Ave Law Viewbook 2017

Discover

your calling

A NOTE FROM AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW’S CHAPLAIN: A LEAP OF FAITH WHILE CONSIDERING LAW SCHOOL As you make your final decision on where your law school home will be, I hope you are considering Ave Maria School of Law. From the moment you arrive on our campus, you realize that Ave Maria School of Law is an environment of kindness. There is a balance of a very focused, hard-working community and a joyful atmosphere. You will find that there is a positive dynamic among staff, faculty and students.

The law students inspire me: they have come here for the purpose of becoming informed and skilled attorneys who are empowered by their faith and love for God. What I cherish most about Ave Maria School of Law is the family-like warmth and professionalism of the faculty, the Dean and staff dedicated to the mission of the school. I would like for you to experience this for yourself.

I wish you well in your future endeavors and look forward to our paths crossing here on Florida’s Gulf Coast if you decide Ave Maria School of Law is for you.

God Bless You, Monsignor McGrath Ave Maria School of Law’s Chaplain

Going to law school is a rigorous yet rewarding “time in one’s life. It shapes who you are and the type of lawyer you will be. Given that, who will you trust with the cultivation of your mind?

What anchors their thoughts and grounds their philosophy? At Ave Maria School of Law, we provide full access to a community with high academic standards, rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, with the full support of inspiring faculty and staff committed to professional excellence. Making the choice to join the Ave Maria School of Law community is the first step in discovering your calling.

So, are you ready?”

–Kevin Cieply, President and Dean

(239) 687-5420 • www.avemarialaw.edu

WHO WE ARE

WHO WE ARE

Ave Maria School of Law (Ave Law), Southwest Florida’s law school, offers a high quality legal education with a commitment to professional excellence, rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Inspired by Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Fides et Ratio, Ave Maria School of Law offers a distinctive legal education — an education characterized by the harmony of faith and reason. Formed by outstanding professional training and a distinctive educational philosophy, Ave Law graduates are equipped for leading positions in law firms, corporate legal offices, the judiciary, and national, state, and local government.

“Ave Law Students are not your typical law students. Ave Law students are committed to giving back to their community, and that dedication to helping others directly translates into

the day-to-day life on campus.

Law school is tough and

competitive, but that doesn’t stop us from helping one another

overcome obstacles and strive for success.

I’ve met some of my best friends here at Ave, and without them I would not be where I am today.”

–Drew Riordan ’16

FALL 2017 ENTERING CLASS PROFILE* RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE

DEMOGRAPHICS

CATHOLIC:

MEN:

OTHER CHRISTIAN:

DIVERSITY:

MORMON:

HISPANIC LATINO:

JEWISH:

BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN:

DID NOT INDICATE:

ASIAN:

OTHER:

DID NOT INDICATE:

60% 27% 2% 2% 3% 6%

LOCATION NUMBER OF STATES REPRESENTED:

24

UNDERGRAD INSTITUTIONS REPRESENTED:

37% 63% 37% 25% 5% 3% 4% 28 21-60 WOMEN:

AVERAGE AGE:

60

AGE RANGE:

LSAT & GPA PROFILE

ENROLLED STUDENTS

GPA LSAT

75TH PERCENTILE MEDIAN 25TH PERCENTILE

info@avemarialaw.edu

3.48 150 3.17 147 2.8 145

*as of August 17, 2017

AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW HONOR CODE I am a member of the Ave Maria School of Law. I will act honestly, temperately, chastely, and with integrity.

I will guard against dishonesty of purpose and deed.

I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do.

I will treat all others with fairness and equality respecting their rights and human dignity.

I will strive to be morally courageous and do what is right regardless of the consequences.

I will take responsibility for my actions and decisions and will hold others accountable for theirs.

I will hold myself to the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, and will encourage others also to do so.

I will obey the law, the rules of professional conduct for lawyers, and this code. I will report to the appropriate authority all violations which I observe or of which I become aware.

I will ensure that these principles guide my performance, behavior, and conduct at all times.

(239) 687-5420 • www.avemarialaw.edu

ACADEMICS We offer a rigorous and varied academic program, based on the foundation of faith and reason. Ave Law requires 90 credit hours for graduation, including a core curriculum of 74 credit hours and six credit hours of experiential courses. In addition, we fully support our students in preparing for the bar examination by offering intensive courses that focus on test-taking abilities, advanced essay writing and multistate bar exam questions.

