Student-Faculty Retreat 2011

This week we held one of my favorite events of the entire year: our annual student-faculty retreat. Retreats, of course, are common. Faculties have them. Staffs have them. But I think we must be the only law school in the country where the entire student body and faculty—460 people—head offsite for a day of reflection and renewal.

Here’s why I like it. Despite our noble aspirations, law school life can bog down, especially this time of year. It is hard for students to think about being a voice for the voiceless when they are grinding through yet another set of Property or UCC cases. It is hard to imagine being a minister of justice when facing the first of several large research and writing projects due this spring.

That is where the retreat comes in. We cancel all of the day’s classes and put aside the books. We focus instead on questions like: what does it mean to be called as a lawyer? How can I display the character of Jesus Christ in the day-to-day practice of law? Can my legal work really be worship to God? How?

After some corporate worship, we were challenged by two speakers. The first was Professor Mike Schutt, director of the Institute for Christian Legal Studies and the author of the finest book on what it means to be a Christian lawyer, Redeeming Law. He was followed by ’94 alum and law firm owner Jonathan Feavel. Both were encouraging, challenging, and authentic. Students then shared openly and powerfully about how God is working in their lives. We finished with lunch—students and professors eating together.

It was a great day. A day that focused on matters of significance. A day that restored our sense of vision and calling.

25th Anniversary – Justice Alito

2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the Regent University School of Law. We will be celebrating that anniversary during a weekend of events that will take place from Friday, September 23 to Sunday, September 25.

I am excited to announce that United States Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will be celebrating with us. He has agreed to be the keynote speaker at a banquet on Saturday, September 24, 2011. We will announce other details of the anniversary weekend as it gets closer, but please put the celebration on your calendar now. I especially encourage alumni to return to Virginia Beach and spend the weekend with us. It will be a great time to celebrate what God has done in and through this school and our students, alumni, staff, and faculty.

Stay tuned for more on the anniversary in the weeks to come.

Back from Christmas Break

Students are back. And they are remarkably upbeat for having started classes on January 3! As I chat with students in the atrium and welcome them back, the common theme is that the Christmas break was fantastic—there just wasn't enough of it.

My break was great. Truly relaxing with lots of family time. There is something wonderful about the academic calendar with its beginnings and endings—and rest in between.

Here are a few highlights of my break:

• Enjoying the Wisconsin snow—oblivious to the fact that there was more snow back home in Virginia Beach than in Wisconsin;
• Still having enough snow to play football on an ice covered Wisconsin lake—the REAL frozen tundra;
• Finishing third in the extended family Wii bowling tournament—satisfyingly finishing ahead of 4 game-savvy teenagers;
• Celebrating Immanuel—amazed again that the infinite, immortal God became human to rescue humans who were dead in our sins and without hope.

Hope your Christmas season was filled with joy and rest. Happy New Year!