Dean's View
Dean’s View
Dear friends, this issue of University of Wisconsin Law School’s Gargoyle magazine is a special one. We’ve got some especially poignant and exciting stories to share about some of the latest developments at the Law School, to which so many of you have contributed.
Features
Sparking Nuanced Conversation
Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy strives for civility in civic dialogue without sacrificing commitment to principle and diversity of thought.
Bidding for the Better
Jackie Macaulay Auction funds summer internships and summer associate positions for students.
‘We’re the Last Hope’
Wisconsin Innocence Project changes lives for students and the wrongfully-convicted.
News & Notes
In Brief
Read the latest news and updates from University of Wisconsin Law School.
From Experience to Empowerment
New staff members draw from their professional experiences to empower those walking similar paths.
Collaboration in Community
UW Law hosted the 2024 Midwest Clinical Conference, drawing legal clinicians from across the country to share ideas and teaching strategies.
‘There are Lots of Opportunities to Do Public Service’
In February, UW Law hosted Hon. Robert M. Dow, Jr. as the keynote speaker for the annual Thomas E. Fairchild Lecture.
Highlights
Alumni
Interning Abroad
As Evan Feeley’s ’25 classmates lined up summer plans around Wisconsin and other states, he packed his bags for a destination more than 8,500 miles away: the Ho Chi Minh City office of YKVN, a leading law firm in Vietnam.
Building a Sense of Community
When Lorenzo Gudino ’21 was considering law school, a sense of Native community was critical. Enter the Native American Pathway to Law Initiative, which includes an annual workshop that will be hosted by UW Law this summer.
Building the Resilience of Future Lawyers
After 16 years of practicing law, Sara Beachy Waters ’08 craved a career change. Now, she provides counseling services to law students as a practicum mental health counselor with University Health Services.
‘Bankruptcy Whisperer’ Honored for Role in Purdue Pharma Case
When a group of bewildered opioid activists and survivors sought transparency and accountability during the infamous Purdue Pharma bankruptcy, they found Jonathan Lipson '90.
Class of 1984 Pays It Forward
Last year, for their 40th reunion, the Class of 1984 wanted to do something to leave a lasting impact: They sought to raise $198,400 to fund one or more scholarships for financially challenged students.
Donor
Supporting a Strong Democracy
UW Law School Board of Visitors members John W. Miller ’06, along with Elizabeth Gracie ’83 and her Chicago law firm O’Keefe Lyons & Hynes, LLC, contributed a total of $50,000 to create a 1:1 matching gift opportunity to support the State Democracy Research Initiative.
Spotlights
Students
Turning Interests and Challenges into Opportunities
Samantha Crane, a 3L at University of Wisconsin Law School, has already made a name for herself in the Federalist Society.
A Quest to Enact Meaningful Change
After failing to address systemic mental health issues in the military as a doctor, Deonte Williams 1L decided to study law to take his concerns to Congress.
Faculty
A Decade-Long Journey
Mitra Sharafi wins best article for "Indian Constitutionalism, the Rule of Law, and Parsi Legal Culture."
In Focus
Strong Bonds, Fond Memories
University of Wisconsin Law School was proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the William H. Hastie Fellowship Program during a reception at the 2025 Association of American Law Schools annual meeting.
Class Notes
Class Notes
See what's new with 1980s-2020s UW Law classmates.
In Memoriam
Join us in honoring the memory of these UW Law alumni.
The Last Word
Alisha Esselstein ’18
Alisha Esselstein ’18 takes advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. Originally from a rural town of 800, the University of Wisconsin Law School grad has lived on every continent, except Australia and Antarctica.
Why Gargoyle?
In 1963, when the existing Law School was demolished to make way for a new building, Dean George Young found and rescued a sandstone gargoyle from the rubble. This figure and its twin sat on the roof of the 1893 building for almost 70 years.
That rescued gargoyle, which is now permanently installed in the Law School’s atrium, gives its name to this magazine, representing the indomitable strength and spirit of our University of Wisconsin Law School and its many graduates.
