Page 21 - BusinessWest June 12, 2023

the students for on the job,” she explained. “So if you can get them trained up on how to litigate or understand the professional dynamics of practice ... that is what a modern law school not only should strive to do, but is required to do under our accreditation standards.”
Some schools do it better than others, and Western New England has developed a strong reputation in that realm, especially through the creation in 2019 of the WNE School of Law Center for Social Justice, which, through pro bono initiatives, assists marginalized, underserved, BIPOC, low-income, women, LGBTQ+, and immigrant communities.
Harris said she intends to continue and build upon a strong track record of excellence when it comes to the center’s efforts to strengthen collaborative efforts between the law school and the local region to work toward a more just, equitable, and inclusive society.
Harris, who is slated to start at WNE later this summer, although she is onboarding now and meeting with the law school’s leadership team on a weekly basis, takes the helm at a time when enrollment at law schools nationwide is at a crossroads of sorts.
“The number of people who are interested in law school, nationwide, are down in comparison to those pandemic years. But if you compare them to 2019, they’re level, and we’re even a few points ahead when it comes to interest at Western New England.”
There was a period of decline roughly a decade ago, but then a bump that coincided with the pandemic and the wave of social unrest that swept the country, she said, noting that many “felt that going to law school was a way to address issues of systemic inequity that was brought to the forefront.”
By most accounts, that bump is over, she said, adding that there are question marks concerning where the numbers will go in the months and years to come.
Meanwhile, there is evidence of growing need among those in many different sectors for the skills that law-school education can provide, she said, adding that there are master’s degree programs at many law schools that meet that need and have become increasingly popular, and she would like to bring them to WNE (more on that later).
For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest talked at length with Harris about this opportunity she’s seized and how she intends to build on the already-solid foundation at WNE Law.
Case in Point
Harris, a graduate of Washington University School of Law in St. Louis who began her practice as an attorney at the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation in Alton, Ill., brings more than 30 years in law-school education and administration to her new role at Western New England.
She started at the Northwestern University Law School in 1992, where she was a senior lecturer, staff attorney, and adjunct faculty mem- ber. Later, at the University of Arizona and its James E. Rogers School of Law, she served as a clinical professor of Law and director of the Domestic Violence Law Clinic, a multi-disciplinary clinical program. She also co-directed the Child and Family Law Clinic.
At Loyola University Chicago School of Law, she has held numerous positions, but is perhaps most noted for her work overseeing all aspects of the Center for Advocacy, including work in collaboration with others to develop programs and curriculum in the areas of trial and appellate advocacy and alternative dispute resolution, while also overseeing cur- riculum development in both the JD certificate and LLM programs in advocacy.
She served as associate dean of Academic Affairs from 2018 to 2021 and, as noted earlier, served for a year as interim dean, overseeing all aspects of operation for the law school, which at the time had more than 1,200 students (undergraduate and graduate); 150 full-time faculty, staff, and administrators; and a $54 million operating budget.
The position at WNE represents an opportunity to come home, in some respects, said Harris, noting that both she and her husband are from Massachusetts (Newton and Cambridge, respectively) and were
WNE
The Royal Law Firm
is a Woman-Owned Corporate Law Firm Serving the New England states and New York
413.586.2288 www.TheRoyalLawFirm.com
A Certified Women’s Business Enterprise
CERTIFIED WITH THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS:
The Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office
The United States Small Business Administration’s Federal Contracting Program The National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
UPCOMING
Presents
July 10th -Behavioral Health August 7th -Senior Planning Guide September 4th - Healthcare Heroes
DON’T WAIT. RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY!
Kate Campiti | 413.781.8600 x106 | [email protected] Kathleen Plante | 413.781.8600 x108 | [email protected]
Cecille Youmans | 413.781.8600 x112 | [email protected]
Continued on page 50 >>
BusinessWest << EDUCATION >> JUNE 12, 2023 21