The Class of 2012 will graduate from the Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University on May 17.
The Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University Class of 2012 will graduate on Thursday, May 17, at 3 p.m. in a ceremony at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Judge Anthony J. Scirica of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit will address the class and receive an honorary degree. Judge Arlin M. Adams, who served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 1969 to 1987, also will receive an honorary degree.Prominent jurists and lawyers who have been partners in educating the graduates and in establishing the law school will join in the celebration, as will Drexel University President John A. FryThe ceremony celebrates the achievements of 155 graduates who have already demonstrated tremendous commitment to the legal profession and to the community by providing more than 17,500 hours of pro bono legal service to immigrants, abused children, wrongfully convicted individuals and families facing foreclosure. On average, members of the Class of 2012 logged 115 hours of service, vastly exceeding the requirement to complete 50 hours to receive their Juris Doctor degrees. The Class of 2012 includes champions of regional mock trial, moot court and alternative dispute resolution competitions who demonstrated exceptional skill in national and international contests. Members of the trial and the alternative dispute resolution teams emerged as semi-finalists in national competition, while members of the Moot Court Board succeeded in the most prestigious international moot court contest. “These graduates have demonstrated advocacy skills that rival those of peers from any of the nation’s law schools,” said Roger Dennis, dean of the Earle Mack School of Law. “They are ready to excel in professional practice.” The event marks the fourth commencement for the Earle Mack School of Law, which has gained a reputation among employers for preparing students especially well for professional practice. Students hone their skills through co-op placements in law firms, corporate offices, the courts, government agencies and public-interest law organizations. Students also gain experience representing clients through the school’s Appellate Litigation and Entrepreneurial Law Clinics as well as clinics operated with some of Philadelphia’s premiere public-interest organizations.
