Santa Clara Law historical timeline

1800s

1851

Santa Clara College was established.

1900 – 1950

1903

First available evidence about the beginning of Santa Clara Law found in a letter from Henry Woods, S.J., to the Jesuit Father General requesting permission to open law and medical schools within Santa Clara and St. Ignatius Colleges.

1907-1908

Courtroom

First pre-law courses offered at Santa Clara College.

1911

Institute of Law is formed as a small night program with classes held in what is now known as O’Connor Hall. This was the 8th institution related to the Catholic faith to open its doors. The Institute of Law was led by Dean and Professor James H. Campbell.

1912

Faculty Building, 1912

First LL.B. conferred June 1912. John Wallace Ryland cum laude.

1914

First Graduating Class

First graduating class— degrees conferred upon fourteen young men who three years before had begun their studies at the night law school of Santa Clara College, with a faculty consisting of local attorneys.

State bar exam is now required.

Fire at Mission Church

Fire destroys old Mission Church. Immediately behind the church was the law library. Thanks to some prompt action by students, most of the law books were saved, but about 1,000 books were lost.

The law program was first described as the College of Law.

Day classes begin with five faculty members.

Varsi Library

Varsi Library opens to house both regular and law collections.

Dean Edward J. Owens

Dean Edward J. Owens arrives

Santa Clara is accredited by the ABA making it the 6th law school in California.

Bergin Hall

The law school is housed completely in Bergin Hall.

The law school is admitted to membership in the Association of American Law Schools.

Law school closes during WWII.

Student Bar Association is created.

1950s

Aurelius “Reo” Miles is the first African American graduate.

Dean Owens joins the Santa Clara County Superior Court bench, and Byron J. Snow replaces him as acting dean.

Warren McKenney becomes dean.

First woman enrolls.

Dean Leo Huard

Leo Huard becomes dean.

1960s

Dean Huard and the law school are instrumental in the creation of the Santa Clara County Legal Aid Society.

The Santa Clara Lawyer law review was created.

Mary Emery, far left, in 1963

Associate Dean Mary Emery and two others are the first women to graduate.

First phase of Heafey Law Library is completed.

Juris Doctor replaces the LL.B. degree. Approximately 150 students are enrolled.

The SBA Newsletter, (aka Bergin Bugle) predecessor to the Advocate, was published (v. #1 – 9/23/1969) Phil Sims editor. With v.2 #2 became the Advocate (still a newsletter).

1970s

Dean George Strong

George Strong serves as acting dean.

Dean George Alexander

George Alexander becomes dean.

Environmental Law Society founded.

Honors Moot Court began (originally called the Clarence C. Coolidge Moot Court).

The Chicano Law Students Association was formed (name changed to La Raza in 120%9).

Law Clinic, 1971

First law clinic handles over 100 cases in first year.

Grapevine weekly news announcement sheet was published.

Feminist Law Students was formed. It was renamed Women & Law around 1989.

Black Law Students’ Association was formed.

Bannan Hall

Bannan Hall opens.

Board of Visitors forms.

Law Library is completed.

B.T. Collins

B.T. Collins serves as Placement Director.

J.D./MBA program begins.

Native American Law Students was formed. This organization was merged with La Raza in 1992.

Asian Law Students Association was formed. It was later renamed to the Asian Pacific American Law Students’ Association.

Current Advocate began publishing.

Eleven Easy Pieces

Eleven Easy Pieces women’s flag football team gains fame.

First academic support program comes into being.

Students help establish the Santa Clara Public Interest Law Foundation.

1980s

Gay Law Students (GLS) Association was formed. In the early 1990s, it was renamed Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Advocates (BGLAd).

Middle Eastern law Student Association (MELSA) was formed.

Dean Richard Rykoff

Richard Rykoff becomes acting dean.

Santa Clara Computer and High Technology Law Journal began publishing.

Jewish Law Students Association formed.

Dean Gerald Uelmen

Gerald Uelmen becomes dean.

Public Interest Endowment is funded to provide summer grants, scholarships, and income supplements for graduates in public service law.

1990s

The High Tech Law Advisory Board meets to develop the high tech law program.

East San Jose Community Law Center

East San Jose Community Law Center comes into being.

Dean Mack Player

Mack Player’s years as dean begin.

Law school alumni magazine debuts, called Et Al. Name changed to Santa Clara Law in the fall 2004 issue.

Bannan classrooms are modernized.

LL.M in U.S. Law for Foreign Attorneys offered.

The Center for Social Justice and Public Service is co-directed by Professors Nancy and Eric Wright.

Don Chisum, author of Chisum on Patents, joins Santa Clara Law faculty.

2000s

Professor Stephanie Wildman

Professor Stephanie Wildman takes charge of the new Center for Social Justice and Public Service.

Sutro Chair is established.

Professor Cookie Ridolfi, NCIP

The Northern California Innocence Project is launched.

The High Tech Law Institute develops a comprehensive high tech program that receives national recognition.

The LL.M. in Intellectual Property law is first offered.

Inez Mabie Chair established.

From Promise to Prominence, a history of Santa Clara Law written by Hon. Mark Thomas ’56, is published.

Santa Clara Journal of International Law first published. v.1-4 (online only).

Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center

East San Jose Community Center is renamed the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center and opens new offices on the Alameda.

Santa Clara Law Order of the Coif Chapter approved.

Dean Donald Polden

Donald Polden takes the helm as dean.

Order of the Coif awarded to first graduates.

Leadership for Lawyers course offered, the first course of its kind in the nation.

Santa Clara Law launches new web site.

Bryan Stevenson

The Katharine and George Alexander Law Prize is established. First recipient is Bryan Stevenson.

Santa Clara Law holds a recruitment workshop in Second Life; among the first law schools in the nation to interact with prospective students in the virtual world.

International Human Rights Clinic started.

Low Income Taxpayer Clinic started.

Entrepreneurs Law Clinic started.

Dean Lisa Kloppenberg

Lisa Kloppenberg starts as Dean.