History of Santa Clara Law

"From promise to prominence" best describes the history of the Santa Clara University School of Law. Under the vision and guidance of President James Morrissey, the Institute of Law was formed in 1911. Begun as a small night school, the Law School’s first classes were held in Senior Hall, present-day St. Joseph’s Hall.

In 1929, the School began day classes, and had grown to 5 faculty members. Edwin Owens, from Harvard University, became dean in 1933. Under his tenure, Bergin Hall became the new home of the Law School. Built in 1939, Bergin Hall was financed largely from revenues generated by Santa Clara University’s participation in the Sugar Bowl.

Due to lack of enrollment, the Law School closed during the Second World War. By the late 1940’s and throughout the 1950’s, the Law School was back in full operation, but was still a relatively small law school. The graduating class of 1956, for example, comprised 13 students

In 1959, Leo Huard (1959-1969) became dean of the Law School and moved it forward. The Law Review was started in 1961. The evening division was established in 1962 and the new Heafey Law Library was completed in 1963. Prior to this date, the Law Library was housed in the current Moot Court room of Bergin Hall. Huard was also successful in negotiating a constitution with the University assuring the autonomy of the Law School. Class sizes grew; by the late 1960’s there were a total of 150 law students.

Under the direction of Dean George Alexander (1970-1985), the Law School grew to its present size. The first independent law school commencement was held. A strong emphasis on a diverse class population was also stressed. Upon completion of Bannan Hall in 1973, the small classrooms in Bergin Hall were moved to larger facilities in Bannan Hall. Bergin Hall was modified to house the increasing number of law faculty. A major addition to the Law Library significantly increased its size in 1973 (and again in 1988).

Under deans Gerald Uelmen (1986-1994) and Mack Player (1994-2003), there has been continued emphasis on diversity as well as improvement in scholastics. Presently, the Law School ranks as one of the top 10 most diverse law schools in the nation. Also, under Dean Player the Law School has risen in the U.S. News & World Report rankings from the fourth tier to the second tier.

The Law School has also put an emphasis on technology, playing off of its location in the heart of Silicon Valley. The School’s High Tech Law Institute was formed in 1990. It is currently ranked nationally in the top 10. In 1996, the Bannan Hall classrooms were re-vamped to include the latest classroom technologies. In the summer of 2003, these same classrooms were re-vamped again to stay present with the ever-changing technology.

Additionally, consistent with the ethics and values of a Jesuit university, the Law School places a high value on public service and social justice study and service. The Law School's Center for Social Justice and Public Service builds a community for students, faculty, lawyers, and others who care about public interest and social justice. In 1993, the San Jose Community Law Center was born out of a volunteer effort of the La Raza Law Students Association. Staffed by law students overseen by staff attorneys, today the Law Center provides pro bono advice and representation in several areas including small business development, workers' rights, workers' compensation, consumer rights and immigration rights.

The Institute for International Law and Comparative Studies is also a strong component of today's Law School. Formed in 1976 under Dean Alexander, the International Law program currently offers over a dozen programs for summer study of international law, a strong faculty with international reputations as well as a graduate law study program for international lawyers.

In July 2003, Donald Polden became the Law School’s thirteenth dean since the founding in 1911. From the promise of a small night school at the turn of the twentieth century, the Santa Clara University School of Law has risen to the prominence of a nationally recognized law school at the turn of the twenty-first century.

Deans of Santa Clara Law

James Campbell - 1911 to 1918
Lawrence E. O'Keefe, SJ - 1919 to1920
Clarence Coolidge - 1920 to1933
Edwin J. Owens - 1933 to 1953
Byron J. Snow - 1953 to 1955
Warren P. McKenney - 1955 to 1959
Leo Huard - 1959 to 1969
George Strong (acting) - 1970
George Alexander - 1970 to 1985
Richard Rykoff (acting) - 1985 to 1986
Gerald Uelmen - 1986 to 1994
Mack Player - 1994 to 2003
Donald Polden - 2003 to present

Law School Historical Tour

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Original images in the Santa Clara University Archives.

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