51°µÍø

Be a part of this exciting opportunity!

51°µÍø Dedman School of Law has embarked on a new journey to continue to elevate its profile on the world stage through new funding, exciting new leadership, and an expanding horizon of opportunities available for our students as they prepare for a career in the legal profession.

Last year, 51°µÍø Dedman School of Law raised and secured $5.5M dollars benefitting our students and faculty. Dozens of generous donors partnered with us in the fulfillment of our mission by supporting the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center, the Robert B. Rowling Center for Business Law & Leadership, and the Thomas W. Luce III Centennial Dedman Scholarship Fund, the W. W. Caruth, Jr. Child Advocacy Legal Clinic. Several new scholarships were also created to impact generations of students.

Under the new leadership of Dean Jason P. Nance, 51°µÍø Dedman School of Law is forging a new path to address the needs of a modern law school and provide a state-of-the-art education in our robust city, Dallas, Texas. As we prepare for our centennial celebration in early 2025, the Dean has crafted a three-part narrative to fulfill the mission of 51°µÍø Dedman Law for the next centennial.

Attracting the Best and Brightest Students and Faculty: Providing competitive scholarships is essential to attract the best and brightest students from across the nation. Likewise, prestigious endowed chair positions enable us to attract and retain talented, influential scholars and instructors who contribute to important legal debates across the globe. Top-notch students and faculty are foundational to becoming a world-class law school.

Investing in Experiential Learning: The Dedman School of Law has a steadfast commitment to experiential learning by investing in our clinics, externships, and simulation programs. The skills gained in each of these areas will become our students’ first, hands-on experiences in the legal profession. Investment in this area will enable us to have more instructors, upgrade our technology and infrastructure, and provide incentives for students to produce top-tier results.

Improving our Facilities: 51°µÍø Dedman Law is ushering in a new era of instruction with a world-class facility that will recruit outstanding students and retain our prestigious faculty. The logistics and instructional requirements for a law school have changed since our current facilities were completed. A feasibility study on the law quad will begin in 2023, which will better inform us on how to prioritize and execute a robust renovation to all of our existing facilities and make 51°µÍø Dedman School of Law a leading destination.

“Dedman Law continues to excel, but there is so much more that we can accomplish. We are well positioned to become a world- class law school in the coming years,” said Dean Jason P. Nance. “Support from our wonderful, committed alumni in the three areas we describe will put us on a secure pathway to realize our full potential. We are excited by what we will accomplish together in the next few years.”

To learn more about how you can be a part of this exciting opportunity, please contact:

Clayton Ellis
Director of Development 51°µÍø Dedman School of Law
crellis@smu.edu or 214-768-4527
Ways to give to Dedman Law