Military Veterans and Active Duty Service Members Welcomed to William & Mary Law School’s Class of 2027
On Thursday, August 15, William & Mary Law School welcomed military veterans and active duty service members of the Class of 2027 to the home of the citizen lawyer during orientation activities prior to the beginning of their formal legal education.
Comprised of veterans and members of the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and the Army National Guard, this unique group of students brings a wide variety of experiences, skills, and talents to the Law School.
The briefing was conducted under the auspices of the Law School’s Office of Military and Veteran Affairs, directed by Clinical Associate Professor of Law Michael Dick ’06, Colonel, USMC (Ret.) who also serves as Director of the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic.
“We're trying be a one-stop shop for information about what you need in order to succeed at the Law School,” Dick told the new arrivals. “We want to be that centralized font of information and coordinator of things you may need support for.”
Student veterans and active duty service members received presentations on the specific William & Mary offices, resources, and key players focused on veterans and military issues at William & Mary.
In particular, the students were briefed by Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Academic Support Brian Wall ’07, Associate Dean for J.D. Admissions and Financial Aid Issa DiSciullo (both of the Law School), Executive Director of the Center for Military Transition at the Mason School of Business Jonathan “JD” Due, and Director of the Office of Student Veteran Engagement Charlie Foster.
Additionally, insight on aspects of the law school experience with special relevance to veterans and active duty service members was provided by Military and Veterans Law Society President David Heider ’26, Vice President Liz Cotter ’25, and Treasurer Tony Pappas ’25. U.S. Coast Guard officer Karlin Foor ’23 also shared her experience and thoughts on the challenges of law school for veterans and active duty personnel.
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nding out the information session, Professor Fredric Lederer, a retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel and Director of the Center for Legal and Court Technology, who serves as the Faculty Advisor to the Military and Veterans Law Society and Funded Legal Education Program participants, shared his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges veterans and active duty service members attending law school may encounter.
With a great deal of information on offer, Professor Dick shared a simple message about the hopes his office and the Law School have for the new students.
“We want you to have the best educational experience you can,” Dick said. “Meaning not only that you enjoy it, but that you succeed tremendously at it.”