Here at the Law School we're committed to enrolling the strongest and most diverse class possible -- diverse in every way, with respect to life and work experiences, interests, skills, and backgrounds. And as you may know, we are one of the most racially and ethnically diverse law schools in the country. Each year our current students, faculty and alums from across the country gather for the Legal Educational Opportunities (LEO) Banquet as we celebrate our successes and reaffirm our commitment to maintaining one of the most interesting and dynamic learning environments in the country.
Our LEO Program was established in 1967 to address issues of diversity within the student body. The support of the LEO Community as a whole has been instrumental in our continued ability to enroll diverse incoming classes. A testament to the efforts of current students, alums, faculty and staff is the fact that we maintain an average of 25% students of color in the student body year after year.
This year we will be celebrating LEO's 40th anniversary here at the University of Wisconsin Law School. The Honorable Glenn H. Yamahiro will be the guest speaker. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School, Mr. Yamahiro worked as a trial attorney in the Milwaukee public defender’s office. In 1994 he was recognized with an Exceptional Performance Award; soon after he went into private practice as a shareholder in the firm Cornwall, Rhiel and Yamahiro. Governor Jim Doyle appointed him to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 2003, making Judge Yamahiro the first Asian-American in Wisconsin history to serve on the bench.
This year's Banquet will be held on Saturday, April 18th, at the Concourse Hotel, 1 West Dayton Street, Madison, WI (608-257-6000). The festivities will begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., and dinner at 7:00 p.m. All attendees are then invited to the terrific after-party to follow.
Many of our current students found this weekend to be very useful in helping them make their transition to Madison. Should you be able to join us, we will provide you with free admission to the banquet. To RSVP, please contact the Law School Admissions Office at (608) 262-5914, or email us at admissions@law.wisc.edu. Please RSVP early as seating is limited.