{"id":5398,"date":"2023-10-26T15:07:39","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T15:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=5398"},"modified":"2025-03-28T15:03:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T19:03:46","slug":"wilmu-school-of-law-welcomes-accomplished-inaugural-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2023\/10\/26\/wilmu-school-of-law-welcomes-accomplished-inaugural-class\/","title":{"rendered":"WilmU School of Law Welcomes Accomplished Inaugural Class"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column5398_863c93-9a > .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-column5398_863c93-9a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column5398_863c93-9a > .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-column5398_863c93-9a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column5398_863c93-9a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column5398_863c93-9a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column5398_863c93-9a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column5398_863c93-9a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column5398_863c93-9a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column5398_863c93-9a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column5398_863c93-9a dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>For future lawyers, the first day of law school is always memorable, and when you\u2019re part of an inaugural class, it becomes even more momentous. In August 2023, the Wilmington University School of Law welcomed its first 20 students.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was such an amazing experience to be a part of the inauguration of the law school,\u201d says <strong>Kendal Parliament,<\/strong> a J.D. candidate. \u201cDuring orientation, it was overwhelmingly joyful meeting fellow students and professors! Seeing how everyone was so dedicated to our education and career confirmed I made the right decision in choosing Wilmington University law school.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide wu-blockquote-row is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote wu-blockquote-simple is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Seeing how everyone was so dedicated to our education and career confirmed I made the right decision in choosing Wilmington University law school.<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Kendal Parliament<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Women make up 55% of the inaugural class, and 40% of students represent diverse backgrounds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe law school\u2019s orientation week has me in awe of the program. I am someone who has been aspiring to be a lawyer for most of his life,\u201d describes fellow candidate <strong>Hector Torres-Diaz<\/strong>, who feels \u201cexcited for the future and all the opportunities we\u2019ll get along the way.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Four students have master\u2019s degrees and three hold doctorates.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe collectively recited the \u2018Professionalism Oath for Students,\u2019\u201d recalls <strong>Dr. Marisa Rauscher<\/strong>, who teaches educational psychology at Neumann University. \u201cThe gravitas of the moment was palpable, and it felt like everyone knew we were embarking on a noteworthy journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her classmates on that journey range in age from 22 to 63 and hail from six states: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, California and Georgia. They learn in person at WilmU\u2019s Brandywine location.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis class ideally fits our mission. We couldn\u2019t be happier,\u201d says <strong>Phillip Closius, J.D.<\/strong>, dean of the School of Law. \u201cOur mission is to serve everybody who wants to go to law school. We have a phrase: \u2018breaking down barriers to law school.\u2019\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide wu-blockquote-row is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote wu-blockquote-simple is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The gravitas of the moment was palpable, and it felt like everyone knew we were embarking on a noteworthy journey.<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Dr. Marisa Rauscher<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>He adds, \u201cBy coming to Wilmington as our first class, they\u2019re going to get a unique legal experience. We have seven faculty members teaching 20 students \u2014 11 during the day and nine at night \u2014 so they\u2019re getting real one-on-one teaching and student experience.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not only about the low student-to-faculty ratio: The professors make an impression.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I talk to our current students, literally all of them say a major factor in deciding to come here was watching the faculty <a href=\"https:\/\/law.wilmu.edu\/videos\/index.aspx\">videos<\/a> on our website,\u201d Closius says. \u201cThe support\u2019s been overwhelming, and the caring is just genuine.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Faculty members combine that care with commitment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re really student-oriented in everything we do, and that\u2019s consistent with Wilmington University values,\u201d Closius explains. \u201cAt the end of the day, people don\u2019t want to be treated like a number.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id5398_b108ef-45{margin-top:2em;}.kb-row-layout-id5398_b108ef-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id5398_b108ef-45 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id5398_b108ef-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-id5398_b108ef-45{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id5398_b108ef-45 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id5398_b108ef-45 > 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figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column5398_931c1c-12 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column5398_931c1c-12 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-column5398_931c1c-12 kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image5398_f9830c-fb:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image5398_f9830c-fb.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image5398_f9830c-fb .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image5398_f9830c-fb size-large image-is-svg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"180\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/wilmu-cta-logo-sol.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17743\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column {align-self: stretch;}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > div {  padding-block: 1em;}.kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a > div p:last-of-type {  -webkit-margin-after: 0;  margin-block-end: 0;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column5398_c49cd2-0a kb-section-dir-vertical wu-text-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p style=\"font-size:1rem\">See our School of Law <a href=\"https:\/\/law.wilmu.edu\/index.aspx\">website<\/a> to learn more about how Wilmington University\u2019s new law school provides personalized attention and broad access to affordable legal education.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For future lawyers, the first day of law school is always memorable, and when you\u2019re part of an inaugural class, it becomes even more 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