Law School

A Letter from the Dean

William & Mary Law School is thriving as never before. We enroll some of the most talented students in our history, have built an extraordinary faculty who excel both as teachers and scholars, and provide a compelling education that prepares our students for success.

Our law school was founded at a critical moment in American history for the purpose of training leaders for the new nation. Now, more than 235 years later, we retain our historic mission of training citizen lawyers who are equipped both to lead and to serve. Our graduates are making a difference throughout the United States and the world.

With your help, William & Mary Law School will continue to lead the way for generations to come!

Davison M. Douglas
Dean and Arthur B. Hanson Professor of Law
William & Mary Law School

Support William & Mary Law School

As the nation’s first law school, William & Mary is dedicated to preparing students not only to become skilled legal practitioners, but also to serve as leaders in their communities, states and nation — upholding the citizen-lawyer ideal of William & Mary alumnus Thomas Jefferson.

The Law School boasts an accomplished faculty of nationally known legal scholars and exceptional teachers. The spirit of the citizen lawyer is nurtured in students through opportunities for leadership and service.

Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, the Law School is able to provide scholarship aid, attract and retain outstanding faculty, support cutting-edge educational initiatives and improve our facilities. Please consider a gift to William & Mary Law School and help continue our legacy of educating citizen lawyers of principle and integrity.

Priorities

PILLAR I: WHERE GREAT MINDS MEET | $41 MILLION

SCHOLARSHIPS

• Scholarships | Endow 50 scholarships | $36 million
  Enroll outstanding students who possess the qualities of citizen lawyers

• Postgraduate Public Service Fellowships | $500,000
  Assist recent graduates with securing meaningful work in public service

• Summer Public Service Fellowships | Endow 10 fellowships | $1 million
  Provide current students with a stipend to provide pro bono public service work during the summer

• Loan Repayment Assistance | Endow 8 awards | $1 million
  Enable graduates with significant student loans to pursue careers in public service

TEACHING EXCELLENCE

• Professorships
  Enhance Endowed Professorships | 3 @ $500,000 | $1.5 million
  Attract and retain exceptional scholars and teachers

• Research Professorships
  Endow four new term professorships @ $250,000 | $1 million
  Encourage and support scholarship of the faculty

PILLAR II: MAKING THE REMARKABLE | $30 MILLION

ENGAGED LEARNING, INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION

• Dean’s Discretionary/Annual Funds | Increase annual support | $20 million
  Enhance the ability to capitalize on promising opportunities

• Student Competition Teams | $1 million
  Better prepare students for the practice of law in the 21st century

• Legal Clinics Endowment | $2 million
  Expand student opportunities for hands-on experience while having real-world impact

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

• James A. and Robin L. Hixon Center for Experiential Learning & Leadership | $7 million
  Increase classroom and office space, build an additional courtroom and provide dedicated space for clinics and the Legal Practice Program. More information about naming opportunities at the Hixon Center.

PILLAR III: A PASSION FOR IMPACT | $4 MILLION

WILLIAM & MARY IN THE WORLD

• International Program and Foreign Summer Fellowships | $1 million
  Expand opportunities for students to impact the rule of law in post-conflict nations

LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES

• Center for Women in Leadership and Public Service | $3 million
  Expand leadership opportunities both within the Law School and through international cooperative ventures

Fact Sheet

You can learn more about the Law School goals & priorities in the fact sheet, which can be downloaded here.