Walk into the Stanford Legal Clinic and you’ll find students hard at work conducting research, interviewing clients, and developing case strategies. Some are obtaining asylum protection for immigrants; others are representing elementary and high school students in special education proceedings. In short, not only are they learning to think like lawyers, they are learning to act like them—and improving the lives of others along the way. • Clinical legal education has become an increasingly important priority for the law school, which aims to offer this practical experience to every student who wants one. Helping to jumpstart these efforts are Louis Lupin ’85 and his wife, Margarita, who recently donated $1 million to support clinical education at the law school. • “Clinical education serves as a vital link between the classroom and the real world of practice; it’s also a significant vehicle for cultivating students’ commitment to public service,” says Louis Lupin, executive vice president and general counsel of QUALCOMM. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to build a program that will become a national model for excellence.” • The Lupins’ pledge comes during a time of tremendous growth for the current clinical program, which began in 2005 with the generous support of David and Stephanie Mills, who made possible the appointment of Lawrence C. Marshall, David and Stephanie Mills Director of Clinical Education and associate dean for public interest and clinical education. This was followed by the endowment of a clinical professorship, the Eric and Nancy Wright Professor of Clinical Education, to which William Koski (PhD ’03) was appointed in 2006. The Mills also recently committed an additional $1 million in expendable funds to the clinics. • Providing an additional boost are James “Jim” and Catherine “Cathy” Koshland, who have pledged $350,000 in expendable clinic funds. Both Koshlands have strong ties to Stanford: Jim ’78 serves on the law school Dean’s Advisory Council and the Campaign Steering Committee; and Cathy (MS ’78, PhD ’85) earned advanced degrees in mechanical engineering. • Additionally, Peter D. Staple ’81 (BA ’74) and Harise Stein (BS ’74) have pledged $250,000 to support clinical work and outreach relating to domestic violence.

Other recent gifts include commitments of $250,000 each from Cooley Godward Kronish and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe to fund two clinical fellowships over a five-year period. Cooley’s gift is earmarked for the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic; Orrick’s will fund a new general counsel clinic focusing on assisting nonprofits.

“Clinical education is a very expensive endeavor. The school’s long-term commitment to it requires we garner substantial resources to meet immediate growth needs as well as secure permanent endowment funding to ensure its future viability,” says Catherine “Rinnie” Nardone, associate dean of external relations. “These gifts help the school tremendously in both respects.”