USF Law Graduates Sworn in by Alumnae
Dec. 10, 2007 -- Nearly 90 members of the USF School of Law class of 2007 were sworn in as members of the California State Bar in an evening ceremony at St. Ignatius church Dec. 7. The oaths were administered by Justice Maria Rivera '74 of the First District Court of Appeal and Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James '78 of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
The May 2007 USF School of Law graduating class earned an 85 percent pass rate on the July California Bar Examination. That mark exceeds the statewide average of 76 percent for first-time takers from American Bar Association accredited law schools in California. It also far exceeded the overall statewide average pass rate of 56.1 percent, according to a report issued Nov. 16 by the Committee of Bar Examiners.
After filing in as a group, the graduates joined their families and friends in the pews. Before administering the oath, Judge Rivera imparted three pieces of advice: "Be meticulously honest and cultivate sound judgment. Stay real. Remember the obligations in your oath-to defend the Constitution against those who would undermine the rule of law."
Dean Jeff Brand offered a motion that Judge James admit the graduates "to practice before the Northern District of the U.S. District Court." She replied with a smile, "I never get tired of saying this: motion granted." She urged the new admits to be "confident, courteous and noble, vigilant, and worthy of your teachers and your families."
Two of those family members were Mabel and Edward Chong, parents of Steven Chong '07. They called the swearing-in "exhilarating and quite a relief."
"What Judge James said about it being our duty to ennoble the profession really meant a lot to me," said Ifeoma Ajunwa '07. "I feel fortunate to have made it this far and am eager to cultivate a career that gives me a good work-life balance."
Josh Davis '07 said that the evening "was the end of a long journey, but the destination is definitely worth it." Lisa Paine '07 was accompanied by her husband and infant son, born four days after the Bar exam. "I loved going to USF. It was the first school I went to where the professors really cared about their students."
Brand said the high pass rate posted by this class is a testament to the quality of students and education at the USF School of Law.
"The most recent bar pass rate demonstrates the quality of USF's students and the education they receive," Brand said. "The results also demonstrate that the law school's passion for training ethical professionals who can make a difference is matched by a rigorous, academically excellent educational experience, insuring that students can pass the bar and put their skills to work to achieve those inspirational goals."
