L a w
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Q&A with Chip Magee ’79L Volume 9
I
Number 2
spring/summer
2009
© Wa s h i n g t o n a n d L e e U n i v e r s i t y
I Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Jeff Hanna
Peter Jetton I Director of Communications for the School of Law Louise Uffelman Julie Campbell
I Editor, Law Magazine
I Senior Writer/Editor
Kelli Austin ’03, Emily Anne Taylor ’12
Class Notes Editors
Patrick Hinely ’73, Kevin Remington
University Photographers
Jim Goodwin, Laurie Lipscomb, Denise Watts I Graphic Designers Bart Morris, Morris Design
Art Director
I
Published by Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va. 24450. All communications and POD Forms 3579 should be sent to Washington and Lee Alumni Inc., Lexington, Va. 24450. Periodicals postage paid at Norfolk, Va. Board of Trustees J. Donald Childress ’70, Rector Kenneth P. Ruscio ’76, President Robert M. Balentine Jr. ’79 (Atlanta) Frederick E. Cooper ’64 (Atlanta) Kimberly T. Duchossois (Barrington, Ill.) Mark R. Eaker ’69 (Herndon, Va.) J. Hagood Ellison Jr. ’72 (Columbia, S.C.) Jorge E. Estrada ’69 (Buenos Aires) J. Scott Fechnay ’69 (Potomac, Md.) William H. Fishback Jr. ’56 (Ivy, Va.) J. Douglas Fuge ’77 (Chatham, N.J.) Benjamin S. Gambill Jr. ’67 (Nashville, Tenn.) John Baker Gentry Jr. ’88 (Fort Worth, Texas) Robert J. Grey ’76L (Richmond) Bernard C. Grigsby II ’72 (Lexington, Va.) R. Allen Haight ’84 (Old Greenwich, Conn.) Ray V. Hartwell III ’69, ’75L (McLean, Va.) Peter C. Keefe ’78 (Alexandria, Va.) John D. Klinedinst ’71, ’78L (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) John M. McCardell Jr. ’71 (Middlebury, Vt.) Thomas N. McJunkin ’70, ’74L (Charleston, W.Va.) Jessine A. Monaghan ’79L (Washington) Michael H. Monier ’62 (Wilson, Wyo.) Harry J. Phillips Jr. ’72 (Houston) Bennett L. Ross ’83 (Cabin John, Md.) Robert E. Sadler Jr. ’67 (Buffalo, N.Y.) Martin E. Stein Jr. ’74 (Jacksonville, Fla.) Warren A. Stephens ’79 (Little Rock, Ark.) Sarah Nash Sylvester (New York City) Charlie (C.B.) Tomm ’68, ’75L (Jacksonville, Fla.) John W. Vardaman Jr. ’62 (Washington) Thomas R. Wall IV ’80 (New York City) Alston Parker Watt ’89 (Thomasville, Ga.) William M. Webster IV ’79 (Spartanburg, S.C.) Dallas Hagewood Wilt ’90 (Nashville, Tenn.) John A. Wolf ’69, ’72L (Baltimore)
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Carter “Chip” Magee ’79L spent the past year as president of the Law Council. As he handed the baton off to Brandt Surgner ’87, ’94L over Law Reunion Weekend, we asked him to reflect on the Law School’s third-year curriculum, fund-raising and supporting young alumni.
Q. You recently attended a meeting between Law School officials and the ABA Accreditation Committee. What did they have to say about the new third-year curriculum? A. The committee included several current and former law
school deans, and they were particularly interested in hearing about the level of enthusiasm for and commitment to the new curriculum by our alumni. I was able to answer with great confidence that our alumni are enthusiastic about this bold change and that a significant number of our alumni are committed to helping implement the change. Many prominent alumni and firms from across Virginia have signed on to teach in the new curriculum. The committee was also very favorably impressed with the recent gift from John Huss, which, as you know, is devoted exclusively to development of the new curriculum.
Q. Did the committee raise any other questions or concerns? A. When I mentioned that I and other alumni were teaching in the new curriculum, I was
asked about the level of commitment from the permanent Law School faculty. I was able to assure the Committee member that the commitment from the permanent faculty appears to be very high. Many, if not most, of the new courses are being taught by permanent faculty members. Based on my conversations with the faculty, it’s my sense that the level of commitment to the new curriculum is very high indeed.
Q. Although many universities have seen their endowments plunge in these tough economic times, W&L is better off than most because of its careful stewardship practices. However, we have big plans for the Law School. What are our biggest funding priorities? A. Thanks to John Huss ’65L, we have the initial start-up funds for the Third-Year Program.
In order to capture John’s match, we will need others to step up with their support. And there is the addition to the Law School for the Third-Year Program that will provide firm-like space for the students and professors and will bring the clinics together in one central location. This addition will mirror the transition students will be making from the classroom to the practice. We continue to focus, as always, on student scholarships and faculty support. It just doesn’t seem right that so many of our students graduate with more than $100,000 of law school debt.
Q. Law firms are cutting back on new hires. What is the Law School doing to help our new graduates? How can alumni help? A. The career planning and professional development office has grown in the past years to
address the diverse needs of the student body. They provide an array of services that is astounding to someone like me who graduated 30 years ago. Alumni can help the students and the Law School by joining the Alumni Mentoring Network that entails being available by e-mail or phone to students who are interested in a particular practice area, a geographic region or size of firm. It is easy to do and takes so little time. Visit law.wlu.edu/career and follow the links for alumni.
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