National Jurist -September 2008 - (Page 18) The risk takers Dedicated staff and students help newly accredited Drexel University College of Law move forward with their innovative law school approach n fall 2006, Jerome Aquino and other first year students roamed the halls of Drexel University’s first law school with uncertainty and excitement pumping through their veins. “I think the first day, we all just looked at each other,” said Aquino, now a 2L. “Which really By Michelle Weyenberg is consistent with anyone attending their first year of law school.” But these particular first-year students were considered risk takers, being the inaugural class of Drexel University College of Law. The task of carving out what the law school would eventually become loomed over the heads of the students and staff. “We started at Drexel with a lot of uncertainty,” Aquino said. “Interaction with professors and looking at each other and saying we are going to sink and swim together — it really bonded us together.” Today, staff and students are patting themselves on the back. Their hard work has paid off. This past February Drexel received provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association at the earliest point allowed under the ABA’s accreditation guidelines. “To reach this milestone less than 18 months after welcoming our first law students to Drexel is remarkable and a testament to the vision and commitment of our Board of Trustees and the hard work and passion of the faculty and staff of the College of Law and its founding dean, Roger Dennis,” said Drexel President Constantine Papadakis. “Drexel Law has gathered some of the most talented, innovative law faculty, practicing professionals 18 THE NATIONAL JURIST September 2008 and students anywhere, and it shows in every initiative.” Tobey Oxholm, executive vice president of Drexel University, said the vision for the law school came out of the university — a bottom up and top down process. “[Papadakis] said we would have a law school in 18 months,” he said. “Everyone didn’t think it would happen.” Oxholm, who’s been at the forefront of the planning stages for the law school, said it’s all proof that when there is an idea that makes sense, Drexel University is really ready to put its mind, talents and energy into it. An innovative approach Drexel University had just acquired a medical school in 2002, when administrators saw that the only missing piece was a http://www.drexel.edu/law/
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