this e-newsletter, we hope to keep you informed about the law school and about each other. Please provide us with news about yourself that you would like to have included in the newsletter. Also, please keep your contact information current so you will continue to receive communications from the law school.

Sincerely,
Ivan Bodensteiner
Dean and Professor, Valparaiso University Law

Valparaiso University law students will celebrate graduation on Saturday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at the Chapel of the Resurrection on the Valparaiso University campus. Chapel doors open at 9:30 a.m. No tickets are required and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. ... read more

We welcome your feedback! If you have suggestions of what you would like to see, what services you would like provided from your Office of Alumni Relations, please send a note to Law.Alumni@valpo.edu. In the meantime, be sure to keep your eyes open for this e-newsletter, join/like the Valparaiso Law Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages and please join us at an alumni event in the coming year.

CLASS NOTES

ALUMNI NEWS

Distinguished Barrister Award Recipient- Rhett Tauber '71, '74 JD, Senior Partner, Tauber Law Offices in Schereville IN ... read more

Katherine A. Brown Henry '06, Associate, Cline Farrell Christie & Lee P.C., Indianapolis ... read more

Timothy A. Emerick '06, Associate, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, South Bend ... read more

Valparaiso Law School is the only law school at present that has worked directly with the Indiana State Bar Association's PLEADS (Professional Legal Education, Admission, and Development Section) council and it's Mentor Match program. The focus of the program is to match attorneys to potentially more experienced attorneys for career advice and guidance. Jeff Earl, Class of 2008 and ... read more

Four of the finest alumni in the Valparaiso area came to bid the outgoing 3L Class a farewell to Valparaiso Law and a word of welcome to the legal profession. This year’s 3L class advisor, Professor Clare Nuechterlein ’76, Judge Mary L. Harper ’75, Judge David Chidester ’81 and Andrew Lucas ’08 spoke to the Class of 2013 who had gathered at Parea ... read more

We want to highlight our alumni who are excelling! Tell us about your recent achievements!

IN MEMORIAM

Bryce Billings '52, passed away on May 6, 2013. He served as Mayor of Valparaiso from 1968-1972 and Superior Court Judge from 1976-1988. Bryce was instrumental in founding the Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County in 1971 and lists that as one of his greatest career achievements. He was a longtime and tremendous supporter of the law school and will be deeply missed. ... read more

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