I am giving through the Graduating Class Gift because...


"I bleed purple! I am grateful for all that Northwestern Law has given me - education, relationships, and opportunity."

-- Esther King, JD, LLM Tax, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"Northwestern Law was a truly transformational place for me."

-- Drew Beres, JD, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"The clinic is a reminder of why I came to Law School."

-- Katie Feeley, JD, 2013

-- Alexandra Brodman, JD, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"Northwestern Law is my favorite law school."

-- Clare Conroy, JD, LLM IHR, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"Northwestern Law provided me with the skills and support for success."

-- Jason Foster, LLM Tax, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"I feel very grateful for what Northwestern Law has provided us, all the international LL.M. students, a tremendous one-year US legal education experience - challenging but rewarding."

-- Biquan Ge, LLM, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"...of all the free food and drinks I have consumed over the last three years."

-- Amy Goodier, JD, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"The Northwestern Law Difference: well-rounded intellectuals who truly want to change the legal profession for the better."

-- Megan Lawson, JD, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"I know that the value of my degree will be realized over my lifetime, so starting a history of donation today is the right thing to do."

-- Viren Tellis, JD/MBA, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"I can't think of a better way to have spent the last three years."

-- Phil Wiese, JD, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"Northwestern made law school fun."

-- Robert Harrits, JD, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"Northwestern Law is an exceptional institution and I am honored to be counted among its student body."

-- Chris Wood, LLM Tax, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

"Northwestern has given me a network of lifetime friends, all of whom are smarter than me."

-- Julie Lee, JD, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee co-chair

"I want to stay involved as an active Wigmore member after I graduate."

-- Ashley Becker, JD

"Northwestern Law is a good place for foreign students to learn American legal education and philosophies behind that."

-- Kiyo Kamekawa, LLM, 2013 Graduating Class Gift Committee member

Tell us why you give!

Graduating Class Gift

Each year since 1989, the graduating class has raised funds to commemorate their time at the Law School. Whether you give because you are grateful for the education you have received or because you want to take an active role in the school's future successes, every contribution to the Class Gift - regardless of size - makes a difference.

Average Northwestern Law School Funding Sources

Donor Recognition

$10,000 Dean's Challenge
Update: The 2013 Graduating Class Gift exceeded 50% participation and secured the Dean's $10,000 challenge gift! With more than 250 donors (57%) and counting, the Class of 2013 has set the record for most EVER outright gifts in a Graduating Class Gift campaign.

Cocktail Reception With Law Board Members
The Law Board cocktail reception took place on Friday, April 12th from 5:45-6:45pm in the Atrium. Thank you to all of our student donors and Law Board members who attended and made the event a success!

Graduation Recognition
All students who contributed to the class gift by 5:00pm Monday April 22nd will be recognized by name at the commencement ceremonies, unless their gift was made anonymously.

Wigmore Club Membership
Students who make a gift of $50 or more will become members of the John Henry Wigmore Club. The Wigmore Club is a leadership giving society named for John Henry Wigmore, the first full-time dean of Northwestern Law. Wigmore Club members annually give $1,000 or more, but the special Young Wigmore rate of $50 is available exclusively for the Class of 2013. The benefits of membership include:

  • Invitation to private Wigmore Club receptions;
  • Member names are prominently listed on the annual Honor Roll of Donors (unless they choose to give anonymously);
  • Priority seating and accommodations for Northwestern Law events in Chicago and around the country

Students may choose to direct their gift to one or more of these designations:

2013 Graduating Class Gift Designations

  • Law School Fund Unrestricted
  • LLM Program Support
  • LLM Tax Program Support
  • Kellogg/Law JD-MBA Scholarship
  • Bluhm Legal Clinic
  • Scholarship Support
  • Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

Support one or more of these worth allocations with a gift today!

Law School Fund Unrestricted
Unrestricted support through the Law School Fund provides the financial flexibility to fund important initiatives and programs. Whether used to provide additional financial aid, upgrade classrooms and facilities, hire new faculty, or supplement student programming and activities, gifts through the Law School Fund are carefully used in the areas of greatest need.

LLM Program Support
Gifts to the LLM Program Support Fund supplement academic and student-life programming for LLM students, including initiatives led by the International Programs Office, ESL services, academic workshops, career services, and helping students adapt to life in Chicago.

LLM Tax Program Support
Philanthropic support of the LLM Tax Program helps keep the student-faculty ratio low and student programming high, while also attracting leading academics and professionals to the LLM faculty. Supporting the LLM Tax Program will help ensure its continued success as one of the top-ranked programs in the country.

Kellogg/Law JD-MBA Scholarship
The Kellogg/Law JD-MBA Scholarship fund was established to provide scholarships to students enrolled in the JD-MBA program at Northwestern Law and Kellogg. This permanently endowed scholarship will keep our JD-MBA program attractive and affordable for the most qualified candidates.

Bluhm Legal Clinic
Spent in its entirety each year, the Legal Clinic Fund provides support for the areas of greatest need within the 14 centers and 23 clinics. Philanthropic support helps the Clinic continue to provide unique learning opportunities, cover case-related expenses, serve the community by providing low- or no-cost legal representation, and impact the legal community at large by promoting and advocating reform.

Scholarship Support
The Law School Scholarship Fund grants Northwestern Law the flexibility to award additional scholarships each year. Scholarship support is vital in keeping Northwestern Law affordable and attractive to the most qualified students. Having additional resources for financial aid allows Northwestern Law to attract the talented, diverse, and esteemed student body for which we are known.

Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)
The Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) assists in the repayment of student loans for graduates who work in public service. Awards are granted to alumni based on their income and debt amounts, and are issued in the form of one-year forgivable loans. If the graduate remains in a qualifying position for one year, the loan is forgiven in its entirety.

The 2013 Class Gift Co-Chairs
Julie Lee and Sam Scarcello

The 2013 Class Gift Committee
Francisco Abeal, Drew Beres, Alexandra Brodman, Clare Conroy, Sharisse Deal, Annamarie DiLeo, Jessica Dwinell, Tiffany Eng, Jason Foster, Biquan Ge, Amy Goodier, Anjelica Gregory, Grace Hahn, Robert Harrits, Kiyo Kamekawa, Laura Kessler, Esther King, Calvin Kung, Megan Lawson, Randy Lin, Saurabh Nathany, Kari Parks, Memo Montiel, Alex Cruz O'Malley, Suhas Subramanyam, Viren Tellis, Phil Wiese, and Chris Wood.

If you have any questions about the class gift, please contact Charley Boynton at the Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 312-503-1769.