Class Gift Campaign

Class Gift Campaign

The generosity of graduating classes has long served to support everything from student clubs to scholarships to clinical opportunities. Each year, the graduating class gift committee comes together to encourage their classmates and participate in a tradition that supports the future students of Duke Law.

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2009 Class Gift Campaign

The 2009 class gift committee was comprised of 22 students; 6 LLMs and 16 JDs. The Cochairs, Jessi Rivera, Alex Leibowitz, and Jonathan Williams successfully ran a campaign that surpassed our original student participation goal of 65% by raising over $94,000 from 68 percent of the class. Students had the opportunity to give to the Duke Law Annual Fund, LLM scholarship, the Clinics, and/or the Loan Repayment Assistance Program. Thanks to Duke Law's Professor Bill Brown who agreed to match any gifts made following the Gala on May 6th! We look forward to next year's campaign

2009 Class Gift Designations

Annual Fund

The Annual Fund is the most extensive and inclusive giving opportunity at Duke Law School! It provides essential, unrestricted support that can be directed to wherever needs are most pressing at any given moment, including faculty research, student organizations, financial aid, library resources, and important initiatives of the Dean. These unrestricted contributions are crucial to maintaining and enriching the Duke Law experience.

Clinics

Providing law students their first opportunities to evolve what they know into what they can do, Duke Law clinics offer invaluable real-world experience that also serves the community. As they work outside of the classroom on a variety of substantive issues, second and third-year clinical students deepen their practical knowledge, strengthen problem-solving and lawyering skills, and begin to develop professional identities, all while providing important legal services that help underserved communities. Duke's Clinical Program includes the AIDS Legal Project, Appellate Litigation, Children's Law, Community Enterprise, Environmental Law and Policy, Low-income Taxpayer, and Wrongful Convictions.

LLM Scholarship

Established by the LL.M. Class of 2001, the LL.M. Scholarship Fund is designed to attract and help support students from countries that have been under-represented in the LL.M. program in the past. LLM students add vitality to the Law School community, contribute a comparative perspective to classroom discussion, and share their widely varied professional and cultural backgrounds in settings both in and outside the school. Gifts to this Fund maintain and strengthen Duke's LLM program.

Loan Repayment Assistance Program

The Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is designed to support Duke Law graduates who obtain qualifying public interest employment by reducing educational debt. A permanent endowment has been established to ensure the long-term viability of the program, thanks in part to a substantial contribution from Dean Bartlett and Professor Schroeder. A gift to LRAP will add to the amount of the endowment and allow more Duke Law graduates to seek public interest opportunities.
**Judicial clerkships do not qualify as eligible employment under LRAP. Please see Supplement for Eligibility Requirements.

Reasons to Give

Every gift to Duke Law School counts. A high giving rate shows firms, foundations and prospective students that alumni believe in the school.
The money raised in the Class Gift campaign goes directly to benefit students.
Your Class Gift donation helps continue the cycle of giving, providing support for current and future students so that they may have the same opportunities and benefits that you received while at Duke Law.
Payment on your pledge is not due until June 30th, 2010. This gives you a year of income before you send any money to Duke Law.
Your donation may be tax deductible.

Recognition and Incentives

Barrister Donor Society

The Barrister Donor Society is the Law School’s leadership giving society. Barristers receive invitations to special events, including the Law School’s Barrister reception held during Reunion Weekend, and are recognized annually on a plaque in the Law School as well as in the fall Duke Law Magazine. Last year, 60 members of the Class of 2007 became Barristers through the Class Gift. Young alumni (1-5 years out) are recognized as Barrister with a gift of $1,000 to any fund.

Samuel F. Mordecai Fellows

Named after the Law School’s first dean, the Mordecai Fellows are generous donors to Duke Law who receive special recognition in the fall Duke Law Magazine. Young alumni are recognized as Mordecai Fellows with a gift of $500 to any fund.

If you have any questions regarding the Class Gift Campaign, please contact Anna Corliss, Annual Fund Coordinator, at corliss@law.duke.edu or (919) 613-7010.