One advantage of legal education in an urban environment is that students have opportunities to gain hands-on experience in addition to receiving top-notch classroom instruction. At Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, students also make a real difference in the lives of Hoosiers throughout our city and state.
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law is proud to be located in the heart of Indiana’s capital, and we constantly strive to serve our community. But in an increasingly globalized society, an important part of our school’s work involves international engagement.
Indiana University has made a major commitment to combatting the opioid epidemic through its Responding to the Addictions Crisis Grand Challenges Initiative. I am proud that the IU McKinney School of Law is playing a large role in this effort.
When I talk about the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, certain themes recur. We are fortunate to educate students in a vibrant capitol city. We take advantage of operating in a leading hub for the health and life sciences. And we are mindful of our school’s mission to make legal education accessible to a wide range of people. Several recent initiatives highlight these themes.
Despite some narratives to the contrary, a law degree does not limit one’s professional trajectory. To the contrary, it opens doors.
At the IU McKinney School of Law, we make a special effort to support our students by partnering with advocates in the community. Allow me to share a few examples.
A legal education gives people the power to change lives for the better. I am proud to share some examples based on efforts from students, faculty and alumni of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
At our most recent Pro Bono and Clinical Program awards event, we celebrated – for the second year in a row – the fact that our graduating class had contributed more than 20,000 hours of pro bono service to the community during their law school careers.
In so many ways, Indianapolis helps us thrive. But the converse is also true. The McKinney School of Law is critical to Indianapolis’ success.
Our school is proud to provide students the ability to study at the center of the state’s legal profession, with an array of opportunities to learn both inside and outside the classroom.
It’s been nearly a year since I became dean of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, and it would be impossible to fully describe the experience in this short column
It is no secret that legal education has faced criticism in recent years. In fact, a virtual cottage industry has developed around the topic. Entire websites and blogs are devoted to the theme, some specializing in cynical and sarcastic commentary.