By Deanna Howes Spiro, Director of Communications, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
What makes a Jesuit law school different from other law schools? Our students are committed to finding God in all people and all things. From guiding undocumented individuals through immigration clinics led by the University of San Francisco, to providing legal representation for students with disabilities through the Education Project at Loyola University New Orleans, our students are living out the Jesuit mission across the country, every day.
In this issue of Connections, we feature the mission-focused programs at our law schools and reflections from two current deans and one dean emeritus. Jacob Rooksby, J.D., Ph.D., dean of the Gonzaga University School of Law, writes: “We approach education with a view toward educating the whole person, recognizing that attorneys, first and foremost, are people in a constant state of formation, seeking to improve themselves and the world around them. We see this sensitivity displayed in the close relationships forged between our faculty, staff and students. The potential to impact lives, inside as well as outside of the classroom, is what draws me and many of my colleagues to work in Jesuit legal education.”
Our Jesuit law schools serve as beacons of hope for vulnerable individuals across the country and around the world. We thank our deans, faculty and staff for their advocacy and for showing our students how to be people (and lawyers) for and with others at all times.