Dear Colleagues,
Each year, Duke Law School's Alumni & Development Office coordinates the efforts of our faculty, staff and student organizations when soliciting law firm sponsorships through our Blueprint Benefactors Program. Each of the featured events and programs provides great opportunities for students to build relationships, engage intellectually, and practice professionalism. These goals, among others, are highlighted in the Duke Law Blueprint – a powerful set of principles for leadership growth that is integrated into every aspect of our community.
The Blueprint Benefactors Program provides you the opportunity to review our Menu of Sponsorship Opportunities at Duke Law and provides us an opportunity to consistently and visibly thank our sponsors. Law firms participating in the program receive institutional and event recognition as a sponsor and the opportunity for meaningful interaction with our students, thus raising your firm's profile and deepening its engagement with the Duke Law community.
I encourage you to support Duke Law School's students and faculty through a sponsorship for the 2012-2013 academic year. In preparation for this academic year, we have created a menu of events, symposia, programs and clinical research for your firm to consider as sponsorship opportunities. I hope your firm will fund one or more of the menu items. Sponsorships provided by your firm directly support all or a portion of the event(s). Should there be money left over from your contribution at the end of the fiscal year, the extra funds will be used to generally support the students at Duke Law School.
As the program is designed to be first come, first serve, I encourage you to review the opportunities early. If this type of program should be handled by someone else at your firm, I encourage you to pass this webpage along. Once you have done so, a member of our Alumni and Development Office will contact you. If this type of program should be handled by someone else at your firm, I encourage you to pass this webpage along. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kate Petersen by email kate.petersen@law.duke.edu or phone 919-613-7010.
Sincerely,
Jeff D. Coates
Associate Dean for Alumni & Development
Learn more about the Blueprint
For more information, please contact kate.petersen@law.duke.edu
Law Firm Scholarships
Support law student(s) by establishing a merit-based scholarship in your law firm's name. Sponsorships of $10,000 or more are needed.
Intellectual Property and Cyberlaw Law Society: IP Symposium
Sponsors: Alston & Bird LLP
The annual Hot Topics in Intellectual Property Symposium will once again focus on cutting edge issues in intellectual property law. This symposium, run entirely by the students, provides opportunities for discussion and interaction among Duke students and faculty, visiting professors, legal practitioners, and technology industry leaders. Previous year's symposia have focused on "The Transfer of IP Technology Post-Copenhagen" and "New Frontiers in Online Trademark: Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) and Non-Roman Domains." Sponsorships of $2,500 are needed for this event.
The International Law Society Sponsorship
Our wide array of student programming promotes social and academic interaction among Duke Law students who are interested in the various aspects of private and public international law. The ILS sponsors social activities, speakers, language tables, and symposia that encourage cultural exchange and academic discussion, and generally provides a forum through which JDs, JD/LLMs, and LLMs may pursue their interests in developing careers in international law. Events of particular interest include International Week, LLM panels, Speaker Events on career paths and current issues in the law. Sponsorships are available.
Black Law Student Association (BLSA) Graduate Gavel Ceremony:
Sponsored by Baker Botts L.L.P.
During this annual event held in front of BLSA members, faculty and family, graduating BLSA members are presented with gavels to honor their achievement of graduating from Duke Law School. This ceremony also includes the awarding of a summer grant to a 1L student who is taking on an unpaid summer position and who has demonstrated leadership by balancing a commitment to BLSA, to the Duke community, to the Durham community, and to his/her academic achievement. Sponsorships will cover the summer grant and the Graduate Gavel Ceremony.
The Duke Forum for Law and Social Change:
The Duke Forum for Law and Social Change will host its sixth annual symposium on February 22, 2013. The symposium will relate to the Forum's theme for the year — America’s Obesity Problem: Legal Mechanisms for Prevention. Previous symposia have focused on topics ranging from environmental regulations to religious discrimination. This symposium will include panelists from across the country discussing everything from litigation to relevant taxation policies. The primary audience will be Duke Law students and faculty although the event will be open to the public as well. Sponsorships are available.
