A Message from
Dean Jenn

Dear DePaul Law alumni community:

For the past few weeks we have been working diligently to ensure that the law school's essential functions continue and, most importantly, that we can support our law students on their educational journeys through online coursework and virtual advising and support. All of our courses are now being taught remotely, which will continue through the spring semester. Our faculty and staff have been models of flexibility, patience, commitment, resilience and mutual support during this unprecedented time. 

Connected by technology, we are continuing to work on bringing in an outstanding class of new students, improving student outcomes and enhancing our reputation. Related to our reputation, I do want to share some good news with you – and we all need good news to keep us positive. Our U.S. News and World Report law school ranking improved 14 spots this year, to 118. This is a terrific outcome, which we could not have achieved without the great work of all of our staff, faculty and alumni, persevering together for the last five years. Thank you for all you have done and will do for DePaul Law. From being a DePaul Law ambassador, to providing job opportunities to our graduates, to giving generously of your time and money—every effort has and will continue to make a difference.

I have great faith that we will navigate through the uncertain times ahead with care, compassion and mutual respect consistent with our core Vincentian values. Until I see you again, please take good care of yourselves, your families and your friends.

All my best,
Dean Jenn

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DePaul Law Webinar: Boosting Wellness and Managing Stress During Quarantine with Erin Clifford ('12)

In this exclusive webinar for the DePaul Law community, Erin Clifford ('12) will provide you with tips, tricks and tools to boost your health and wellness during these challenging times. Utilizing her expertise and experience as a certified coach, Clifford will provide a roadmap of how you can stay healthy and sane working from home and how to best manage the fear and anxiety that we are all experiencing during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Date: Monday, April 6
Time: Noon–1 p.m.

Register here.

Clifford is a certified holistic wellness coach and the director of Marketing and Business Development at Clifford Law Offices. Also a 2012 graduate of DePaul Law, she is deeply passionate about helping lawyers and professionals create healthy lifestyles for a more fulfilling, happier existence.

Alumni Spotlight:
Kelli Garcia ('10)

Q. Tell us about your path to law school and the legal profession. 

I attended Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY as an undergraduate, majoring in philosophy, with a minor in art history and legal studies. My focus was in logic-based philosophy courses, which combined my love of humanities and mathematics. During undergrad, the head of the philosophy department introduced me to alumni who went into various professions after college. I was inspired by several judges that I met. I really gravitated towards a potential legal career and quickly knew that law school was my next step.

As for DePaul, I wanted to go to a law school in a vibrant urban area. I looked at law schools in New York City, Boston and Chicago. After a visit to the College of Law, I fell in love with Chicago and knew this was the place for me.

Head to our blog to read more, including what advice Garcia has for today's law students and how she gives back to the community through volunteering. 

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Faculty Spotlight: Mark Weber, Vincent de Paul Professor of Law

Recently named to the Executive Committee of the Disability Law Section of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS), Professor Mark Weber has extensive experience in disability rights and complex tort litigation. You can read his scholarship on the DePaul Publication Archives.

Q. Can you discuss your career before coming to DePaul?

I earned my law degree from Yale and undergraduate [degree] from Columbia University. After that, I worked for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago (now Legal Aid Chicago). I worked there for a couple of years before joining the Legal Aid Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School. I was there for about six years before coming to DePaul in 1986.

I came to DePaul to explore classroom teaching, which I hadn't done previously. I had been a clinical teacher but hadn't done classroom teaching, and it seemed like a good opportunity. I'd been exposed to people who went to DePaul, knew some faculty members, and was aware of the folks who were doing clinical work here, so I had some familiarity with the school.

Since starting at DePaul, I've taught Civil Procedure, Advanced Civil Procedure, Remedies and Evidence. For a while, I taught Constitutional Law. I moved into teaching Torts in the 90s. My current mix includes Federal Courts, Civil Rights, Disability Law and related topics. 

Read the full interview here.

Reminder: It's Time to
Apply for LRAP 2020

As the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) at the College of Law enters its 15th year, it continues to focus on easing the financial burdens of DePaul alumni working in public interest law.

The 2020 LRAP application is available, along with application guidelines, on the College of Law webpage. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 15 to be eligible for consideration. The committee will select LRAP recipients by May 30, and award payment will be issued by June 30.

LRAP recipients, who are chosen by a committee of faculty, staff, students and alumni, provide legal services to underserved, low-income or disadvantaged individuals or groups. This year, the committee hopes to grant eight-10 LRAP awards.

For additional information, please contact Shaye Loughlin, director of the Center for Public Interest Law, at sloughli@depaul.edu.

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Public Interest Law Association Raises $40k for Student Scholarships

The 24th Annual Public Interest Law Association (PILA) Auction took place Feb. 28 at the National Public Housing Museum. In addition to the auction, PILA students organized a crowdfunding campaign to gain support from alumni and friends who were unable to attend the event.

Over 120 people attended the auction, and over 40 people donated to the crowdfunding campaign, which helped PILA raise approximately $19,000 for scholarships to support students working in unpaid, public interest internships. College of Law Dean Jennifer Rosato Perea committed $21,000 toward summer scholarships as well, bringing the total scholarship fund to $40,000.

Read more about the event here.

College of Law and Chicago Bar Association Create "Building Your Network Law Student Mentoring Program"

Last year, the College of Law and the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) jointly created the "Building Your Network Law Student Mentoring Program" to pair current second- and third-year law students with practicing legal professionals in a variety of employment settings and practice areas from the CBA's Young Lawyers Section (YLS). The program was the vision of Law Career Services Assistant Dean Shannon DeGennaro, and it was developed and implemented by Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center Director Katie Liss. In its inaugural year, 27 law students were paired with individual attorneys to establish one-to-one mentoring relationships; this year, 32 law students were paired with mentors.

The program annually kicks off with a fall reception, and during the academic year, mentor-mentee pairs are asked to meet in-person twice in the fall, twice in the spring and again for a final reception in April. Students also are encouraged to meet their mentors for lunch or coffee, attend court with or shadow their mentors for a day in the office, attend a CBA committee meeting or YLS social event together and/or volunteer together at a pro bono event. 

Read more about the program here.

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Calendar of Events

*Due to COVID-19, DePaul University has cancelled or postponed all events until further notice. Please visit go.depaul.edu/covid for COVID-19 updates and guidance.*