Professors, family and friends of MU School of Law graduates filled the seats of the Jesse Auditorium to watch 144 law school students receive their law degrees.
The Hooding Ceremony Reception at Hulston Hall East Courtyard followed the Hooding Ceremony, a traditional part of the school’s graduation celebration.
William Duane Benton, a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, was the featured speaker for the ceremony.
“His commencement talk reminds attorneys that with each act they take in their practice, they can take part in the historical change in the view of the profession,” Paul Ladehoff, director of LL.M. in Dispute Resolution Program, said.
For Professional Year 3 William Moore, commencement is about more than graduation.
“I think the commencement is the end of hard work,” Moore said. “I have learned a lot from these four years. Also, it’s the beginning of my professional career.”
Professional Year 3 Luke Weissler said graduating is not only an accomplishment for him, but for his mother and older sister as well.
The graduates have various plans for their futures. Some graduates will prepare for the bar examination to become qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction, while others will soon start internships.
For many law school professors, commencement is a symbolic transition from students to professionals.
“As the name suggests, the commencement is the beginning of their career as lawyers,” Troy Rule, associate professor at the School of Law, said. “It’s an opportunity for them to reflect (on) the 19 years of schooling they have had to reach this point.”
Faced with broader futures, unknown challenges and numerous career opportunities, many graduates said they appreciate and value the knowledge and experience they received at MU.
“MU law school lays a foundation for practice, understanding how legal system works, being able to research and write,” Ladehoff said. “The most important thing they need is a foundation to go forward.”
Graduates also leave with an ability to think creatively, Rule said.
“Law school is not only about black letter rules and laws, it’s also about changing the way students think,” he said. “When they, as lawyers, encounter problems, they will hopefully be able to analyze them and search for creative solutions.”
The School of Law commencement ceremony marked the end of a weekend of ceremonies held on campus for graduating students. The colleges of Arts and Science, Business and Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources also held ceremonies on Sunday, May 18.
On Saturday, May 17 the schools of Medicine, Natural Resources, and Health Professions joined the College of Engineering and Graduate School to honor their students. The Honors Ceremony was also held that day.
Commencement ceremonies were held for the colleges of Human Environmental Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Education and the schools of Journalism and Nursing on Friday, May 16.
