College of Law News

Volunteer Opportunity: DePaul Notes

The College of Law is seeking alumni volunteers for DePaul Notes, a program that offers graduates the opportunity to give back to the law school by writing brief notes to law students who have made their first deposit.

The competition between law schools for qualified applicants is fiercer than ever. Retaining our deposited students over the summer months is crucial in helping the College of Law continue to enroll the best and brightest students possible. DePaul Notes allows alumni to assist in that process by reaching out to admitted students personally while demonstrating the strength and commitment of the DePaul Law alumni community.

The time commitment for this opportunity is minimal, as we ask that each volunteer write to no more than six admitted students. The College of Law will provide a DePaul Law-branded email template for volunteers to use. For more information and to volunteer, please contact James Redmond, associate director of Alumni Relations, at jredmon4@depaul.edu

Alumni Spotlight - Jay Paul Deratany ('87)

Q. Please share with us your path to DePaul Law and the legal profession?

I attended Michigan State University for undergraduate, and I was not sure what exactly I wanted to do. I thought about becoming a doctor, so I took a few courses in chemistry and math, and I was struggling. I then took a class in political science and received an "A". My professor stated a paper I wrote for his class was strong enough to be published and encouraged me to consider attending law school.

I always have enjoyed the performing arts as well. However, it was the mid-1980s, and I thought it would be more practical to become a lawyer than an actor. As for DePaul Law, I loved the idea of coming to Chicago. Chicago has all the advantages of New York City without the disadvantages. When I came to visit DePaul, I fell in love with DePaul's campus and the Lincoln Park community. At the law school, I felt a real family connection. Finally, DePaul's Vincentian mission of service spoke to me, and I came to law school with the intent of working in legal aid.

Jaharis Health Law Institute Symposium

Addressing Health Disparities: Is Technology the Answer? This year's Jaharis Symposium centers on the premise that while technological advances have the potential to revolutionize the delivery of health care, they also raise significant questions about who has access to these innovations and whether they are advancing the interests of the populations with the greatest needs.

Thursday, April 29
8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. CST

This program is eligible for up to 5.75 hours of CLE credit.

The Andrew Bandes Siegel Memorial Endowed Fund

Last year, Andrew Bandes Siegel, son of long-tenured DePaul Law Professors' Susan Bandes and Stephen Siegel, tragically passed away. Andrew was a DePaul alumnus, receiving his BA from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in 2014. To honor Andrew's memory, Professors Bandes and Siegel have made a special gift to create the Andrew Bandes Siegel Memorial Endowed Fund. Andrew's Fund will provide financial assistance to students for one-on-one clinician visits at DePaul's Center for Students with Disabilities, as well as for other initiatives of the center.

The Bandes/Siegel Family is deeply grateful to DePaul for providing their beloved Andrew with a wonderful intellectual and emotional home during his college years. In particular, they are thankful to the Center for Students with Disabilities, which was central to Andrew's ability to learn and thrive as a college student. Andrew's one-on-one meetings with the Center's clinicians were key to his growth and success at school, and they are honored to help future students benefit from this resource and from the Center as a whole.

2021 LRAP Application - Deadline Extended!

As the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) at the College of Law enters its 16th year, it continues to focus on easing the financial burdens of DePaul alumni working in public interest law.

The 2021 LRAP application is available, along with application guidelines, on the College of Law webpage. The application deadline has been extended to May 15. The committee will select LRAP recipients by May 31, 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-ten LRAP awards.

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

Now We Must: The Campaign for DePaul's Students

We are proud to announce the launch of Now We Must: The Campaign for DePaul's Students. In these unprecedented times, multiple crises suddenly confront DePaul University students, including all those who call DePaul Law home. The pandemic and economic uncertainty not only threaten our students' ability to persist toward their aspirations, but also endanger DePaul's Vincentian mission of providing educational access and advancing social equity.

Thus, Now We Must is an ambitious, year-long fundraising effort with a singular goal: safeguarding the pathways to success that students counted on when they selected DePaul as the place to forge their future. The campaign will seek millions to address our students' most immediate needs and provide critical support in five key areas—scholarships, technology needs, internship support, emergency assistance and mental health and wellness—as they navigate an unprecedented academic year.

Hear more from Sasha Gerritson (MUS '99), campaign chair, and be part of this important effort at give.depaul.edu/NowWeMust. Your gift to the Law Scholarship Fund, or whichever area of DePaul matters most to you, will make a transformative difference at a crucial time for our students. 

Rinn Law Library: DePaul Law History Timeline

The Rinn Law Library is proud to share the following historical timeline of the College of Law. The timeline covers significant events and milestones in the history of DePaul Law and was developed by staff and administration in the Rinn Law Library.

As with all historical research, the timeline is a work in progress, and your comments and ideas on historic events are welcome. Please send your feedback to RinnLawLibrary@depaul.edu.