{"id":98311,"date":"2023-02-08T08:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T13:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=98311"},"modified":"2023-05-17T08:48:52","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T12:48:52","slug":"remembering-robert-volk","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2023\/remembering-robert-volk\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering Robert Volk"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin record-block-editorial-leadin is-style-text-over-image has-media has-box has-media-focus-right-middle has-text-position-x-left has-text-position-y-bottom 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=\"2100\" height=\"1600\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"Professor Robert Volk sits in a red chair with the BU School of Theology in the background\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero.jpg 2100w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-636x485.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-1024x780.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-768x585.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-1536x1170.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-2048x1560.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-1084x826.jpg 1084w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-895x682.jpg 895w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-1355x1032.jpg 1355w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-1734x1321.jpg 1734w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-452x344.jpg 452w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-694x529.jpg 694w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-903x688.jpg 903w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-1389x1058.jpg 1389w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-1790x1364.jpg 1790w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/02\/robert-volk-hero-1313x1000.jpg 1313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2100px) 100vw, 2100px\" \/>\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\">Photo by Josh Andrus for Boston University Photography<\/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\">In Memoriam<\/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\tRemembering Robert Volk\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\">The director of Lawyering and Advocacy Programs served the BU Law community from 1982 to 2023.<\/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 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\">February 8, 2023<\/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<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<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-introparagraph record-block-editorial-introparagraph is-style-dropcap-outlined has-dropcap has-dropcap-color-primary\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-introparagraph-content\"><p>Robert Volk (\u201978), who taught legal writing and led <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/about\/offices\/legal-writing-appellate-advocacy-programs\/legal-writing-appellate-advocacy-programs\/\">Lawyering and Advocacy Programs<\/a> for more than 40 years, has passed away following a short but difficult treatment for cancer. A steadfast teacher and mentor, his guidance helped countless numbers of BU Law students develop the research, writing, and advocacy skills that are foundational to the practice of law. Perhaps more importantly, as a first-generation high school graduate and a gay man, he showed law students that there is a place for everyone in the law.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRobert loved teaching and loved being an integral part of every first-year student\u2019s experience,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/profile\/jennifer-taylor-mccloskey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jennifer Taylor McCloskey<\/a> (\u201905), director of advocacy programs, who began working with Professor Volk in 2008. \u201cIt was important to him that his role could provide some measure of assurance to first-year students that it is okay to be who you are and be a lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more than 40 years, Volk served the Boston University community with dedication and his signature sense of humor. As director of Lawyering and Advocacy Programs, formerly the First Year Writing Program, Volk oversaw its development from a team of 25 to 30 adjunct faculty who taught legal writing once a week to a robust Lawyering Program, launched in fall 2017, with seven full-time faculty members with more course time to teach legal research and writing, client interviewing, oral advocacy, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McCloskey emphasized Volk\u2019s gift for finding outstanding teachers for the Lawyering and Advocacy Programs through the years. \u201cHe would get a lot of applicants, and Robert would interview every single person himself. He understood that it\u2019s not enough to have experience being a lawyer. These are first-year law students, and they are going to struggle and need support. Finding people who could guide these law students was more important than what their resume said. It was about who was going to be a good teacher, and he was able to see that in people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bu-pullquote record-block-bu-pullquote alignwide is-style-modern has-image-focus-center-middle has-primary-theme\"><div class=\"wp-block-bu-pullquote-inner\"><blockquote><div class=\"container-lockup\"><div class=\"container-icon-outer\"><div class=\"container-icon-inner\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"container-text\"><hr\/><div class=\"quote-sizing\">He taught me that you can use your sense of humor to connect with students and ease their anxiety. The way he carried himself in the classroom and commanded respect while still being accessible is something I have tried to live up to in my own classroom.