LEAD Week:
Sponsored by David W. Ichel and Mario A. Ponce of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
LEAD Week is a week-long orientation for 210 JDs and 100 LLM students to Duke Law School. The programming each day is designed to highlight a different principle of the Duke Law Blueprint. For example, in the beginning of the week, we host a student-alumni professionalism luncheon (Practice Professionalism), and mid-week, we collaborate with the Duke Bar Association to coordinate an all-school community service event throughout Durham (Serve the Community). Support of LEAD Week links the sponsor to Duke Law's core values and provides the sponsor with exposure to all incoming students, upper-class student leaders and many alumni of Duke Law School.
Duke Law Journal Sponsorships:
Sponsored by Sidley Austin LLP - Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. - Allen & Overy
The Duke Law Journal (DLJ) seeks three sponsorships to assist with its editing and programming responsibilities.
- DLJ will publish eight issues in the 2012-2013 school year. Its staff of 81 students is committed to publishing legal -writing of superior quality. Volume 62 will publish a collection of outstanding scholarship from established legal writers, up-and-coming authors, and student authors.
- The Fall, Winter and Spring sponsorships will provide for a variety of DLJ events. Such events include new member orientation, staff editor trainings, recruitment activities, officer elections, and alumni social events.
- Sponsorships also will support two symposia that DLJ will be publishing in Volume 62: a Custom and the Law Symposium, to be published in December, and DLJ's 43rd annual Administrative Law Symposium.
Tricky Dick—The Duke Law Variety Show
One of the best-known law student-produced theatre productions in the nation, Tricky Dick is an annual variety show based loosely on the exploits of one of Duke Law’s most (in)famous alumni—Richard Nixon. Featured in The New York Times and local papers, Tricky Dick has received rave reviews and become a vital and beloved tradition to the student body. Since its inception, Tricky Dick has been eagerly anticipated by students and faculty alike and never fails to fill the performance venue to capacity, usually selling out days in advance. With attendance at this year’s event anticipated to reach over 400 students and faculty, sponsorship of Tricky Dick can provide your firm significant exposure with the Duke Law student body and make the continuation of this great tradition possible.
Duke Bar Association: Class Parties
Class parties are an annual event for 1L, 2L and 3L students. Class representatives plan these socials for each class. One (1) sponsorship of $2,500 is needed for this event.
Sports & Entertainment Law Society: Third Annual Symposium
Sponsored by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind Wahrton & Garrison LLP
The Third Annual Sports & Entertainment Law Symposium, "The Changing Economics of the Sports and Entertainment Industries," will provide meaningful opportunity for discussion and interaction among Duke students, visiting professors, legal practitioners, and industry leaders. Panels and speakers will once again focus on recent legal developments in the sports and entertainment industries. Last year’s well attended symposium focused on social media and athletes’ rights of publicity; the roles, challenges and responsibilities of sports agents; collective bargaining issues; ascertaining rights in digital media; and the multifaceted roles of in-house counsel. Sponsorship opportunities begin at $2,500 for this event.
The 4th Annual International Alumni & Student Dinner
Current sponsors include Cravath, Swaine & Moore - Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP - Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.
This annual dinner will be held at the Netherlands Club in New York on January 24, 2013. Mark Califano ’88, the Senior Vice President and Managing Counsel of the American Express Company will provide the keynote address with introductory remarks by Dean David F. Levi. Approximately 100 Duke Law alumni and current students attend this gathering each year. Firm sponsorship levels are $10,000, $7,500 and $5,000 with seating and access benefit available.
Dedicated to Durham:
Sponsored by King & Spalding
Dedicated to Durham is a school-wide community service tradition that takes place every semester. Faculty and students come together to work on community service sites throughout the city of Durham. These involve up to twenty sites and activities include building a fence in a public park, planting a community garden, and helping out the local food bank, among others. After a full day's work, participants return to the Law School for a reception. One (1) sponsorship of $5,000 is needed for this event.
Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) 17th Annual Auction & Gala
Current Sponsors: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom LLP & Affiliates - Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
The PILF Auction & Gala is the organization's most profitable fundraising activity. It is also one of the Law School's premiere social events - over 400 Law School Community Members attended last year! The event also coincides with Duke Law Parents' Weekend in February.
One (1) sponsorship of $5,000 is needed in order to NAME the event for the year AND supporting sponsorships are also needed.
You can also support PILF in a number of addittional ways: contact Hilary Campbell to learn how to do the following
- Attend the Auction & Gala in February
- Donate an item for the auction
- Bid on an auction item in the auction
Haiti Legal Advocacy Project Spring 2013 Service Trip
Since the 2010 earthquake, there has been a growing interest in aiding Haiti within the Duke community. Our organization reflects Duke Law students’ eagerness to be involved and allows first-year students to engage in service in a meaningful way. We have made trips to Haiti each of the last two springs. Last year, we worked with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti to film a short advocacy awareness video on forced evictions and housing rights. Sponsorships are needed to fund this year’s trip.
ESQ Career Symposium: Organized by the Business Law Society:
Lead Sponsor: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Additional sponsorship provided by: Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP - Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP - Sullivan & Cromwell LLP - Hogan Lovells
ESQ is an annual event at which Duke Law students meet alumni to discuss career opportunities in business and transactional law. This event is the largest annual conference at Duke Law and is focused on bringing together students and distinguished alumni to discuss a broad range of career-related topics. For many first year students, this event will serve as their initial exposure to the variety of firms in the legal marketplace. This event also provides firms with an opportunity to introduce themselves and their representatives to students. Alumni speak on panels organized by themes relevant to student interests (for example: business litigation; mergers & acquisitions, fund formation). Afterwards, the alumni network with students. Last year, over 200 students and 40 alumni participated. Multiple sponsorships are needed for this event that will take place in March 2013.
Blueprint for Professional Success:
Sponsored by Allen & Overy LLP - Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP - Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP - Haynes and Boone, LLP - Hogan Lovells - Jones Day - Latham & Watkins LLP - Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP - Norton Rose Fulbright - Paul Hastings LLP - Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP - Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom & Affiliates
Join the Career Center and law firms from around the country for this interactive and educational night with Duke Law School's Class of 2015 as they look ahead to their 1L summer work and interviewing for their 2L summer. During the three hour evening educational and networking event, you'll have the chance to provide informal advice to students in multiple settings while establishing personal relationships for the future. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about your organization as they start planning for interviewing as a 2L. Multiple sponsorships up to $2500 are needed. Please contact Kate Petersen at kate.petersen@law.duke.edu for further details
Duke Moot Court
Moot Court-Hardt Cup
Sponsored by McGuireWoods LLP
The entire first year class is required to participate in this moot court competition as part of their 1L Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing curriculum. Judges from state and federal appeals courts come to Duke Law to judge the final rounds of competition. For most students, the Hardt Cup is their first experience with oral argument and moot court competition, as well as an opportunity to develop their oral advocacy skills. At the end of the competition, the top 1% of finishers will be invited to join the Moot Court Board.
Moot Court End of the Year Banquet
This annual end of the year Awards Banquet brings together the Duke Law Moot Court Community, both students and sponsoring alumni. It celebrates the Moot Court Board's successes for the year, introduces the incoming leadership board, and is a send off for the graduating 3L board members. One (1) sponsorship of $2,500 is needed for this event.
Moot Court-Jessup Cup
The Jessup Cup, now in its fifth decade at Duke Law, is Duke Law's intramural tournament based on The Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. Jessup Cup participants argue a closed-universe international law problem and compete for membership to the Moot Court Board. Jessup is open to 2Ls, 3Ls, and LLM students. One (1) sponsorship of $2,500 is needed for this competition.
