A Different Kind of Lawyer

“As an institution rooted in the belief that a person is created in an image and likeness of God, the Law School takes seriously those aspects of a legal education that touch people most directly. As faculty, we believe that academic development does not occur in a vacuum, and we strive to provide resources that allow students to broaden their social, spiritual, and emotional lives, along with honing their intellectual and professional skills. When we talk about “educating a different kind of lawyer,” our goal is that the “Notre Dame lawyer” should exemplify the legal profession at its best.”
Vincent Rougeau, Associate Professor of Law

“You will know the same law, are charged with maintaining the same ethical standards, and will be entering the same kinds of legal jobs as your peers across the country. But if you can keep in mind that your fundamental purpose in life is not to be a lawyer, but to know, love, and serve God, you truly will be a different kind of lawyer.”
—Excerpt from Amy Barrett’s Professor of the Year Commencement Speech 2006

Read Professor Barrett’s entire speech.

“The law can be a tremendous force for good in this world. It can be used to promote human dignity and build up community. It can be used to denigrate and divide. After today, the power of the law is in your hands, and we are entrusting it to you with the confidence that you will use it to serve the common good rather than selfish interest.”
—Excerpt from Jennifer Mason’s Professor of the Year Commencement Speech 2007