Discover

your calling “I

Ave Maria School of Law because smaller class size. You are able

came to

of the

to interact with the faculty easily and on a personal level.” – Alyse Casale ’16

“The Ave Law faculty are first-rate. They’re rigorous yet accessible, knowledgeable practical.

They

yet push

students to achieve at their highest potential in the classroom and, ultimately,

in

their

legal careers.

–Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor, Timothy J. Tracey

FACULTY Our faculty and staff are fully invested in enriching the legal education of our law students.

Their approach is one of vocation as many dedicate their lives to the service of others, to protect the sanctity of life, and protect human dignity. Our faculty is experienced in the actual practice of law, so they are lecturing not just from theory, but from real life experience. info@avemarialaw.edu

3

served as members of the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Office (JAG)

4 8

of our faculty have clerked for federal judges LL.M. degrees

Since 2008, the doctrinal faculty have produced

8

encyclopedia entries;

They have written

39

18

3

5 64

books,

book chapters and

book reviews;

law review articles.

pieces for law-related and other publications

Presented or served as panelists at and civic gatherings

60

academic conferences

(239) 687-5420 • www.avemarialaw.edu

“My service at Ave Law gives the privilege of introducing students to a noble and learned profession.

I hope to help them

see that their degree will give them tremendous power for good or ill in

We Are

Ave Law

the lives of others and they must bear that in mind as they endeavor to craft a worthwhile life in the law.

I also hope

we can enjoy some laughs as we make our way down the arduous road to professional competence.”

– Patrick T. Gillen, JD, PhD, Associate Professor of Law

“Ave Law is located right next to one of the best elementary schools in Collier County. My kids were able to walk to school every day. I could visit them at lunch on my breaks and I picked them up every day and never missed a beat as a dad while I was in law school.” – Joshua Molandes ’14

“The availability of professors and the uniqueness of smaller class settings is great. A lot of learning can happen.”

– Brandon Cooper ’16

Ave Law Men’s Softball Team Champions

info@avemarialaw.edu

(239) 687-5420 • www.avemarialaw.edu

We Are Ave Law “For too long, legal educators have viewed law as nothing more than a judge’s whim or a legislator’s fancy—public officials deciding what’s most efficient for society and labeling it a law. At Ave Law, we buck this trend. We believe that law is rooted in something eternal and unchangeable. We have a God-given sense of what’s right and wrong, and the law should reflect that sense.”

–Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor, Timothy J. Tracey

VETERANS MEMORIAL LAW LIBRARY The Veterans Memorial Law Library is a teaching and learning center and the leading resource of legal information in Southwest Florida. It is located in the center of the scenic campus with beautiful Cathedral ceilings and comfortable reading areas. It houses a state-of-the-art computer lab and a library classroom. It also provides modern printers, copiers and scanners to facilitate research.

The Law Library supports the mission of the school by providing a core research collection and a study environment that includes print, audio/video and electronic formats. The collection boasts more than 50,000 print items and hundreds of thousands of digital library items. The collection is especially strong in Florida Law, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Immigration Law, Legal History, Legal Ethics, Bioethics, the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, and Canon Law. The Library’s materials can be located and accessed via the law library’s online catalog.

In addition, the Law Library provides numerous training workshops on technology & the law, emerging legal issues, law school success, and specialized materials. The Law Library offers the vast majority of current legal databases, including extended access after graduation for our students than most other law schools.

The Law Library also provides unlimited study aids and 24/7 card access for the Ave Law Community.

“Life

is the first and most

fundamental right of every individual. As an authentically

Catholic law school, being pro-life is central to the identity and mission of Ave Maria School of Law.” – Stephanie Williams ’18

info@avemarialaw.edu

The library is also fortunate to co-house special collections including donations from Cardinal Egan, The Terry Schiavo Archives, the Sherlock pro-life collection, Judge Robert Bork’s legal history items, and our new Veterans’ Friends and Families video archive. In conclusion, the Law Library is the gateway to legal knowledge in our area making it popular with alumni, attorneys, judges and legal scholars. We welcome you to expand your horizons by visiting our Veterans Memorial Law Library.

(239) 687-5420 • www.avemarialaw.edu

“Through

individual

advocacy

and

community outreach, students are able to foster human dignity and the common good.

It

is

rewarding

that

former

students often contact me to tell me about their continued efforts to use their

legal

expertise

and

skills

to

serve others.”

