{"id":18080,"date":"2025-04-14T11:15:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T15:15:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=18080"},"modified":"2025-05-20T13:21:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T17:21:55","slug":"a-journey-toward-empowering-future-lawyers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2025\/04\/14\/a-journey-toward-empowering-future-lawyers\/","title":{"rendered":"A Journey Toward Empowering Future Lawyers"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18080_d90cbd-dd dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p><strong>Kimberly Richardson<\/strong> was still a law student when she negotiated her first labor contract. Her professor, <strong>Dr. Kenneth Dau-Schmidt<\/strong>, owned \u201cLabor Law Inc.,\u201d and in response to the company\u2019s unfair practices, Richardson and her classmates unionized.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When their needs were unmet, the students elected to strike, and their picketing outside the Indiana University Maurer School of Law attracted the attention of a curious NPR reporter. Richardson was part of the group that negotiated with management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company was fictitious, but the exercise helped students understand the National Labor Relations Act and advocacy. \u201cIt was an absolutely amazing class, and it was taught in a way that transferred our skills to the outside world,\u201d says Richardson, who graduated in 2006.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Dau-Schmidt is one of the influential mentors who has led Richardson to the head of the classroom. \u201cI have always wanted to teach,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since last July, she has been an associate professor at the <a href=\"https:\/\/law.wilmu.edu\/\">Wilmington University School of Law,<\/a> where her classes include Sales and Leases, as well as Agency and Partnerships. Richardson is also the chair of the Career Services and Professional Development Committee, the Academic Standards Committee, and a member of the Student Life Committee.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Richardson\u2019s impressive r\u00e9sum\u00e9 includes eight years with DuPont de Nemours, where she was the sole attorney overseeing health, safety, and security legal issues worldwide. She entered the safety and health practice area after joining the U.S. Postal Service in 2009. There, Richardson also handled union-related litigation and collective bargaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wilmington University School of Law marks Richardson\u2019s first full-time teaching role. Previously, she served as an adjunct professor at several institutions, including Davenport University in Michigan, where she taught Business Law; Maurer School of Law, where she taught Workplace Safety and Employment Law in 2020; and Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law from 2023 to 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Wilmington resident is talented at using Dr. Dau-Schmidt\u2019s tactics. For instance,\u00a0 in a Health and Safety course, students were the in-house counsel for Santa Claus, who encountered boobytraps from children displeased with their gifts. He also faced a discrimination lawsuit filed by reindeer lacking Rudolph\u2019s red nose. Consequently, they were forbidden to guide the sleigh.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Richardson\u2019s creative techniques aren\u2019t surprising, given her many interests. She studied Mathematics at the University of Michigan. However, she says if she had to do it over again, she\u2019d double major in History and Sociology. Her favorite undergraduate class was Sports and Society, which focused on the cultural and societal impact of sporting activities in the United States \u2014 starting with the European settlers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While working as an actuarial analyst, the young graduate became fascinated with the rise of cash balance plans and associated litigation, which led her to law school. Along with Dr. Dau-Schmidt\u2019s classes, she enjoyed HIV and the Law, taught by Prof. <strong>Susan Williams<\/strong>, a former clerk to the Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsberg.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kimberly-Richardson-2.jpg\" alt=\"Kimberly Richardson hiking and photographing Peru.\" class=\"wp-image-18082\" style=\"width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kimberly-Richardson-2.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kimberly-Richardson-2-250x250.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kimberly-Richardson-2-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kimberly-Richardson-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kimberly-Richardson-2-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kimberly Richardson hiking and photographing Peru.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Other interests include birding, wildlife photography, gardening, live music, her two dogs, and film. \u201cI love attending the Tribeca Film Fest and related events in New York,\u201d she says. \u201cI had the opportunity to hear <strong>Al Pacino<\/strong> and <strong>Robert DeNiro<\/strong> talk about the making\u00a0 of \u2018The Godfather\u2019 and \u2018The Godfather\u00a0 Part II.\u2019 I\u2019ve also listened to <strong>Martin Scorsese<\/strong> and DeNiro talk about the making of \u2018Mean Streets.