Get Involved: Other Ways to Partner with the School of Law
Adjunct Professor
Alumni can remain engaged and connected to each other, faculty, staff and the broader School of Law community. Visit "Volunteer Opportunities" for information on opportunites for alumni engagement throughout the School of Law. Interested in teaching a class? Interested in teaching Lawyering Skills? Contact Thomas Berg, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, by e-mail or at (651) 962-4919.
Admissions
Alumni can help recruit new students in a variety of ways, including:
- Traveling to recruitment events regionally and nationally
- Participating in letter-writing, email and phone campaigns to reach out to admitted applicants
- Speaking, mingling and participating on panels at formal admissions events such as the Admitted
- Applicant Programs each spring
- Contributing to marketing pieces through the use of profiles, photos and testimonials
- Responding to ad-hoc questions from applicants about specific areas of practice or other individual informational requests
One of the most important things you can do for admissions is to provide timely and accurate information to the School of Law. Prospective students want to know where our alumni are working and what practice areas are represented. We want our marketing materials to contain up-to-date and accurate information. Please help admissions by completing surveys from the law school and continuing to support on-campus programming. To become involved, contact: Cari Haaland, Director of Admissions, by e-mail or at (651) 962-4872
Board of Advocates
The Board of Advocates (BOA) is a student organization that oversees all UST Law advocacy competitions. In addition to promoting student participation in existing competitions, the BOA evaluates the many advocacy competition invitations it receives. The board intends to continue expanding the number and variety of advocacy skills-building opportunities available to UST Law students.
Integral to the success of these unique educational opportunities is the participation of volunteer judges, attorneys, law professors and other legal professionals to coach and judge our students.
UST Law students participate currently in these advocacy competitions:
- University of St. Thomas Intramural Moot Court
- William E. McGee National Civil Rights Moot Court
- Evan E. Evans Constitutional Law Moot Court
- John Marshall Law School International Moot Court
- The Frederick Douglass Moot Court
- Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court
- National Moot Court
- Negotiation Competition
- Client Counseling Competition
- National Student Mock Trial
For further information about specific competitions and how you can help as a coach and/or judge, please contact: Professor Mark Osler, Faculty Advisor.
Career and Professional Development
The Office of Career and Professional Development (CPD) has a number of volunteer opportunities for alumni:
- Informational Interviews - When students want to learn more about an area of law, a type of practice, or an employer, CPD introduces them to alumni who can answer their questions. Whether you just graduated, have practiced for several years or have used your law degree in a non-traditional way, your perspective is valuable to a law student.
- Alumni Advice and Inspiration - With more alumni in the work force, UST Law tries to showcase the myriad of options available to graduates. If you are willing to be profiled or have advice you’d like to share, please let CPD know.
- Panel Presentations and Speaking Engagements - The CPD Office hosts a large number of career-related events throughout the academic year. For many of these events we rely on professionals with practical experience like you, who are able to give students current, first-hand information about their area of expertise and your own personal career formation.
- Mock Interviews - To prepare students as they search for jobs, experienced attorneys conduct mock interviews with students and provide them with advice on their job search. If you have experience interviewing law students or law graduates, this is a perfect volunteer opportunity for you.
To assist the Office of Career and Professional Development, contact: Susan E. McGuigan, Interim Director of Career and Professional Development by email or at (651) 962-4865.
Law Journal
The Law Journal is a student organization that publishes legal scholarship that inspires ethical and moral decision-making with an emphasis on social justice. The Journal hosts a series of symposia designed to advance UST's mission and explore the theme of faith and justice. The UST
Law Journal formed an Alumni Advisory Board in 2006 in an effort to stay connected with alumni and provide an avenue for alumni to continue to contribute to the Journal's success.
Law Journal alumni may volunteer to serve on the UST Law Journal Alumni Advisory Board, participate in alumni panels and donate to the Journal.
Feeling more comfortable in your work as a lawyer? Wanting to share your wisdom, knowledge and insight with a UST Law student? Volunteer to serve as a mentor! To become involved, contact: Dave Bateson, Director of Mentor Externship, by e-mail or at (651) 962-4979.
Public Service Day
Alumni are very aware of the “service ethic” actively shared by students, faculty and staff. Each spring alumni are invited back to take part in the Annual University of St. Thomas Law Community Service Day. This day is a great chance for alumni to reconnect with professors and administrators while working along side new students completing a variety of service projects.
Society of the Arches
The Society of the Arches formally acknowledges and recognizes the contribution of alumni volunteers to the University community. Alumni volunteer activity is credited toward achievement levels by semesters of participation. Membership is open to all alumni.
Achievement Levels:
- Socius Incipiens: Discovery recognizes three semesters of volunteer activity.
- Socius Approbatus: Commitment recognizes six semesters of volunteer activity.
- Socius Fidelis: Dedication recognizes 12 semesters of volunteer activity.
- Socius Fidelissimus: Loyalty recognizes 20 semesters of volunteer activity.
