A Message from
Dean Jenn

Dear DePaul Law Alumni:

When members of our DePaul University community hurt, we all hurt. Especially since the killing of George Floyd a few weeks ago, we have heard the pain, the sadness, the anger and the hope of our Black students, staff and faculty. Our Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Student Bar Association (SBA) and other student organizations have written and shared powerful statements denouncing the killings of Black persons at the hands of police, supporting the peaceful protesting of racial injustice by Black Lives Matter and other organizations and asking the university and law school to listen and to act as antiracists. They have asked us to listen to marginalized voices, to transform our classrooms and to represent greater diversity in our community. We must listen more closely than we have and do more than we have done.

To begin to respond, we have a number of projects in progress or initiated as part of our diversity plan, developed by our ad hoc Diversity Council. Many thanks to the chair of the Diversity Council, Aurora Austriaco (BUS '87, JD '90), and the alumni members for their hard work: Heather Adams ('12), Maryam Ahmad ('00), Tristan Gunn ('11), Ray Koenig III ('99), D.L. Morriss ('08), Meredith Ritchie ('91) and Larry Rogers, Sr. (JD '83, DHL '09). These initiatives include:
 

• Student-Focused Initiatives, including a 1L mentoring program, a new orientation session and integration of issues/perspectives in our required P2P (Prepare to Practice Program);
• Faculty-Focused Initiatives, including workshops/resources for faculty to integrate more critical perspectives in their classrooms and facilitate difficult conversations;
• Fall Community Conversations on policing/racial justice and COVID-19/racial disparities;
• Alumni Initiatives, including creation of a standing Alumni Diversity Council; and
• Increasing diversity of faculty, staff and students.

These efforts are just a start. There is so much needed to even begin to undo generations of oppression. I stand with my colleagues across the University to proclaim in one voice that DePaul is an institution committed to racial equality and justice and upholding the dignity of all people. We will work on these issues in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul's call to action—to do what must be done, and do it well. I will be calling on our DePaul Law family to come together and help me make real change happen in our law school and the legal profession, in order to make these institutions more antiracist, more diverse, more inclusive and more equitable. I know I can count on you, as I have many times before.

Stay well and enjoy the summer,
Dean Jenn

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Volunteer Opportunity: The Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative

Looking for a remote and flexible pro bono opportunity? The Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative is seeking College of Law alumni to partner with law students to answer legal questions posted on Illinois Free Legal Answers. Illinois Free Legal Answers is a secure website run by Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), where lower income Illinois residents can ask a lawyer for help with civil legal issues. The Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative will match alumni with law students who will research and draft the initial answers, and the alumni will review and post the answers. Training and materials will be provided.

To volunteer, please reach out to Lauren Worsek, director of PBCSI, at lworsek@depaul.edu.

The Fight for
Racial Justice: 
How to Help

The Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative stands in solidarity with the fight for racial justice. Please consider volunteering your time and expertise to support these issues through the following opportunities:

• Volunteer with the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
• Provide legal support for protesters through Chicago National Lawyers Guild and Law for Black Lives
• Support criminal justice reform through legal work and volunteer organizing with Grassroots Law Project
• Help repair small businesses in black communities in Chicago with My Block, My Hood, My City
• Pack food with Greater Chicago Food Depository

Questions? Please email Lauren Worsek, director of PBCSI, at lworsek@depaul.edu.

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Class of 2020 Grad Spotlight: Ezra Graham Lintner ('20)

DePaul's mission to serve others has always meant something special to Ezra Graham Lintner ('20). During their studies at the College of Law, Lintner has advocated for the legal rights of people experiencing homelessness and increased awareness of social justice issues among classmates. When Lintner and 272 of their classmates graduated from the College of Law this May, the coronavirus pandemic brought into even sharper focus the purpose of this work.

"What has made me so passionate, above all else, is that I can provide support to communities by both preventing the law from being used against them to their detriment, and also using the law to make things better," Lintner says.

Lintner is moved by the idea that dignity is inherent and believes those who work in the legal profession should acknowledge and uplift the dignity of the people they serve.

Read more about Lintner here. 

Law Career
Service Update

Hire a current student or graduate:
Looking to fill a position for which a JD would be helpful? Let us help you! Whether your position is full-time, part-time or piecemeal, now is the perfect time to start the recruitment process. Let us help you find a fantastic new legal professional for your office. If you have questions, please email Adam Gratch, assistant director of Law Career Services, at agratch@depaul.edu.

Alumni Advising Available:
Career advising continues to be available to DePaul Law's alumni community. Any law graduate in need of resume or cover letter advice, virtual networking help or general job search strategizing is encouraged to email law_career@depaul.edu to schedule a time to speak with one of our career advisors.

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Upcoming Virtual Alumni Programming