Welcome to Boston College Law School's Dean for Students web site. I look forward to meeting and working with you to make your Law School experience go as smoothly as possible. I'm available to assist you with any personal or academic issues you may have or just to lend a friendly ear. Let me tell you a little about the Dean for Students Office and just a few of the things you can expect during your three years at BC Law.
Guiding You Through the First Year:
All courses in your first year at BC Law are required. The first year class is broken down into smaller sections of approximately 80-90 students. In the fall and spring semester, however, first year students are assigned to a smaller group of approximately 40 students for the required Legal Research and Writing and Introduction to Lawyering and Professional Responsibility classes. These smaller sized courses help facilitate teacher-student interaction. The 1L section structure provides students with a group of peers with whom they can share their first year experience. When you arrive at BC Law for Orientation in August, several upper-class students will be on hand to welcome you, give you a tour of the school and answer any questions you have. During Orientation we will give you more information on your classes, professors, study techniques, and general life in the city of Boston and at BC Law.
Faculty Advisor Program:
We know that the law school experience can sometimes be stressful and confusing. That is why Boston College Law School matches each first year student with a faculty advisor. While students are encouraged to seek out assistance from any member of the faculty or administration with whom they feel comfortable, the advisee program provides students with another personal resource on which they can depend. This year more than 15 members of the faculty and administration have volunteered to serve as advisors. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment to meet with their advisor on a one-to-one basis as often as needed. Additionally, each advisor plans a breakfast or gathering with their advisees each semester.
Dean for Students Sponsored Events:
The Dean for Students Office sponsors a number of activities during the academic year. Among them:
- Oktoberfest -- a chance for faculty and students to meet and mingle in an informal setting and enjoy some refreshments.
- Harvest Desserts -- hot apple cider and pie to warm up after a crisp New England fall day.
- Study Break -- take a break from the books -- scheduled just before exams begin!
- March Diversity Month -- a month-long medley of student-organized lectures and events celebrating the strength that the Law School community finds in diversity.
Getting Involved Beyond the Classroom:
Yes, law school can be challenging, but there's more to life than studying all the time! Boston College Law School offers a wide range of activities for a variety of interests. Every year, BC Law student organizations sponsor several academic and social programs including: speaker series, brown-bag lunches, alumni receptions, movie nights, retreats, clinics, an annual Public Interest auction, a road race and much more.
The Law Students Association (LSA) serves as the elected student government for Boston College Law School, making it the largest student organization within the law school community. The LSA ensures that students are appointed to important law school committees and presents student interests to the faculty and administration. It also offers a broad range of professional, social and recreational activities for students. The LSA is responsible for all aspects of student life, from academic services and faculty appointments to sports leagues and bar reviews. The LSA is composed of four executive officers, three 3L representatives, three 2L representatives, and two 1L representatives per section. Some of the many LSA sponsored events include: Boston Harbor Cruise, Halloween party, Monthly Bar Reviews and the annual Law Revue Show, a theatrical production that takes a humorous look at life at BC Law.
The main campus of Boston College is located about a mile from the law school campus and offers many other extracurricular activities. The undergraduate campus has an extensive recreation complex that many BC Law students take advantage of as well.
Again, these are just a few of the things the Dean for Students Office facilitates. I hope you continue to browse through the rest of our web site. As the Dean for Students, it is my mission to serve you during your time here at BC Law. Please feel free to contact Brittany Collins in our office (Stuart Hall room M308) to set up an appointment with me.
Sincerely,
Norah Wylie
Associate Dean for Students
Boston College Law School
(617) 552-4255
wylien@bc.edu
Other members of the Dean for Students Staff:
Fred Enman
Special Assistant to the Dean for Students
(617) 552-1910
frenman@bc.edu
Tracey A. West
Assistant Dean for Students and Academic Advising
(617) 552-1883
westtr@bc.edu
Brittany Collins
Administrative Assistant
(617) 552-4342
collinbu@bc.edu