Partners in Excellence
Annual Fund

Dear Fellow Alumni:

We write to you as proud alumni who feel a debt of gratitude for the education we received at the University of Minnesota Law School, and we have agreed to serve as joint chairs of the 2012-2013 Partners in Exellence Annual Fund.

When Greer graduated in 1953, tuition at the Law School was $200 per year. When Ann graduated in 1979, it was less than $1,300, and when Jim graduated in 1986, it was less than $2,700. The reason, of course, is that our legal educations were heavily subsidized by the taxpayers of the State of Minnesota.

Today is a different story. Funding from the State covers less than 6% of the budget and that portion goes exclusively to fund the Law Library, which is available to, and shared with, the entire University and the greater community, including government offices and the bench and bar. In-state tuition now top $36,000 per year, and students now graduate with six-figure debt from the Law School alone.

What has not changed is that U of M Law School graduates are still among the most promising in the country and they go on to accomplish incredible things in the practice of law, legal education, and business and government.

This past spring, over 48% of the Class of 2012 pledged to contribute to the Law School during each of the first five years after graduation. We find this remarkable given the challenges they face, but their support demonstrates the valuable impact that the Law School has on its students and what a special and important institution it remains.

We support the Law School because of what it gave us personally and professionally and because of what it does for our communities, our state, and the world. Simply put, the Law School does an exceptional job of training the next generation of leaders, preparing them to help negotiate and solve the complex problems that individuals, communities, and businesses face each day around the globe.

As fellow alumni, we ask you to join us by making a gift of any amount to the Partners in Excellence Annual Fund this year. We are deeply appreciative of gifts of any size and grateful for your support and partnership.

Together we can help preserve the Law School's long tradition of excellence as well as its promise for the future.

Sincerely,

Greer Lockhart (’53)
2013 National Co-Chair, Partners in Excellence Annual Fund
Retired, Bassford Remele

Ann Lockhart Watson (’79)
2013 National Co-Chair, Partners in Excellence Annual Fund
Siegel Brill

James Lockhart (’86)
2013 National Co-Chair, Partners in Excellence Annual Fund
Lindquist & Vennum

P.S. If you are in a position to give more, consider joining the Lockhart Club with a gift of $2,000 or more. You can give easily online at giving.umn.edu/law.