As an alumnus and this year's chair of the USD School of Law Annual Fund, I am proud to say that the law school is among the highest-rated law schools in the country. Out of more than 190 ABA-accredited law schools our school's law faculty was rated 22nd in overall scholarly quality, and the faculty was recently ranked 27th nationally in a citation study that seeks to measure scholarly impact by how often a faculty member’s work is relied on by others. This growing reputation and prestige is attracting a larger pool of highly qualified student applicants.
Of course, an important component in attracting and retaining the best faculty and students is to consistently improve the school's facilities, resources and funding. Financial support from alumni is a critical element in these improvements. Thank you to those who have made contributions to the school. This past year we were able to dramatically improve our Career Services program and upgrade many of our classrooms.
Additionally, I want to thank those alumni who give generously of their time and expertise by advising students on their career paths, and who make the time to attend law school events that highlight for our students the importance and strength of our alumni network.
The Law Annual Fund is one of the best ways to strengthen the law school and provide the immediate resources necessary to continue its ascent among the top law schools in the country. And, most importantly, an investment in the law school solidifies the financial foundation of the school for future students and alumni and increases the value of a USD law degree.
Thank you for your generous support of the USD School of Law.
Sincerely,
Jeffery T. Thomas ‘82
Alumni Board Development Committee Chair
2007-2008 President, Law Alumni Board of Directors
