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Recognizing Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law on the 125th Anniversary of its founding.
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WHEREAS, Since its founding in 1895, Temple Law School has been providing a high-quality legal education to those who are interested in the law, and capable of learning about it, with the potential of becoming outstanding attorneys, but who might not otherwise have the opportunity; and
WHEREAS, This tradition makes students want to go to Temple Law School, to bring their hustle, their smarts, their backbone, and their work ethic to a school dedicated to providing an outstanding education for a great value. These principles go with graduates when they move into leadership roles in their professions and communities; and
WHEREAS, Temple Law School began the same way the broader university itself had, as an evening program. A day program was offered and planned for - it would be a three-year program and would cost $60 per year. But no one enrolled in the day program, while 46 students enrolled for evenings. Temple Law would remain a night school for its first 38 years; and
WHEREAS, From the very beginning, two longstanding and seemingly divergent characteristics seemed to best describe the Law School: modesty and audacity. Modest because it was a small evening program; audacious because it was created by a determined 24-year-old. Henry Borneman had little more than an idea and a new membership to the Pennsylvania Bar, but here he was, proposing a Law School to Temple’s founder, Russell Conwell; and
WHEREAS, Classes were originally held in College Hall - now Barrack Hall - a grand, new building, erected only two years earlier, and the only classroom building on campus. Over the years, the school moved around the city; between 1910 and 1953 classes were held on several sites in Center City, and in the Gimbels department store. The early milestones were fairly humble, and the obstacles numerous. A first graduation ceremony was held in 1901, and in 1902 the school almost dissolved. In 1907, with a new dean and a new faculty, the Law School changed its name, and then changed it again in 1911 to Temple University School of Law when it seemed like the university itself would both survive and commit to permanent affiliation. Two hundred students were enrolled in 1920, including the first two women; and
WHEREAS, During World War II, attendance plummeted due to law school-aged men joining the military. In 1959, the Law School Library was renamed the Charles Klein Law Library after the distinguished alumnus and judge. In 1972 it burned. During that decade, under Peter Liacouras’s direction, summer programs would be established in Rome, Athens, and Tel Aviv; and
WHEREAS, Too often the story of law schools, and of higher education in general, is one in which each new administration brings its own approach and its own priorities, and goes about reinventing the institution according to its own set of criteria. Through the decades of growth and changes in administration, Temple Law School’s mission has remained profoundly consistent: Offer an excellent legal education for a reasonable cost. This consistency has marked the transitions between the administrations, each one building on the successes of the previous one; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Temple Law School has built a reputation for excellence in legal education, and has been consistently ranked as a high-value law school. Its approach to teaching trial advocacy in particular has won national acclaim and earned Temple Law School a spot among the most elite programs to be found. 214 students graduated from the Law School in 2020. The 125th Anniversary class of incoming first-year students is highly diverse and highly accomplished. Temple Law School is a nationally ranked, internationally connected institution, with first-rate professors and programs. But no matter how large or prominent it has grown, it remains true to its original founding principles and has found new and better ways to fulfill its mission; and
WHEREAS, The future seems to bring changes at an ever-increasing rate, and Temple Law School remains committed to addressing the emerging issues of a rapidly changing world, always grounded in something bigger than any one of us alone. With deep connections right here at home and a network of programs and partnerships that circles the globe, Temple Law School will continue to honor its mission and prepare its graduates to face any coming challenges - to them and to the cause of justice; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Philadelphia, Does hereby recognize Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law on the 125th Anniversary of its founding.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of Temple Law School as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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