Pierce Law Welcomes New Students

Today Pierce Law welcomed its largest JD class ever which, combined with the incoming Graduate Students, brings the number of new students on campus to nearly 200.

Students began Orientation with a continental breakfast and opportunity to meet classmates, upper class student mentors, faculty and staff.  They then adjourned to the Rich Room where they were welcomed to the legal profession by Dean John Hutson and were counseled on the importance of responsibility, discretion, and ethics by The Honorable Carol Ann Conboy (Pierce Law, class of '78), Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Superior Court.

After swearing the Oath of Professionalism, administered by Conboy, students were introduced to one another through a poem written by Katie McDonald, Assistant Dean for Admission:

You are our largest class ever, at 164;
All ages - 21 to 55, with life experiences galore.

You're from 33 states, 121 colleges, 9 countries, and many careers;
You have Master degrees, Ph.D.s, and families; you are regarded highly by your peers.

You are volleyballers, snowboarders and skiers; you sail and you swim;
Play rugby, tennis and golf, and that's just the women.

We have fencers and coaches, marathoners, cyclists, dancers; you play baseball, lacrosse and ice hockey;
You produce TV and radio, make records and there's more than one disc jockey.

You speak many languages; you've immigrated from Iraq and Nepal;
Some of you arrived in this country with nothing at all.

You've worked for Outward Bound and Samsung; you've overcome disabilities galore;
You've studied all over the world; you've been homeless and well cared for.

You are Eagle Scouts and Gold Award Girl Scouts, bartenders and actors;
Bankers and teachers, and farmers with tractors.

There are many musicians among you: violinists, singers and many guitarists, to boot;
You play marimba, piano, drums, vibraphone and the flute.

You are accomplished in life, with academic recognition;
You are engineers and lifeguards, and computer technicians.

You serve mankind well; you've helped homeless, hungry, victims and more;
You've built Habitat Houses, raised funds for good causes; you've been Peace & AmeriCorps.

You are business owners, sky divers, produce films, studied in Greece;
You are firefighters, Army, Navy and local police.

You paint; you ride horses, produce plays and sing;
You are mothers and fathers, composers, journalists and dance swing.

You've visited death's doorstep and recovered with vigor;
You all share the promise to study the next 3 years with rigor!

So, today your marathon begins, though we're far from the Beijing games being played in glory;
But, in 2011, we will join to cheer you again as you finish and claim your victory.

JD students enjoyed the rest of the day being introduced to faculty and first year programs, eating lunch with faculty advisors, and meeting staff from key areas such as Student Financial Services, IT and the office of the Registrar.

A welcome party sponsored by the Student Bar Association capped the first 14 hours of the 33-month journey to the Juris Doctor degree.