<\/div><footer class=\"caption\">Beth McCormack, interim dean at Vermont Law School<\/footer><hr\/><\/div><\/div><\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button wp-block-bu-button record-block-button has-primary-theme icon-navigateright align-icon-left is-style-outline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dignitymemorial.com\/obituaries\/brookline-ma\/robert-volk-11140870\/\">Read or Share Memories of Professor Volk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to teaching courses on legal writing and LGBTQ+ rights, he was the longtime chair of the Faculty Admissions Committee and faculty advisor to OutLaw, the school\u2019s LGBTQIA+ student group. He served as the School of Law\u2019s representative to the University-wide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/fafc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Faculty Council<\/a> for more than 20 years; more recently, he served on the University\u2019s LGBTQIA+ Task Force, and played a central role in the creation and development of the new LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty and Staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond his work at BU, Professor Volk was a Brookline Town Meeting Member and served on the Town\u2019s Advisory Committee. He tutored in Boston Public Schools, served as a Big Brother, and volunteered for the AIDS Action Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe entire BU community mourns the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Robert Volk,\u201d Boston University Provost and Chief Academic Officer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/provost\/about\/about-provost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jean Morrison<\/a> says. \u201cRobert was the definition of collegiality\u2014a scholar\u2019s scholar whose professionalism, deep institutional knowledge, and genial nature made him an absolute delight to work with. There never seemed to be enough hours in the day for all the classroom time, committee work, and important causes to which Robert devoted himself. All with the same intense thoughtfulness and generosity of spirit. And an incomparable dry wit. Robert&#8217;s dedication to the law school and his faculty colleagues and his incredible talent as both a teacher and practitioner of legal writing live on across our institution and in the scores of students who benefited throughout the decades from his mentorship and example.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRobert was funny, quick witted, frank, and never minced words,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/provost\/people\/deans-and-senior-administration\/maureen-orourke\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maureen O\u2019Rourke<\/a>, associate provost for faculty affairs and dean emerita of BU Law. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the best administrators I\u2019ve ever met, and was so generous with his time, both to the law school and the University. He was part of the heart and soul of BU Law. It\u2019s hard to imagine the school without him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vermontlaw.edu\/directory\/person\/mccormack-beth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Beth McCormack<\/a> (\u201901), professor of law and interim dean at Vermont Law School, remembers Professor Volk speaking at her orientation. Over her law school career, she took his advanced legal writing course and his seminar on sexual orientation and the law. \u201cHe taught me that you can use your sense of humor to connect with students and ease their anxiety,\u201d she says. \u201cThe way he carried himself in the classroom and commanded respect while still being accessible is something I have tried to live up to in my own classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Volk graduated from Boston University School of Law in 1978 and began his career in the corporate department of Widett, Slater &amp; Goldman in Boston. He was editor-in-chief of the <em>Annual Review of Banking Law<\/em> from 1980 to 1983 and served as associate director of the Morin Center for Banking Law. In that role, he helped develop the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/academics\/find-degrees-and-programs\/masters-llm-programs\/banking-financial-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LLM in Banking &amp; Financial Law<\/a>, one of the first of such programs in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While he didn\u2019t participate in the voluntary, upper-class moot court programs while in law school, he recognized their value and potential. When former dean <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2017\/bu-school-of-law-remembers-dean-william-schwartz\/\" target=\"_blank\">William Schwartz<\/a> (\u201955) asked him to lead the writing program in 1982, he accepted on the condition that the school would hire a full-time administrator to support the moot court programs. Dean Schwartz agreed, and Volk shepherded the program until fall 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRobert\u2019s love for BU Law and BU was extraordinary, as was his commitment to the University and its excellence and thriving,\u201d says Dean <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/profile\/angela-onwuachi-willig\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Angela Onwuachi-Willig<\/a>. \u201cWith his passing, we mourn the loss of not only a beloved professor and colleague, but also a cherished friend to many. As a community, we miss him dearly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-end-of-article\">Last year, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/paul-l-robinson-53b5085\/\" target=\"_blank\">Paul Robinson<\/a> (\u201992) established the Robert Volk (\u201978) Lawyering Program Fund to honor Professor Volk\u2019s many years of service to the school. The fund provides support for Lawyering Program, including a lecture series. The inaugural Professor Robert Volk Lecture was held on Tuesday, February 7, featuring Jeena Cho, author of <em>The Anxious Lawyer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a class=\"wp-block-button wp-block-bu-button record-block-button has-primary-theme icon-navigateright align-icon-left is-style-outline\" href=\"https:\/\/trusted.bu.edu\/s\/1759\/2-bu\/giving\/interior.aspx?sid=1759&amp;gid=2&amp;pgid=420&amp;cid=1057&amp;dids=1211&amp;bledit=1&amp;appealcode=WEBLAW\">Make a gift in Professor volk&#8217;s honor<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Robert Volk (\u201978), who taught legal writing and led Lawyering and Advocacy Programs for more than 40 years, has passed away following a short but difficult treatment for cancer. A steadfast teacher and mentor, his guidance helped countless numbers of BU Law students develop the research, writing, and advocacy skills that are foundational to the practice of law. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11260,"featured_media":98314,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"In Memoriam","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"tags":[3863],"bu-publication":[3742],"record-article-category":[3744,3746,3751,4135,3786],"record-topic":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/98311"}],"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=98311"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/98311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100824,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/98311\/revisions\/100824"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98311"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=98311"},{"taxonomy":"record-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/record-article-category?post=98311"},{"taxonomy":"record-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/record-topic?post=98311"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=98311"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=98311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}