Kirkland & Ellis Establishes Two New Programs at Stanford Law School

STANFORD, Calif., Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanford Law School today announced that law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP has committed $2.75 million over five years to support the law school and to establish both a scholars program, which will honor the law school's top first-year students, and a yearly forum on important legal issues for students, alumni, and the Bay Area business and law community.

"This generous support from Kirkland & Ellis will enable Stanford Law School to continue to transform legal education and prepare the next generation of leaders through innovative, interdisciplinary and international programs, new and expanded forms of clinical education, and a renewed commitment to public service," said Stanford Law School Dean Larry Kramer.

The Kirkland & Ellis Scholars Program

The newly established Kirkland & Ellis Scholars Program will recognize students who have performed at the very highest level during their first year of law school. Six first-year students annually will be designated Kirkland & Ellis Scholars based on overall scholastic achievement across an array of courses. Currently, students may win awards in individual courses. These awards, known as "book prizes," will help determine who among the first-year class deserve recognition with the highest honor, the Kirkland & Ellis Scholar designation.  The new award is the only one of its kind at the law school.

"The Kirkland & Ellis Scholar designation symbolizes the highest standard of achievement," said Kramer, "It is an honor that students will covet and it will benefit them in their pursuit of career and public service goals."

The Kirkland & Ellis Law Forum

The Kirkland & Ellis Law Forum will take the shape of panel discussions and symposia on emerging legal issues that are of particular interest to the business community. Participants will include Stanford Law School faculty, Kirkland & Ellis attorneys and other legal and business thought leaders from academia, private practice, government, and the public sphere.  Planning is underway for the inaugural Kirkland & Ellis Law Forum, which will take place during the 2011-12 academic year.

The Kirkland & Ellis gift was made by the firm through its foundation and also by individual partners who collectively matched the foundation's gift.

"We're very pleased to support Stanford Law School and excited about these new programs," said Jeffrey C. Hammes, Chairman of Kirkland's Global Management Executive Committee. "The opportunity to recognize student excellence and to provide a forum for sharing thought leadership on emerging matters that may challenge and reshape the business and law community fit well with Kirkland & Ellis's culture and mission."

About Stanford Law School

Stanford Law School (www.law.stanford.edu) is one of the nation's leading institutions for legal scholarship and education. Its alumni are among the most influential decision makers in law, politics, business, and high technology. Faculty members argue before the Supreme Court, testify before Congress, produce outstanding legal scholarship and empirical analysis, and contribute regularly to the nation's press as legal and policy experts. Stanford Law School has established a new model for legal education that provides rigorous interdisciplinary training, hands-on experience, global perspective and focus on public service, spearheading a movement for change.

About Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a 1,500-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex litigation, dispute resolution and arbitration, corporate mergers and acquisitions, tax, restructuring, and intellectual property and technology matters. The Firm has offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C. The firm's website is located at: www.kirkland.com.

EDITORIAL CONTACT
Judith Romero
Public Information Officer
Stanford Law School
DESK: 650 723.2232
EMAIL: [email protected]
www.law.stanford.edu/news

MEDIA LIAISON
Kate Slaasted (Kortenkamp)
Public Relations Manager
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
312-862-2890
[email protected]

SOURCE Stanford Law School