Notre Dame Law Association

Membership

The Notre Dame Law Association (NDLA) is an organization of over 8,000 Notre Dame Lawyers throughout the world. Membership is free, and open to individuals who belong in any of the following categories:

  • graduates of the Notre Dame Law School;
  • graduates of the University of Notre Dame who have graduated from or are faculty members of a law school other than the Notre Dame Law School, upon notification to the Law School External Relations Office;
  • faculty of the Notre Dame Law School;
  • members of the Law School Advisory Council; or
  • persons with a demonstrated interest in the Notre Dame Law School, at the discretion of the Dean or by majority vote of the NDLA board of directors.

Benefits of membership include:

  • regular mailings from the Law School including Notre Dame Lawyer magazine, the alumni magazine of the Notre Dame Law School, published two times each year by the Law School External Relations Office; and
  • invitations to all NDLA events.

To inquire about membership, please contact the Law School External Relations Office at (574) 631-6891 or lawalum@nd.edu.

Meet the NDLA Board of Directors

Mission

The mission of the NDLA is to further the mission of the Notre Dame Law School through the following activities:

  • advising the Dean and such members of the faculty and administration as the Dean may designate in matters respecting the students, curriculum, finances, programs, facilities, resources, capabilities, strategic planning, management and operations of the Law School, and such other areas as the Dean may specify in requesting
    assistance of the NDLA;
  • recruiting, advising and promoting the candidacies of excellent students for the Law School;
  • mentoring, advising and promoting students and graduates of the Law School in their efforts to secure employment opportunities;
  • conducting such activities and programs as are designed to promote or contribute toward the mutual support of NDLA members;
  • fostering a spirit of solidarity, friendship and dedication among NDLA members and friends of the University of Notre Dame and the Law School;
  • encouraging perpetuation of the ideals that all students are taught to uphold and value while attending classes at the Law School;
  • sponsoring, directing and participating in such charitable, educational, religious, social, athletic and other activities as may advance the interests of the NDLA and its members or the interest of the University of Notre Dame as determined by the board of directors of the NDLA and the Dean;
  • raising funds and soliciting contributions to the University of Notre Dame for use by the Law School;
  • recognizing and publicizing the talents and professional contributions of members of the NDLA in serving their profession and communities in ways that serve as examples of the fulfillment of the mission of the Law School; and
  • establishing fellowships, scholarship funds and such other programs as may assist worthy and needy students and prospective students to make it possible for them to attend and complete their course of study at the Law School.

Click here to view the By-Laws

Activities

Calendar
April 25, 2008: NDLA spring board meeting
May 30-June 1, 2008: Reunion

Elections
To nominate yourself or someone you know, please contact the Law School External Relations Office at (574) 631-6891 or lawalum@nd.edu.

Alumni Awards

NOTRE DAME LAW ASSOCIATION AWARDS
Introduction

The Notre Dame Law Association Board has adopted an awards program to honor outstanding Notre Dame Lawyers. The awards include the following:

Edward Murphy Award
Awarded to Notre Dame Lawyers who have distinguished themselves in the profession of law, exhibited the highest professional competence and compassion and are guided by the high moral and religious values that Notre Dame represents.

Guidelines:

1. This award is named after Professor Edward Murphy, a popular and respected teacher at Notre Dame Law School who practiced his Catholic faith daily.

2. The awardee preferably would be an outstanding lawyer or judge who has distinguished himself or herself in the law profession.

3. This person would be someone who has devoted service to his or her church and has a reputation for being ethical, professional and faithful to moral and religious values.


William Lewers Award
Awarded to Notre Dame Lawyers who have made outstanding contributions in the area of civil and human rights, social justice, or pro bono legal services.

Guidelines:

1. This award is named for Fr. William Lewers, a longtime and outstanding faculty member of the Notre Dame Law School who also directed the Center for Civil and Human Rights of the Notre Dame Law School.

2. The awardee would be a person who has devoted outstanding service in the area of civil and human rights, who has worked for social justice or who has provided substantial pro bono legal representation.


Michael McCafferty Award
Awarded to Notre Dame Lawyers or NDLS faculty members or administrators who have rendered distinguished service to the University of Notre Dame.

Guidelines:

1. This award is named for Fr. Michael McCafferty, a popular teacher at Notre Dame Law School whose life was shortened by cancer.

2. NDLS graduates, faculty members or administrators would be eligible for this award.

3. The awardee would be someone who has devoted outstanding and special service to the University of Notre Dame. It could be someone who has expended substantial time and effort as part of alumni association activities, or someone who has raised substantial funds for the University, or someone who has been an outstanding faculty member or administrator or at the law school.


Thomas More Award
Awarded to Notre Dame Lawyers who have distinguished themselves as outstanding lawyers, jurists or public servants, while exhibiting uncompromising integrity and loyalty to conscience.

Guidelines:

1. This award is named for St. Thomas More who has been the model for Catholic lawyers for centuries. Thomas More was chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VIII and followed the principle: Do what is right, cost what it may.

2. Awardees would be Notre Dame Lawyers who are or have been practicing lawyers, judges, or in public service, including lawyers working in local, state or national government positions or serving as elected representatives.


St. Yves Award
Awarded to Notre Dame Lawyers who have devoted a generous amount of pro-bono time or financial support for law-related service projects.

Guidelines:

1. This award is named after St. Yves and is intended to create awareness and support for public interest law.

2. Awarded to Notre Dame Lawyers who have devoted substantial time and effort in the practice or support of social justice law. Examples of social justice law are: the private practitioner or corporate counsel who encourages a client to act responsibly or who volunteers professional services outside the scope of paid practice; the government employee who ensures that a public agency acts with the requisite concern for the public good; the legislator or legislative staff member who drafts and works to enact just laws; the judicial clerk, prosecutor or public defender who works to ensure justice for all parties involved in criminal actions or civil disputes. The term also includes those who provide financial support for such efforts.


Selection Process

The above awards will be awarded no more frequently than annually, and there is no requirement to give each award annually.

The proposed selection process will be as follows:

(a) The Awards Committee will receive nominees from any board member, any member of the law school faculty or administration, any law school Advisory Board member or any Notre Dame Lawyers.

(b) The Awards Committee will review the nominations and make recommendations to the Board at its spring and fall meetings. The Notre Dame Law Association Board by majority vote will determine the awardees.

(c) The awardees will be invited to the University at either the spring and/or fall meetings to receive the awards.