Law
Law student powers through COVID-19, February winter storm, to finish strong
Rising second-year J.D. student Michael Tucker, from San Antonio, was halfway through his 47-page brief in the Spring 2021 semester at the St. Mary’s University School of Law when he caught COVID-19 and was out of commission for nearly two weeks.
Recent graduate honed legal writing skills at St. Mary’s Law
For most of her undergraduate career, Rebecca Fuller (J.D. ’21) thought she wanted to go into the medical field. It wasn’t until one of her professors called her into his office and asked her to consider pursuing at least a minor in writing that she realized she had a talent for it.
Graduating J.D. student works toward expanding rights of sexual violence survivors
In March 2020, Senate Bill 146 was signed into law in Indiana. The legislation expanded the rights of sexual violence survivors to receive trauma-informed care.
Health care professional overcomes personal obstacles to graduate law degree
In 2016, Becky Keller’s (M.Jur. ’19) husband was diagnosed with cancer. A mother of two, Keller was about to begin her graduate studies when this news hit. Though she was unsure how to balance everything occurring in her personal life, she knew what she needed to do next.
Military veteran continues to serve community through pro bono work
Third-year J.D. student and decorated U.S. Army veteran Tanya Burke zipped through the pro bono hour requirement for graduation in her first semester at the St. Mary’s University School of Law.
New dean to build on spirit of service at St. Mary’s Law
The mark of a great law school to Patricia Roberts, J.D., is weaving values of service into the educational mission, while training skilled, competent lawyers — both ethical and formed in faith.
Pivoting with excellence: St. Mary’s Law adapts in response to pandemic
This year, the St. Mary’s University School of Law community joined together as never before to meet the needs of its student body and the San Antonio region.
Pivoting with excellence: Law students and alumni unite to provide remote services to health care workers
Several St. Mary's Law students and alumni joined an effort by the San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA) to draft wills for health care workers battling COVID-19 on the frontlines in San Antonio this summer.
Pivoting with excellence: Law associate dean hones sense of gratitude through online transition
This fall, Ramona L. Lampley, J.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, kept students engaged through a hybrid of synchronous and asynchronous components, coupled with multiple assessments and a flipped classroom model.
Pivoting with excellence: Law assistant dean forges new digital connections
In some ways, going virtual has made it easier for the Office for Law Student Affairs to meet with students, said Alan K. Haynes, J.D., Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs. Setting up meetings with students before could be difficult, especially if they lived outside San Antonio. Even if it’s just a conversation, Haynes will use Zoom instead of the phone to talk to the student.
Pivoting with excellence: Law externship director helps prep students for virtual practice
Hustling to move the law school’s Externship Program online by summer, Amanda Rivas (J.D. ’09), Director of Externships, said her main focus was on supporting externship supervisors and externs as they switched to remote working environments, ensuring that students would continue to receive challenging work and feedback.
Pivoting with excellence: Law associate dean brings legal topics into focus through online instruction
Even before COVID-19 hit, Colin P. Marks, J.D., Associate Dean for Graduate and Summer Programs and Ernest W. Clemens Professor of Law, was certified to teach classes online. So, when he pivoted his approach mid-semester last spring, his students continued to learn through short video lectures with quizzes and a once-a-week Zoom session to discuss learning objectives and questions.
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St. Mary’s alumnus uses military position to mentor others
Joseph Puntoriero sat in a military base in Lebanon with shaky Wi-Fi just hoping it would hold long enough to submit his final assignment. Ultimately, the International Relations degree aided his journey to become a military mentor to future leaders.
Construction Management offers strong support
Coming to St. Mary’s University, Eduardo “Ed” Lopez (B.S. ’22, M.S. ’23) wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps in construction. During his studies, he took courses learning about the management side of construction management, an area of study he had not previously considered.
Honoring our legacy, shaping our future
This summer, St. Mary’s University will celebrate its 172nd anniversary. It is deeply moving and inspiring to reflect on the hopes and aspirations the Marianist brothers must have had as they helped boldly lay the first stones of St. Louis Hall in the late 1800s.