Faculty, students, alumni and friends of Elon Law gathered June 21 for an informal reception to celebrate the law school’s achievement of ABA full approval. Speakers included Elon University President Leo M. Lambert, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Steven House, and law school Dean George R. Johnson, Jr.
Attendees at the reception included lawyers and judges who have supported the school since its inception, as preceptors who mentor law students, adjunct faculty, and employers of Elon Law students and graduates. Family and friends of Elon Law students and alumni also attended, together with representatives of Elon University’s Board of Trustees and other special guests. Formal celebrations of full accreditation are being planned for the fall.
In welcoming remarks, Dean Johnson expressed appreciation to all in attendance for helping the school to achieve ABA full approval at the earliest possible date under accreditation guidelines.
“This is a great time to gather to thank all of you for the contributions that you have made to the success of Elon law school,” Johnson said. “It would not have been possible for us to achieve this milestone at this point without all of your help. This is just an opportunity to say thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And we’re looking forward to many more years of progress here at Elon.”
President Lambert thanked founding dean Leary Davis, the Elon University Board of Trustees, and the faculty of the law school for making vital contributions to the success of the law school, before delivering the following remarks on the importance of students and alumni to Elon Law.
“You really made a big difference in deciding that you were going to invest in this school with your academic careers, and we could not be here if it were not for your belief in what we were trying to do to build a law school with a difference,” Lambert said. “I hope that when you look back after long and successful careers in the law that you will think fondly on your decision to help build and create a new law school.”
Lambert noted future plans under consideration for the law school, including application for membership in the Association of American Law Schools, expansion of the law school’s facilities in Greensboro, and new programs including a joint JD/MBA degree offered with Elon’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.
Provost House summarized comments he delivered before the ABA Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar in Salt Lake City, Utah, as part of the Council’s proceedings before its unanimous decision to approve the law school’s full accreditation.
“I thanked the ABA for all they did to challenge us and stretch us to be a better institution and a better law school,” House said. “I got to thank the faculty. I got to thank the preceptors for all you have done to make this a very special place. I got to thank the law community in the Piedmont here and in Greensboro, so thank you for all you have done. But the thing that I really wanted to do and pass on to you, is from your faculty colleagues at the Elon campus, to thank the faculty for all you have done for making this a very special place, as we have said, a law school with a difference. We were proud to say that when we made this promise to the ABA, that we were going to have excellence everywhere, George Johnson delivered that with all of your help, so thank you very much and congratulations to all of you.”
Click here for Elon’s announcement of the ABA’s full approval.