{"id":94776,"date":"2022-09-21T09:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T13:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=94776"},"modified":"2022-09-28T09:01:53","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T13:01:53","slug":"in-service-of-law","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2022\/in-service-of-law\/","title":{"rendered":"In Service of LAW"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin record-block-editorial-leadin is-style-side-by-side has-media has-wider has-box has-media-focus-center-middle has-light-theme\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1600\" height=\"2000\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"An illustration of three hands nested in one another holding up a thought bubble\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-509x636.jpg 509w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-661x826.jpg 661w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-546x682.jpg 546w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-826x1032.jpg 826w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-1057x1321.jpg 1057w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-275x344.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-423x529.jpg 423w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-550x688.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-846x1058.jpg 846w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-1091x1364.jpg 1091w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-1322x1652.jpg 1322w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/LAW150-Service-to-School-800x1000.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Illustration by The Project Twins<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-prepress-tag\">LAW150<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn Service of LAW\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"deck\">Four alumni who have contributed to the life of BU Law in immeasurable ways.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar js-block-editorial-metabar record-prepress-layout-metabar\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">September 21, 2022<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/authors\/lauren-eckenroth\/\">Lauren Eckenroth<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p>Since its founding in 1872, Boston University School of Law has taken considerable pride in its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. It was with our community in mind that we set out to create <em>150\/150: People, Places, Precedents<\/em>, a commemorative book featuring 150 profiles of people, places, and events that have shaped the school and the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/about\/150th-anniversary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the school\u2019s anniversary year<\/a>, <em>The Record<\/em> will publish a selection of the profiles that appear in the book. We present here four people who have contributed to the life of the law school in immeasurable ways. Through their vision, generosity, and support, these leaders have inspired and imagined new opportunities for our community of teachers, scholars, and learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details record-block-editorial-event-details has-end-date has-location-icon\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Event\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-title\"><\/h3><article class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-article\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-more-info\"><h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-event-title\" itemprop=\"name\">150th Anniversary Gala<\/h4><p class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-description\" itemprop=\"description\">Celebrate BU Law&#8217;s 150-year legacy with students, faculty, alumni, and friends.<br><br>Featuring noted sociopolitical comedian and filmmaker W. Kamau Bell as guest speaker and CBS legal analyst Rikki Klieman (\u201975) as emcee.<br><br><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/engagements\/150th-anniversary-gala\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Learn more and register<\/em><\/a><\/p><p class=\"button wp-block-editorial-event-details-calendar-link js-block-editorial-event-details-add-to-calendar\"><\/p><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-date-location\"><time class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-date\" itemprop=\"startDate\" content=\"2022-10-01T17:30:00-04:00\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-month\">October<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-day\">1<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-time\">5:30 PM<\/span><\/time><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-date-span\">to<\/span><time class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-date\" itemprop=\"endDate\" content=\"2022-10-01T23:00:00-04:00\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-month\">October<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-day\">1<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-event-details-time\">11:00 PM<\/span><\/time><\/div><\/article><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-primary-background-color has-primary-color is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"headline-1\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-headline record-block-editorial-headline is-style-emphasis-color\">Robert Burdick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Robert Burdick\" class=\"wp-image-94779\" width=\"410\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-509x636.jpg 509w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-1228x1536.jpg 1228w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-661x826.jpg 661w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-545x682.jpg 545w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-825x1032.jpg 825w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-1056x1321.jpg 1056w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-275x344.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-423x529.jpg 423w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-550x688.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-846x1058.jpg 846w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-1091x1364.jpg 1091w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-1321x1652.jpg 1321w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-1651x2064.jpg 1651w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-800x1000.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Burdick-Robert-scaled.jpg 2047w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 410px) 100vw, 410px\" \/><figcaption>Photo by Josh Andrus<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Clinical Professor Robert Burdick (\u201972) devoted his life and career to improving the rights of marginalized people throughout Greater Boston. As a BU Law student, Burdick dedicated many of his waking hours to serving clients of the Legal Aid Program. The program, which opened in a Jamaica Plain storefront in 1969, was founded to help impoverished, mentally ill, and disabled people avoid eviction, obtain disability benefits, and keep their families safe from violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After receiving his degree, Burdick worked for several years at Greater Boston Legal Services, but returned to BU Law to serve as a clinical instructor and acting program director. In 1979, he was named permanent director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Burdick at the helm, the program\u2014known today as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/experiential-learning\/clinics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Civil Litigation &amp; Justice Program<\/a>\u2014grew from a single supervising attorney to five attorneys mentoring more than 30 students annually. Since joining forces with Greater Boston Legal Services in 1981, the program has provided services to more than 2,800 clients. \u201cThe value of this program is that it\u2019s real,\u201d Burdick told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2020\/celebrating-50-years-with-the-civil-litigation-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The Record<\/em> in 2020<\/a>. \u201cHaving that type of professional responsibility is transformative\u2014it certainly was for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Burdick also argued