Melissa Smith becomes member of Pennsylvania Bar

2009 Dec 7

Some of the region's best and brightest new attorneys took their oaths and became full-fledged members of the Pennsylvania bar recently in a ceremony organized for graduates of Widener Law.

The school celebrates this point of pride with special Widener-only events, where alumni assemble to take their oaths alongside friends they made during their years of study. The Office of Development and Alumni Relations coordinates the ceremonies.

The 36 new attorneys sworn at City Hall in Philadelphia on Nov. 18 heard remarks from Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus P. McCaffery, Judge Joel S. Johnson, '91, of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Family Division, Supervising Judge Margaret Murphy, '77, of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division and President Judge Pamela Pryor Dembe of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons also attended.

"Witnessing the swearing-in of our recent graduates is a highlight of my role as dean," Ammons said. "I congratulate these fine new lawyers and look forward to hearing about the positive contributions they will make to the profession."

Alumni who were sworn in to the Pennsylvania bar included:

Melissa Smith, of Wilmington, Del., 19809, who graduated from Widener's Delaware campus in May 2009.

Widener University is a metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. The School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and holds membership in the Association of American Law Schools. Widener provides an all-around comprehensive legal education program with special certificates available from its Health Law Institute, which is frequently ranked among the top 10 in the nation, the Law and Government Institute, the Taishoff Advocacy, Technology and Public Service Institute, and the Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law. Widener Law has two locations: the Wilmington, Del. campus, which opened in 1971, and the Harrisburg, Pa. campus, which opened in 1989. Visit law.widener.edu for more information.