College of Law

ANDERSON CENTER

The Kimball R. and Karen Gatsis Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism launched in the Fall 2022 semester, ambitiously pursuing the mission of providing a world-class experience in both advocacy and professional ethics that prepares and develops competent and professional advocates with essential skills to serve their community and zealously represent their clients in all manners of legal practice. Highlights included a fall symposium, “Navigating the intersection of Advocacy and Professionalism,” a spring symposium, “Teaching the next generation of trial lawyers,” and hosting the inaugural Anderson Center Seventh Circuit Moot Court Competition. Please be on the lookout for programming during the 2023-2024 academic year.

RACIAL JUSTICE PRACTICUM

The training and development of future leaders is more important than ever, and the College of Law responded by developing opportunities to immerse our students into meaningful and practical experiences. The Racial Justice Practicum began in the summer of 2021 to partner with legal organizations in Illinois (and nationally) doing transformative work in racial justice and equity at a time when many of these organizations are understaffed and underfunded. The ongoing success of the Practicum has been realized by our partnering agencies and our students. “The RJP empowers us as students to devote our burgeoning legal acumen to organizations specifically dedicated to addressing the disparate impacts that law can have on marginalized communities,” said Geinda Smith ’23.

SUPPORTING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Support for student scholarships was the greatest priority during the With Illinois campaign, and our alumni and friends enthusiastically responded to create more than 60 new scholarship funds – including both endowed scholarship funds and current-use scholarship funds. Increasing scholarship support will continue to be an important priority moving forward. The impact of your generosity not only makes a world-class legal education available to students regardless of their ability to pay, it also fosters an environment where students embrace a pay-it-forward mentality. “I hope that I will also be able to give back to others the way your family has given to me,” said Analy Ayala Blanco, recipient of the 2022-2023 Anthony Stonitsch Memorial Scholarship. (Pictured with Aloysius Stonitsch, ’83.)