several civil law cases involving antidiscrimination, tenants\u2019 rights, and insurance company claims settlement practices during his career. One of the landmark cases, <em>Rogers v. Commissioner of Department of Mental Health<\/em>, established the right of committed mental health patients to refuse antipsychotic medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nancy Shilepsky (\u201978), one of the students who worked on the <em>Rogers<\/em> case, says Burdick\u2019s mentorship shaped her ethics. \u201cWhat I learned from Bob was that there is nothing more important than my obligation to protect and advocate for my client,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Burdick\u2019s work undoubtedly changed the lives of thousands of people\u2014students, colleagues, and clients\u2014over the years. His contributions, including his tenure on the JD admissions committee and support for numerous initiatives for alumni, were recognized with Dean\u2019s Awards for both outstanding service and teaching, and with the Pro Bono &amp; Public Service Faculty Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Burdick passed away in June 2020, Professor David Seipp, who served with Burdick on the admissions committee, remembered his \u201ccompassionate concern for every applicant and his particular advocacy for applicants who had volunteered for public interest and access to justice projects. He was a humble, quiet giant among us,\u201d Seipp said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"headline-2\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-headline record-block-editorial-headline is-style-emphasis-color\">Margaret der Hagopian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Margaret der Hagopian\" class=\"wp-image-94780\" width=\"410\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-509x636.jpg 509w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-661x826.jpg 661w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-546x682.jpg 546w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-826x1032.jpg 826w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-1057x1321.jpg 1057w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-275x344.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-423x529.jpg 423w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-550x688.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-846x1058.jpg 846w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-1091x1364.jpg 1091w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-1322x1652.jpg 1322w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo-800x1000.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Hagopian-Margo.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 410px) 100vw, 410px\" \/><figcaption>Photo courtesy of Boston University School of Law<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret der Hagopian played an integral part in the day-to-day operations at BU Law for nearly 60 years\u2014so much so that incoming students sometimes believed that she ran the school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Der Hagopian, known to everyone as \u201cMargo,\u201d was the daughter of Armenian immigrants, and earned an associate\u2019s degree in commercial science from BU College of Practical Arts and Letters in 1947. That same year, she began working at BU Law as secretary to faculty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the next six decades, der Hagopian contributed tirelessly to the growth and transformation of BU Law. She served under nine deans, helped the school move from 11 Ashburton Place to 765 Commonwealth Avenue, and witnessed the administrative staff and operations of the law school grow enormously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amid all that growth, der Hagopian took on more and more responsibility. By 1983, she had administrative responsibility for the operational budget, personnel and payroll, faculty appointments, accreditation reports, and countless other duties. \u201cShe was essentially a one-woman administration,\u201d recalled Professor Seipp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1991, der Hagopian took on the enormous task of cataloging the history of BU Law dating back to the school\u2019s founding. Her years of painstaking research led her to photos, documents, and other archives\u2014some of which were thought lost forever\u2014including an old property law exam and a photo of the Class of 1900. The fruit of her labor was the \u201cHistory of Boston University School of Law,\u201d a two-volume work that was never formally published, yet became an invaluable source for the school\u2014and for producing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/about\/150th-anniversary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">forthcoming anniversary book<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She was honored more than once for her contributions to the school. She was the first recipient of the Student Bar Award in recognition of her service to the student body. She also received the John S. Perkins Distinguished Service Award and the Silver Shingle Award, the highest honor given by the school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1997, the school\u2019s 125th anniversary celebration was held in der Hagopian\u2019s honor. At the event, Robert Kent (\u201949), a former student who served on the BU Law faculty for 31 years, remarked on her immeasurable contributions. \u201cIt is often said that no person is indispensable,\u201d he said. \u201cMaybe so, but this woman came close.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Der Hagopian retired in 2006, yet she remained active with the school. When she passed away in 2009, Dean Emerita Maureen O\u2019Rourke remembered a woman who was like no other. \u201cShe nurtured and supported our law students and alumni for more than half a century,\u201d O\u2019Rourke said. \u201cFew people have been as dedicated to the school and as loved by faculty, staff, students, and alumni.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"headline-3\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-headline record-block-editorial-headline is-style-emphasis-color\">Robin Walker &amp; Jamie Whitney<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Robin Walker\" data-id=\"94777\" data-full-url=\"\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/?attachment_id=94777\" class=\"wp-image-94777\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-509x636.jpg 509w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-1639x2048.jpg 1639w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-661x826.jpg 661w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-546x682.jpg 546w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-826x1032.jpg 826w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-1057x1321.jpg 1057w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-275x344.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-423x529.jpg 423w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-550x688.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-846x1058.jpg 846w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-1091x1364.jpg 1091w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-1322x1652.jpg 1322w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-1651x2064.jpg 1651w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-800x1000.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Walker-Robin-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Jamie Whitney\" data-id=\"94782\" data-full-url=\"\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/?attachment_id=94782\" class=\"wp-image-94782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-509x636.jpg 509w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-661x826.jpg 661w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-546x682.jpg 546w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-826x1032.jpg 826w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-1057x1321.jpg 1057w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-275x344.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-423x529.jpg 423w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-550x688.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-846x1058.jpg 846w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-1091x1364.jpg 1091w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-1322x1652.jpg 1322w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-1651x2064.jpg 1651w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1-800x1000.