The State Bar Association of North Dakota Winter 2013 Gavel Magazine | Page 6

UND LAW SCHOOL ADDITION

LAWMAKERS CONSIDERING UND LAW SCHOOL ADDITION AND RENOVATION APPROPRIATION
“Just as much as courts, highways, pipelines and law enforcement, a well-trained legal profession adequate to meet the rapidly growing needs of our citizens and businesses is part of the essential infrastructure of this state.” In addition, many attorneys from across the state have contacted the Senate Appropriation Committee and local legislators to express their support for the funding. In a letter to the committee, Fargo attorney Jack Marcil wrote, “We need a strong law school that supports the needs of our state and our people.” Rand says that the current building situation needs to be addressed in order to maintain a strong legal program for North Dakota. “The most pressing issue facing the UND School of Law and the reason for our request to the legislature is to address the adequacy of our building,” said Rand. “While our beautiful old building represents the legacy of generations of North Dakota lawyers, today in the 21st century we have simply outgrown the four walls of our original home.” The need to expand and remodel the building has taken on a additional sense of urgency with the school preparing for an American Bar Association accreditation visit in the spring of 2014. “It is critical that we address the adequacy of our building to satisfy what was highlighted in our 2007 accreditation visit,” says Rand. The ABA’s site visit report in 2007 called the law school’s building “less than adequate,” “cramped,” and “substandard.” In terms of critical needs, it highlighted the size and number of classrooms, the need for appropriately designed space for skills instruction and student study, work and services space, in addition to concerns about safety and security. The report also concluded the law school’s facilities “have hit and, in several cases, exceeded their maximum capacity” and that a major addition to and renovation of the law school building are “critical to the success and future of the School.” In his State of the Judiciary address Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong School of Law in North Dakota. “The substantial majority of practicing lawyers in our state are UND School of Law graduates,” said VandeWalle. “They chose to remain in North Dakota and become hardworking professionals who contribute to our economy and our communities.” Neumann said burgeoning economic activity in North Dakota requires qualified attorneys who can produce thoughtful, well-drafted agreements between parties.

This current legislative session is the third consecutive session the University of North Dakota School of Law is seeking an appropriation to fund a major building addition and renovation. If successful, it would be only the second major addition to its 90-year-old building. The first significant upgrade came 40 years ago with the addition of the law library in 1973. The current North Dakota Legislature is considering the school’s $12 million appropriation request again, but unlike the previous two sessions, the project was included in Governor Jack Dalrymple’s executive budget request. At the first hearing on the legislation, Senate Bill 2003, on January 15, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony from UND President Robert Kelley and Law School Dean Kathryn Rand. The State Bar Association of North Dakota’s Executive Director Bill Neumann also testified on the Law School’s behalf. He told the committee that SBAND strongly supports the expansion and renovation of North Dakota’s only law school. “My concern is that North Dakota’s only law school must be properly maintained to continue providing the high quality of legal education necessary to meet the needs of the citizens and businesses of our state,” Neumann said.

This is the front entrance of The UND Law School at the University of North Dakota, which was built in 1923.

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The Gavel February 2013