NAPLES, Fla., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Board of Governors
of Ave Maria School of Law (AMSOL) has voted to move the law school from
its current location in Ann Arbor, Mich., to the town of Ave Maria, Fla.,
located between Naples and Immokalee. The school will open on a site in the
new Collier County town of Ave Maria, in the fall of 2009.
After almost five years of discussions and research about the
feasibility of relocating, the Board of Governors determined that moving to
Ave Maria, Fla., will give the Law School its best opportunity to thrive
and continue fulfilling its unique mission of educating outstanding lawyers
in the context of the Catholic intellectual tradition. The Board also noted
its first step is to begin the process of securing the acquiescence of the
American Bar Association (ABA) for the move.
"In roughly seven years in Michigan, Ave Maria has become a
tremendously successful law school, achieving full ABA accreditation in the
shortest time possible and graduating lawyers who are setting a very high
standard in terms of bar exam passage rates and job placement," said
Bernard Dobranski, Ave Maria School of Law President and Dean. "The Board
believes significant future success will be found in Southwest Florida
where the Law School will be co-located with a new and vibrant Catholic
university in one of the fastest growing regions in the country. This will
allow the Law School the unparalleled opportunity to accelerate its efforts
to become a premier educational institution, integrating strong legal
fundamentals with a deep understanding of the Catholic faith and
intellectual tradition."
Since its inception, the Law School has sought to provide a rigorous
legal education characterized by a commitment to justice, academic
excellence, and the highest ethical and moral standards, in the context of
the Catholic intellectual tradition. Inspired by Pope John Paul II's
encyclical Fides et Ratio, Ave Maria offers an education characterized by
the harmony of faith and reason. In its seven year existence, Ave Maria has
enrolled students from 49 states and abroad, and from more than 200
colleges and universities. In 2005, the Law School received full
accreditation by the American Bar Association.
Ave Maria School of Law was founded in 1999 through the vision and
generous financial backing of Thomas S. Monaghan, Ave Maria School of Law
Chairman of the Board, and founder of Domino's Pizza. "I am extremely
pleased that the Law School plans to move its campus to Ave Maria, Fla.,"
said Monaghan. "The Law School has achieved much success in Michigan and I
believe it will achieve even more in its new location. What makes our
school unique is its mission. It is different from any other law school. It
is more than having a national and international reach. It is more than
providing the finest in legal education. It is about serving the common
good and serving our Lord." Although not affiliated with Ave Maria
University, it is anticipated that the law school will enjoy mutually
beneficial relationships with the University and the new town of Ave Maria.
With its planned relocation, Ave Maria School of Law will not only be a
part of one of the most thriving areas of the country, but it will also be
presented with new and expanded opportunities for post-graduation
employment and student externships, as well as significant opportunities to
continue developing its clinical offerings.
"I believe that the School's new location will afford our students a
wide range of opportunities for in-depth practical legal experience and
skills training. Our externship program can flourish within a welcoming
legal community, our clinical programs can grow and diversify as they serve
those in need in Southwest Florida, and our skills programs can be
strengthened by involving the wealth of legal talent to be found in the
surrounding communities," said Eugene Milhizer, Associate Professor of Law
and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Collier County is among the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the
nation, experiencing a 73% growth in population between 1993 and 2005
alone. Demographic projections call for as much as a tripling of the
County's population in the next 25 years. Based on these growth factors,
Ave Maria's Board of Governors is very optimistic that students and
graduates will have opportunities to become a vital part, and participate
actively, in the area's expanding legal community.
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) agrees that the Law School's
relocation will have a positive impact on Southwest Florida. "The Ave Maria
School of Law brings to Collier County a commitment to excellence in
education and creates an opportunity for those wishing to pursue a law
degree in Southwest Florida. This relocation marks a new and promising era
for the Law School and the community. I eagerly welcome the school to its
new home and look forward to its many successes," said Diaz-Balart.
Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta echoes the thoughts of
Congressman Diaz-Balart saying, "The economic and educational well being of
Collier County received yet another significant boost today with the
announcement that Ave Maria School of Law, currently located in Ann Arbor,
Mich., will be relocating to Collier County. The addition of these students
and the supporting faculty will have a positive impact on Eastern Collier
County."
Members of Collier County's bar also mirror the views that Ave Maria
School of Law will have a positive impact on the region. "As Southwest
Florida continues its rapid growth, the need for well-trained lawyers will
only increase," said Timothy G. Hains, Partner, Quarles & Brady, L.L.P. in
Naples, Fla., and past president of the Collier County Bar Association. "We
welcome Ave Maria School of Law to the area, and look forward to a mutually
beneficial relationship."
Ave Maria School of Law currently has 380 enrolled students, 18
fulltime faculty members, in addition to Judge Robert H. Bork, former
Circuit Court Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit. "Ave Maria is committed to excellence, both in educating
students for successful legal careers and in appreciating the moral
foundations of law. As the Law School relocates and matures, it will
enhance its reputation as a school of real distinction," said Bork.
The Law School provides students with a vibrant professional and
collegial atmosphere in which to pursue the study of law. Ave Maria and
more than 20 student organizations sponsor a wide variety of activities
throughout the academic year, including lectures, debates, and athletic and
social events.
SOURCE Ave Maria School of Law
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Related links:
http://www.avemaria.edu/
CONTACT:
Rob Falls, +1-216-533-9182,
rfalls@robertfalls.com, or Branden Blackmur, +1-440-823-0805,
bblackmur@robertfalls.com, both for Ave Maria School of Law
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