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2022\/09\/Whitney-Jamie-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-dark-color is-style-caption\">Photos by Mike Ritter and Kent Dayton<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A 2020 study by the American Bar Association found that while the number of lawyers who are people of color rose slightly over the past decade, only 4.7 percent of lawyers in the United States were African American (despite accounting for 12.4 percent of the US population). Another report from the National Association for Law Placement revealed a much larger dilemma closer to home: in 2020, less than a single percent of partners in Boston\u2019s prestigious law firms were Black.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These numbers don\u2019t look good, says BU Law alum Robin Walker (\u201999). \u201cThere are not enough minority lawyers in Boston and the trend is going the other way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2018, Walker, along with alum Jamie Whitney (\u201994) and Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig, founded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/2019\/09\/25\/in-real-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">In Real Law (IRL)<\/a>, a program that provides underrepresented students with the opportunity to talk face-to-face with successful Boston attorneys from a variety of practice areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walker, who serves as chief legal officer at Goldfinch Bio, says the program is helping level the playing field for future lawyers from underrepresented communities. \u201cStudents from well-educated families often feel confident in asserting themselves and asking for help, but many minorities lack the confidence to do this,\u201d Walker noted. \u201cThey don\u2019t expect successful people to be willing to take the time to talk to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each year, IRL hosts events that provide a platform for law students and attorneys to discuss the real-life challenges that first-generation lawyers and people of color face in the legal profession. Past events have featured discussions about interviewing, networking, and building confidence as a lawyer. \u201cThese are among our highest-rated student events,\u201d said Nick Horan, associate director for academic enrichment at BU Law. \u201cThe students love them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walker, along with Whitney, a senior vice president at State Street Corporation, points out that the program fills a critical niche since students of color are less likely to interact with mentors with similar backgrounds and life experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-end-of-article\">In 2020, IRL expanded to include students from BU, Boston College, and Northeastern University\u2014and there are plans to add more schools in the years to come. \u201cWe are helping people who made it in the profession reach back and help these students build a network,\u201d said Walker. \u201cThis is one of the ways to make real progress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-collection-billboard record-block-editorial-collection-billboard\">\n\n\t\t<h3 class=\"collection-billboard-intro-title\">This Series<\/h3>\n\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-article\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"collection-billboard-media\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"collection-navigation-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"890\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-1024x890.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"An illustration of a vintage megaphone splitting the US Capitol building in half against a red background\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-1024x890.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-636x553.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-768x668.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-1536x1336.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-2048x1781.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-950x826.jpg 950w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-784x682.jpg 784w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-1187x1032.jpg 1187w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-1519x1321.jpg 1519w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-396x344.jpg 396w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-608x529.jpg 608w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-791x688.jpg 791w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-1217x1058.jpg 1217w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-1569x1364.jpg 1569w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-1900x1652.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/07\/Politics-illustration-landscape-1150x1000.jpg 1150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"collection-billboard-media-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2023\/alumni-politicians\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-billboard-media-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>The Politicians<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"collection-billboard-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-small-title\">Also in<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"collection-billboard-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/collections\/law150\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-billboard-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>LAW150<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"collection-billboard-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"collection-billboard-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-date\">June 7, 2023<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2023\/models-for-modern-law\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-card-article-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Models for Modern Law<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"collection-billboard-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-date\">May 23, 2023<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2023\/law-memories\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-card-article-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>LAW Memories<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"collection-billboard-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-date\">May 16, 2023<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2023\/the-150th-vladimir-egiyan\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-card-article-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>The 150th: Vladimir Egiyan<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/collections\/law150\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-billboard-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>Series home<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/article>\n\n\t<\/section>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since its founding in 1872, Boston University School of Law has taken considerable pride in its faculty, staff, students, and alumni.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11260,"featured_media":94800,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"LAW150","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"tags":[4137],"bu-publication":[3742],"record-article-category":[3744,3749,3751,4135,3786],"record-topic":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/94776"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11260"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94776"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/94776\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95403,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/94776\/revisions\/95403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94776"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=94776"},{"taxonomy":"record-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/record-article-category?post=94776"},{"taxonomy":"record-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/record-topic?post=94776"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=94776"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=94776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}