–Elizabeth M. Donovan, Director of Experiential Education and Associate Clinical Professor of Law

Develop

“Career Services helped me find an internship opportunity geared towards my interest in Bioethics and the Pro-life movement. They critiqued my legal resume by highlighting my relevant experience and my involvement

Ave Law during my 1L year. I am I sought the advice and guidance of the office early in the semester; the effort paid off!” at

glad

–Thérèse Desilets, Class of 2018

your calling

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Ave Law provides a high quality legal education that allows you to not only discover, but develop your passion. Our scholarly programs, externships, clinics and organizations offer a variety of options to gain knowledge and experience while working with some of the top faculty in the country.

AVE MARIA LAW REVIEW AVE MARIA INTERNATIONAL LAW JOURNAL RESEARCH, WRITING AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM (RWA) ADVANCED CRITICAL THINKING (ACT) MOOT COURT PROGRAM OVER 22 STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS PRO BONO RECOGNITION PROGRAM OVER 23 EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CLINICS Estate Planning and General Practice Clinic Human Trafficking Law Clinic Mediation Law Clinic Patent Law Clinic

info@avemarialaw.edu

LEGAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS Certified Legal Internship (CLI) United Nations Legal Internship (UNLI) Ave Law offers students the opportunity to work a fulltime legal internship for law school credit through one of our Legal Internship Programs. Students in their final year of law school may be able to apply for placement through these programs designed to immerse students in real world legal settings through hands-on practical experience at one of several organizations.

Students participating in the fieldwork component of a CLI may have their own caseloads and appear in court under the supervision of an attorney.

Students participating in the UNLI will gain exposure to the international law and global relations and diplomacy by serving as representatives for their NGOs at the United Nations.

For more details, please visit our website: https://www. avemarialaw.edu/academics/legal-internship-programs/

“Career Services

continues to be a

great resource for

Every

Ave Law students.

student should take advantage

of Career Services’ wealth of resources,

knowledge, experience and their keen

Ave Law students goals. I appreciate and support Career

interest in helping achieve all

the

their help

Services provided me throughout the externship application process.”

–Victor Bermudez, Class of 2018

CAREER SERVICES

The Office of Career Services works to develop, encourage and empower our students as they begin the pursuit of their passion for the legal profession. Our mission is in direct alignment with and supports the law school’s vision and mission in fidelity to the Catholic Faith to build a community, serve the common good, educate and develop students who will become lawyers with the finest legal, ethical and professional skills.

Employment Outcomes: • Ave Maria School of Law alumni are employed in 42 states and internationally.

• Our alumni are in the judiciary, employed as attorneys at some of the largest law firms in the nation, and serving as corporate in-house counsel.

• 81% of our class of 2016 were employed or enrolled in a full-time LLM program 10 months after graduation. Of the employed students, 91% were employed for a position that required bar admission or where a JD degree provided an advantage to their employment.

Internships: • 85% of the 3L class of 2016-2017 held an internship or externship while in law school.

• Dozens of employers each year recruit Ave Maria School of Law students through our On Campus Recruitment program, including federal District Court and state judges.

• Nearly 45% of the 1L class of 2016-2017 secured a summer legal internship/externship.

• In the summer of 2017, our students interned for numerous U.S. District Court Judges, state Supreme Court judges, and state Circuit Court judges throughout Florida and the United States.

Serving the Common Good: • During the 2015-2016 academic year, students completed 2,358 hours of volunteer legal service for organizations such as Legal Aid, Children’s Legal Services, the Public Defender’s Office and various faithbased organizations.

(239) 687-5420 • www.avemarialaw.edu

ADMISSIONS Ranked one of the nation’s most outstanding law schools by Princeton Review and the best Catholic Law School in the United States for the Devout by The National Jurist’s PreLaw Magazine, Ave Maria School of Law has enrolled students from 49 states and abroad and from more than 200 colleges and universities.

They range in age and bring diverse backgrounds in career and educational experience. We have a 55% acceptance rate of those who apply to Ave Law. Alumni of Ave Law are now practicing law in more than 42 states and several other countries.

FINANCIAL AID We offer a wide range of merit, service and military based scholarships to help those who would like to attend Ave Maria School of Law. Approximately two-thirds of students receive scholarships ranging from $5,000 up to full tuition. More than 3/4 of our entering students receive scholarships of up to full tuition.

