Partners in Excellence
Annual Fund

James J. Bender
(class of 1981)

Dear Fellow Alumni,

It is my pleasure to write to you as the 2007-08 National Chair for the University of Minnesota Law School’s Partners in Excellence Annual Fund. On behalf of the Law School, I thank you for your past support, and I hope you will join me in making an important investment in our Law School this year.

I arrived at the Law School after studying mathematics and playing hockey for Saint Olaf. During three challenging years, I was taught in a rigorous and systematic way to think through and solve problems; by the time I graduated from the Law School I could not claim to know any particular area of the law well, but I had been effectively prepared to learn. After a great clerkship with Judge Donald Alsop (class of 1952), I was lucky enough to embark on a career that has taken me to Denver, London, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Along the way I have benefited from both my education and my relationships with other Law School alumni, and I am grateful to our Law School and to the friends who have helped me through a rewarding career.

Making annual contributions to the Law School is one step I can take to demonstrate gratitude for the education I received. While giving back allows me to express my appreciation, I am also proud to know that my gifts keep the Law School strong so that today’s students and future generations will have access to a great legal education. The Law School uses Annual Fund dollars to support scholarships, faculty research and development, clinical education, the Law Library and other important priorities.

Last year giving to the Partners in Excellence Annual Fund increased by more than 32%, and with continued momentum we have a chance of meeting the Law School’s goal of a $1 million annual fund. With virtually no funding from the state, the Law School relies heavily on alumni support and tuition revenues. In-state students now pay more than $22,500 in tuition and fees, and out-of-state students pay more than $32,000 per year (in contrast, in 1980-81 my in-state tuition and fees were only $1,398!). Income from the Law School’s endowment and annual contributions help to keep the Law School relatively affordable, but the Law School lags behind every other top 20 program in financial resources.

Please make a gift this year; with our investment, our great Law School will be even better in the future.

Sincerely,

James J. Bender, ’81
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
The Williams Companies