Top 20 Ranking for Government Law When preLaw magazine “sought to identify law schools that do the best job of preparing students for careers in public service,” Widener Law Commonwealth was the only school from Pennsylvania making the list of the nation’s top 20 schools for government law. The magazine, a publication of the National Jurist, a leading news source about issues in legal education, released the rankings in its winter issue. Widener Law Commonwealth placed 17th nationwide on the government list. “It’s rewarding that our 27–year history of offering superb legal
education in the state capitol is being recognized,” said Jill Family, a professor and director of the school’s Law and Government Institute. “Our commitment to excellence in government law is a foundation of the legal education we provide.” The list, which comes out every two years, is based on curriculum, employment placement, student debt, salary, and loan repayment assistance programs offered by the school. Widener Law Commonwealth received an A grade from the magazine in the employment category, which is based on the percentage of alumni who have landed jobs in government.
Inaugural Leadership Award Bestowed During an Evening at the Capitol Each year Widener Law Commonwealth’s Evening at the Capitol event brings students, faculty, alumni, and friends together for a night of networking and conversation. The November 2015 gathering included an honor for Vince DeLiberato, director of the Legislative Reference Bureau. DeLiberato, who also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the law school, earned the Government Leadership Award for his dedication to students who wish to pursue a career in state government. This was the first time the award, which was presented by state Rep. Ron Marsico, has been given. Dean Christian A. Johnson thanked DeLiberato for his dedication in helping Widener Law Commonwealth students study for the Bar, as well as for the excellent job he does when teaching the legislative drafting courses that are important for students seeking the law and government certificate. “He dedicates his own time and resources to helping our students succeed and we see the results of that by looking at our graduates who have gone on to successful jobs in government,” Johnson said. State Rep. Ron Marisco, at right, presented Vince For more about the DeLiberato, director of the Legislative Reference Legislative Reference Bureau Bureau and an adjunct faculty member, with the that DeLiberato directs, see Government Leadership Award. They are pictured here the feature story on page 18. with Dean Christian A. Johnson and Professor Jill Family.
Jurist-in-Residence Lecture Judge Mary H. Leavitt gave her last of three lectures as Widener Law Commonwealth’s jurist-in-residence in January. Leavitt, a Commonwealth Court judge since 2001 who was recently elected as the court’s president judge, has served as the jurist-in-residence on the Harrisburg campus since January 2014. She will finish out the post in June. Leavitt’s lecture focused on the unique aspects of appellate judging in Pennsylvania as compared to other states and the federal appellate system. She also spoke about her personal experience as an appellate judge. “The cases are much closer than I realized,” she said. “I have described the judicial conference after a panel argument as a group of dedicated, hardworking, intelligent people arguing over whether the color teal is really the color blue or the color green—and there is no exact right answer. And, you would be amazed at how fired up people can get about these questions. Personally, I think teal is green.” 5