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Dear Ave Maria ’10?,
There are plenty of us in the Class of 2008 who, despite all the noise, are still happy to be at Ave Maria School of Law. And although I do not know a lot of students in the Class of 2009, I am aware of several who are also glad to be here. Among our ranks are students who could have initially chosen or transferred to schools very high up in the first tier. Everyone has to make his own decision depending upon his circumstances. Some of my former classmates, whom I continue to miss dearly, transferred to highly ranked schools and their reports since transferring only further confirm my decisions to come to and to remain at Ave.
Sometimes it has been difficult to focus because of the sound and the fury...
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ReplyDeleteAnother item found elsewhere:
Dear Ave Maria ’10?,
There are plenty of us in the Class of 2008 who, despite all the noise, are still happy to be at Ave Maria School of Law. And although I do not know a lot of students in the Class of 2009, I am aware of several who are also glad to be here. Among our ranks are students who could have initially chosen or transferred to schools very high up in the first tier. Everyone has to make his own decision depending upon his circumstances. Some of my former classmates, whom I continue to miss dearly, transferred to highly ranked schools and their reports since transferring only further confirm my decisions to come to and to remain at Ave.
Sometimes it has been difficult to focus because of the sound and the fury, not to mention the temptation to join in the clamor, a temptation to which most of us have probably given in at one point or another. I think these difficulties have made us stronger. Law school bonding is tight anyway, but my bonds to my classmates are much tighter than I could have imagined. Knowing all that I know now, I would choose Ave Maria again. The jurisprudence course alone is worth coming for, as I realized even while cramming for Professor Frohnen’s final, and that’s just one among countless positives.
Ave Maria is tough. The legal community in Michigan has already made clear that it will miss us. I wanted Ave to stay in Ann Arbor, but the school is moving and Michigan’s immediate loss will be Florida’s gain. However, Michigan will probably retain its share of Ave graduates well into the future. AMSOL remains a special place. The mission drew us and the mission continues. As it has been doing in Michigan, the school should do well in Florida, where opportunities for engagement with our society are growing rapidly. (To compare amounts of activity among federal district courts over the past two years, go to http://dockets.justia.com/ .) Even after his recent experience, Fr. Fessio apparently continues to believe that what is happening in Florida is worthwhile.
We do have an outstanding law faculty. Our doctrinal faculty obviously has highly impressive credentials, most of them work hard, some are witty, some inspiring, and some actually seem humble. The professors in research, writing, and advocacy are nothing short of amazing. Our clinical programs are expanding all the time. Even our adjuncts are excellent. Both of the adjuncts I had in my second year were top-drawer and I am looking forward to studying under two more adjuncts about whom I have had good reports from fellow students. Many practicing attorneys enjoy teaching, and not a few of those would like to teach full-time.
Every member of the AMSOL community has an important role in establishing harmony. This is as true of faculty members, students, and alumni as of staff, administrators, the Dean, Board members, and the Board Chairman. Everyone is important to the mission, yet no one, other than Our Lady and Our Lord, is indispensable. Not even a talented benefactor who invests a lot of money in his vision is indispensable. Not even a gifted student who has many compelling options of where to attend law school is indispensable. Not even a charismatic professor who has a large following is indispensable.
Regardless of which faculty members come and go, if you decide to study at Ave Maria, the school will offer you a rigorous legal education, solid grounding in the friendship between faith and reason, and guidance in developing skills to engage in dispassionate argument (even as it confirms you in feeling passionate on the issues about which one should care deeply).
What are you prepared to bring to AMSOL? In many ways, Ave Maria is more difficult than other law schools. Law school demands are heavy as it is, perhaps even more psychologically than academically. You are considering joining a class that faces two special challenges in addition to the already unusual demands of a tough law school with a mission to engage and often contradict the culture. The class that enters in August will both bridge the gap before the move and undertake the move 1,300 miles south. Such a unique combination of challenges calls for clear-eyed, single-minded, and strong persons, students who fully expect to give as much as they receive in their three years of law school.
The Class of 2010 will be the first to make its mark and help set the course in Florida. If you are a person who puts a true premium on U.S. News rankings, then perhaps Ave Maria is not the law school for you at this time in her history. If you are especially naïve or faint of heart, then maybe she is not for you at this point in her adventure. If, on the other hand, our mission and Our Lady draw you, and you think you are up to the opportunities, foreseen and unforeseen, then I really hope you will decide to come to Ave in August.
Sincerely,
Ave Maria ’083L 05.29.07 - 4:44 pm