The University of Virginia School of Law finished its 2016-2017 annual giving campaign on June 30 with a 53 percent alumni participation rate, the 12th year in a row more than half its graduates made a gift to the Law School. UVA Law also saw its endowment top $500 million for the first time.

“We owe these results to our loyal and wonderful alumni,” Dean Risa Goluboff said. “This extraordinary record of annual giving is a testament to both the unique student experience here and the continued significance of a UVA Law education years and even decades after our students graduate. We are dedicated to our students and alumni, and it is supremely gratifying that they are dedicated to us as well.”

Annual giving and the endowment are major sources of financial aid and loan forgiveness for students entering public service, as well as for myriad other programs, clinics, research initiatives and professorships.

Luis Alvarez Jr. ’88, president and chief executive officer of the Law School Foundation, praised the contributions of Goluboff and the board of trustees.

“Alumni turned out in record numbers at events across the country to see and hear Dean Goluboff, who clearly inspired them,” Alvarez said. “Reaching $500 million in endowment is a milestone that follows many years of strong leadership, generous alumni support and superb stewardship by our board of trustees.”

A breakdown of the annual giving campaign shows there were:

  • 9,120 alumni donors.
  • 10,445 total donors.
  • $13,786,509 in total gifts.
  • $5,465,963 in unrestricted gifts.

UVA Law was established in 1819 as one of the original schools of the University of Virginia and is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation.

Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.