Wilmington University Farnan School of Law to Celebrate Inaugural Commencement
Wilmington University’s Farnan School of Law will celebrate its inaugural commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15, 2026, at The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington, marking a historic milestone for the University, the School of Law, and the first class of graduates entering the legal profession.
The ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. at The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington. The event honors the Juris Doctor graduates who helped establish the culture, traditions, and professional foundation of Delaware’s newest law school.
The graduation follows the School of Law’s provisional accreditation by the American Bar Association, which allows graduates to sit for the bar exam, seek admission to the bar, and pursue careers that require a degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
“This ceremony recognizes a remarkable and accomplished class,” says The Honorable Jan Jurden, dean of the Farnan School of Law. “These students placed their trust in a new law school, helped shape its identity, and prepared for meaningful service in the profession. We are proud of their achievements and the foundation they helped build at Farnan School of Law.”
A substantial portion of the inaugural class has already secured post-graduation roles with respected legal employers, including the Delaware Department of Justice, Doroshow Pasquale Krawitz & Bhaya, Young Conaway, Tybout, Redfearn & Pell, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Their early career paths reflect work in public service, private practice, federal court practice, litigation, personal injury, workers’ compensation, and judicial clerkships.
Those outcomes underscore a central part of the Farnan School of Law experience: close mentorship, individualized professional coaching, and direct connections to Delaware’s legal community. Through the School of Law’s mentorship program, students engage with practicing attorneys and judges who help them understand the profession, build relationships, and prepare for the transition from law school to practice. The School of Law’s Board of Advisors also connects students with experienced members of the bench and bar who help guide the school’s professional focus.
The Farnan School of Law’s emphasis on professional preparation begins early. Students receive career guidance, build connections through externships, and complete extensive training in bar preparation. They also participate in programming that strengthens professional identity, practical legal skills, leadership, and judgment. That structure helps graduates enter the profession with a sense of purpose, as well as relationships that can support them as they begin their legal careers.
Other graduates are preparing for bar examinations and legal careers in areas that include environmental law, criminal law, family law, personal injury, and bankruptcy law. Members of the class plan to sit for bar examinations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and California.
The ceremony will include remarks from Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne Harmon and Dean Jurden. Mary Christine Macmillan, a summa cum laude graduate, will deliver the commencement address. Faculty members will hood each graduate, and Laurie Meehan, senior associate dean for academics, will present the Outstanding Student Award.
“This first graduating class reflects the heart of Farnan School of Law,” says Dr. Harmon. “Their achievement speaks to the care of our faculty, the guidance of mentors, and the support of a legal community that has welcomed this school from the beginning. We are proud to celebrate them as they begin their legal careers.”
Wilmington University’s Farnan School of Law will celebrate its inaugural commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15, 2026, at The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington, marking a historic milestone for the University, the School of Law, and the first class of graduates entering the legal profession.
The ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. at The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington. The event honors the Juris Doctor graduates who helped establish the culture, traditions, and professional foundation of Delaware’s newest law school.
The graduation follows the School of Law’s provisional accreditation by the American Bar Association, which allows graduates to sit for the bar exam, seek admission to the bar, and pursue careers that require a degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
“This ceremony recognizes a remarkable and accomplished class,” says The Honorable Jan Jurden, dean of the Farnan School of Law. “These students placed their trust in a new law school, helped shape its identity, and prepared for meaningful service in the profession. We are proud of their achievements and the foundation they helped build at Farnan School of Law.”
A substantial portion of the inaugural class has already secured post-graduation roles with respected legal employers, including the Delaware Department of Justice, Doroshow Pasquale Krawitz & Bhaya, Young Conaway, Tybout, Redfearn & Pell, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Their early career paths reflect work in public service, private practice, federal court practice, litigation, personal injury, workers’ compensation, and judicial clerkships.
Those outcomes underscore a central part of the Farnan School of Law experience: close mentorship, individualized professional coaching, and direct connections to Delaware’s legal community. Through the School of Law’s mentorship program, students engage with practicing attorneys and judges who help them understand the profession, build relationships, and prepare for the transition from law school to practice. The School of Law’s Board of Advisors also connects students with experienced members of the bench and bar who help guide the school’s professional focus.
The Farnan School of Law’s emphasis on professional preparation begins early. Students receive career guidance, build connections through externships, and complete extensive training in bar preparation. They also participate in programming that strengthens professional identity, practical legal skills, leadership, and judgment. That structure helps graduates enter the profession with a sense of purpose, as well as relationships that can support them as they begin their legal careers.
Other graduates are preparing for bar examinations and legal careers in areas that include environmental law, criminal law, family law, personal injury, and bankruptcy law. Members of the class plan to sit for bar examinations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and California.
The ceremony will include remarks from Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne Harmon and Dean Jurden. Mary Christine Macmillan, a summa cum laude graduate, will deliver the commencement address. Faculty members will hood each graduate, and Laurie Meehan, senior associate dean for academics, will present the Outstanding Student Award.
“This first graduating class reflects the heart of Farnan School of Law,” says Dr. Harmon. “Their achievement speaks to the care of our faculty, the guidance of mentors, and the support of a legal community that has welcomed this school from the beginning. We are proud to celebrate them as they begin their legal careers.”