Tuition for the 2016-17 Academic Year:

$39,450

HOW TO APPLY If you are passionate about attending Ave Maria School of Law, please apply for admission through our website. For questions, contact our Admissions office directly at (239) 687-5420 or info@ avemarialaw.edu.

AVE LAW | NAPLES, FLORIDA GETTING TO KNOW CLAIRE O’KEEFE

D

G B

A A Faculty and Administration Building

Left to right: Brandy Shafer ’17, Claire O’Keefe, Brittney Davis ‘17

B Veterans Memorial Law Library

Claire T. O’Keefe is an experienced law school administrator

C St. Thomas More Commons

in the areas of admissions, student affairs, academic support and academic advising. Before joining Ave Law, she had over eight years of law school administration experience including positions as Director of Admissions at Touro Law School and Director of Student Affairs at Hofstra Law School. Dean O’Keefe joined Ave Maria School of Law in August 2011 providing academic counseling and was an instructor for the Applied Critical Thinking and Legal Analysis course. She became the Director of Admissions in February 2015, was promoted to Assistant Dean of Admissions in December 2016, and, in August 2017, became the Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Engagement. Dean O’Keefe practiced in the areas of family law and labor law and spent nine years at the New York State Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General in the Labor Bureau. In that capacity, Dean O’Keefe focused on appellate practice, which included defending state agencies, including the New York State Department of Labor and the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. Dean O’Keefe has argued in the New York State Appellate Division and before the New York State Court of Appeals.

Hometown: Huntington, New York

D West and East Halls E Villas Law School Housing F

F Vineyards Community Park G Vineyards Elementary School

Ave Maria School of Law, Southwest Florida’s law school,

Tampa 155 miles

Fort Myers 30 miles ave maria school of law

Naples

Orlando 185 miles

Ft. Lauderdale 110 miles Miami 125 miles

Favorite hobbies: Golf (I am a golfer in progress), reading, yoga Unique fun fact: I went skydiving…jumped out of a perfectly good plane at 13,500 feet. It was the best. Next up is zip-lining!

One word to describe Ave Law: Special

Vacation wish list: Alaska (going next year), Italy, Machu Picchu Best part of Naples: The beach Three words that describe you: Loyal, Passionate, Fun

offers a high quality legal education with a commitment to professional excellence, rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition. Located in Naples, the Law School’s twelve-acre campus provides a welcoming environment for legal study and research, participation in clinical programs, legal organizations and on-campus housing. Ave Law is in close proximity to top area law firms, the Collier and Lee County Courts, as well as the Federal District Court in Fort Myers, ideal for gaining experience and employment.

Additionally, students can enjoy an array of amenities and a quality of life associated with one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. The Ave Law campus is conveniently located next to Vineyards Elementary School and Vineyards Community Park, and minutes away from the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and downtown Naples.

Ranked one of the nation’s most outstanding law schools by Princeton Review and the best Catholic Law School in the United States for the Devout by The National Jurist’s PreLaw Magazine, Ave Maria School of Law has enrolled students from 49 states and abroad and from more than 200 colleges and universities. Alumni of Ave Law are now practicing law in more than 42 states and several other countries.

Favorite way to unwind: Sit at the pool with a good book Favorite part of your job: There are so many parts of my job that I just love, but probably my favorite is that I get to work with people and help them fulfill their dream of going to law school.

info@avemarialaw.edu

E

C

info@avemarialaw.edu

Your Journey Starts Here ave maria school of law

1025 Commons Circle, Naples, Florida 34119 (239) 687-5420 • info@avemarialaw.edu • www.avemarialaw.edu Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, license number 4007. Fully accredited by the American Bar Association. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services 1-800-435-7352.

Ave Maria School of Law recognizes the inherent value and dignity of all members of the human family. It values equal opportunity, and seeks racial, cultural and ethnic diversity. The Law School prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, disability or status as a veteran or disabled veteran. The Law School maintains its Catholic character, but is open to persons of all religious faiths who respect the goals of Ave Maria School of Law, as adopted by the Board of Governors. It does not discriminate on the basis of religion, except to the extent that applicable laws and constitutional provisions respect its right to act in furtherance of its religious objectives. The Law School fully accepts the teachings of the Catholic Church with regard to homosexual conduct and sexual conduct outside the bonds of matrimony, as set forth by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Consistent with those teachings, the Law School does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sexual orientation without regard to homosexual conduct or other actions that undermine the Law School’s Catholic identity.