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adept at thinking outside the box, Richardson was intrigued by Wilmington University\u2019s new law school. \u201cWilmU provides an amazing legal<br>education at an affordable price in a way that is accessible to people who [otherwise] may not have gone to law school,\u201d she says. \u201cThe inventive curriculum and robust academic support structure make law school available to a broader group of people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her students have included recent college graduates and high-level corporate executives. \u201cThe diversity brings interesting perspectives to classroom discussions,\u201d she says. Some plan to take the bar; others want legal knowledge to broaden their career. WilmU has two years of required courses to ensure a solid foundation. The third year can be an externship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Delaware\u2019s bar exam is challenging. \u201cDelaware is a small but legally powerful state,\u201d she says. \u201cThe bar includes requirements that some states do not have, such as the preceptor requirement akin to a legal apprenticeship. The law school has built these considerations into their curriculum to prepare the students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Richardson is doing her best to do the same. \u201cI just want to convey complex ideas in a way my students understand and to make sure I\u2019m listening to them,\u201d she says. It\u2019s important to know what each student needs and where they want to go with their law degree. In short, she says, \u201cMy main goal is to be a good professor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><em>\u2014 Pam George<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; div,.wu-img-col &gt; div {\tflex: 1;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id18046_b8b324-45 alignnone FULL wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle kb-theme-content-width\">\n<style>.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 figure.image-is-svg {-webkit-margin-after: 1em;  margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18046_74cd32-05 kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image18046_ccb11d-1f:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image18046_ccb11d-1f.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image18046_ccb11d-1f .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image18046_ccb11d-1f image-is-svg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"230\" height=\"120\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/wilmu-cta-logo-wu.svg\" alt=\"Wilm U post footer logo\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17727\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap &gt; .wp-block-kadence-column {align-self: stretch;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da &gt; div {  padding-block: 1em;}.kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da p:last-of-type {  -webkit-margin-after: 0;  margin-block-end: 0;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18046_24d7f6-da kb-section-dir-vertical wu-text-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"NoMargin\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Want to read more in-depth stories? Explore our latest <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/category\/magazine\/\">magazine articles<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kimberly Richardson was still a law student when she negotiated her first labor contract. Her professor, Dr. Kenneth Dau-Schmidt, owned \u201cLabor Law Inc.,\u201d and in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":18081,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[135],"tags":[916,159,14,39,15,384],"class_list":["post-18080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-magazine","tag-magazine-spring-2025","tag-school-of-law","tag-wilmington-university","tag-wilmington-university-school-of-law","tag-wilmu","tag-wilmu-law"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":135,"label":"MAGAZINE"}],"post_tag":[{"value":916,"label":"Magazine Spring 2025"},{"value":159,"label":"School of Law"},{"value":14,"label":"Wilmington University"},{"value":39,"label":"Wilmington University School of Law"},{"value":15,"label":"WilmU"},{"value":384,"label":"wilmu law"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kimberly-Richardson-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Mckayla Imperatrice","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/mckayla\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":135,"name":"MAGAZINE","slug":"magazine","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":692,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":431,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":135,"category_count":431,"category_description":"","cat_name":"MAGAZINE","category_nicename":"magazine","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":916,"name":"Magazine Spring 2025","slug":"magazine-spring-2025","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1473,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":22,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":159,"name":"School of Law","slug":"school-of-law","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":716,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":14,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":14,"name":"Wilmington University","slug":"wilmington-university","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":571,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":357,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":39,"name":"Wilmington University School of Law","slug":"wilmington-university-school-of-law","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":596,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":39,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":15,"name":"WilmU","slug":"wilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":572,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":291,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":384,"name":"wilmu law","slug":"wilmu-law","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":941,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18080"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18080\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18083,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18080\/revisions\/18083"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}