U.S. Attorney General lauds the "particular mission of this remarkable place" to train public-interest lawyers
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's visit on March 1 to the University of Massachusetts School of Law -- Dartmouth put a spotlight on the Commonwealth's only public law school, with the Attorney General noting that its clinical programs and recent provisional accreditation by the American Bar Association mean that the "Â鶹¹ÙÍø School of Law is well on its way to becoming an essential training ground for students from across the region."
Joined at Â鶹¹ÙÍø Law by an audience of more than 300 students, staff, faculty, leading lawyers and jurists -- including Congressman William Keating, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, Â鶹¹ÙÍø Board of Trustees Chairman Henry Thomas and Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman -- Attorney General Holder opened his remarks on reducing gun violence and the effects of sequestration by addressing students directly:
"I always appreciate the chance to speak with future leaders of our nation's legal community -- and I'm particularly happy to join you today at the only public law school in Massachusetts. Although this institution is still young, I know it's hard at work educating a new generation of lawyers, leaders, advocates, and public servants. I'm pleased to hear that it's becoming a forum for robust debate -- where issues of consequence are discussed and addressed.
Holder added: "I'm proud to note that, with your clinical programs and recent provisional accreditation, Â鶹¹ÙÍø School of Law is well on its way to becoming an essential training ground for students from across the region -- whose contributions will undoubtedly help to shape our nation's course, and determine its path, for years to come."
Holder also called on the students to embrace what he called Â鶹¹ÙÍø Law's "particular mission" to train public-interest lawyers representing all walks of life and backgrounds in Massachusetts.
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Law, in addition to earning provisional accreditation, is also focused on its students' more than 5500 hours of pro bono legal services donated to nonprofits in the region -- both as a matter of giving new lawyers real-life experience, and as part of its commitment to law in the public interest.
"You should always consider yourself a public-interest lawyer, whether you are a judge or a lawyer in a big law firm," he said. "How this country looks in the 21st century, the 21st century my children will live in, will be determined by people like you... I look forward to that and expect that leadership from each and every one of you."
The speech is archived online in multiple formats for ease of viewing:
· Windows Media Player:
http://www.ezstream.com/play/index.cfm?id=382166E381&ptype;=wmp
· MS Silverlight Player:
http://www.ezstream.com/play/index.cfm?id=382166E381&ptype;=sl