Mock Trial Tournaments
Because of their recent success, the Duke Mock Trial Team has been invited to a record number of tournaments. Help the team as they compete around the country in various tournaments. Sponsorships of $2,500 are needed for these events.
Duke Law World Trade Organization Moot Court Team
The Duke Law World Trade Organization Moot Court Team represents Duke at the All-American Regional Round WTO Moot Court Competition, as well as at international competition rounds. The team prepares written briefs and oral arguments for competitions against other teams from around the world. Duke students hone their written and oral skills in WTO law while competing in simulated WTO Appellate Body proceedings. Sponsorships are needed to cover the team’s competition costs for the year.
Duke Law School Clinical Program
Working together in the clinical suite, the real-client clinical courses operate as a public interest law firm, providing students challenging opportunities to deepen their substantive legal knowledge, strengthen their lawyering skills, and build their professional identities. Please view the clinics section of the website to learn more about the different clinics at Duke Law. Sponsorships are available starting at $2,500.
Duke Law School Centers and Programs
Duke Law's centers and programs promote research and scholarship on a variety of current and globally relevant issues. Please view the centers and programs section of the website to learn more about the different centers and programs at Duke Law. Sponsorships are available starting at $2,500.
Benefits of Becoming a Blueprint Benefactor
Diamond Member - $25,000+
- Opportunity to sponsor up to 5 events
- Recognition as a Diamond Member in printed, marketing, and online materials pertaining to event and Blueprint Benefactors program
- Opportunity to send representatives from your firm to select sponsored events
Platinum Member - $15,000
- Opportunity to sponsor up to 4 events
- Recognition as a Platinum Member in printed, marketing and online materials pertaining to event and Blueprint Benefactors program
- Opportunity to send representatives from your firm to select sponsored events
Gold Member - $10,000
- Opportunity to sponsor up to 3 events
- Recognition as a Gold Member in printed, marketing, and online materials pertaining to event and Blueprint Benefactors program
- Opportunity to send representatives from your firm to select sponsored events
Silver Member - $5,000
- Opportunity to sponsor up to 2 events
- Recognition as a Silver Member in printed, marketing, and online materials pertaining to event and Blueprint Benefactors program
- Opportunity to send a representative from your firm to select sponsored events
Bronze Member - $2,500
- Opportunity to sponsor 1 event
- Recognition as a Bronze Member in printed, marketing, and online materials pertaining to event and Blueprint Benefactors program
- Opportunity to send a representative from your firm to select sponsored events
Additional benefits include recognition:
- On the Duke Law website and in printed and online materials pertaining to sponsored event
- On a wall dedicated to sponsors at the Law School
- On plasma screen televisions around the Law School
- In annual Honor Roll of Donors included in Duke Law Magazine
The following firms have hosted Law School events during the 2011-2012 academic year in locations around the world.
Student Process for Finding Firm Sponsorship
Duke Law Blueprint Benefactors provides student groups a way to effectively develop and maintain productive and lasting partnerships with law firms. We want to ensure that each firm's experience is positive and that donors understand the value of their contributions and are recognized appropriately for their support of your Duke Law event(s). In order to streamline this process, it is important that you coordinate any fundraising efforts with the Alumni and Development Office (ADO). We are here to assist you and have experience and knowledge to share.
Possible Ways to Contact firms
There are several ways to obtain firm sponsorship; however the starting point should always be an electronic inquiry through our online form or directly to our Annual Giving Coordinator at kate.petersen@law.duke.edu.
- If your summer employer or other contact has already agreed to sponsor an event, congratulations! Please submit all sources of funding - law firm or otherwise - to ADO, so we may appropriately recognize your sponsor(s) through our correspondence and publications. Please still complete the online form or email Kate Petersen at kate.petersen@law.duke.edu with firm name, contact, event date, sponsorship amount.
- If you have not yet developed a firm relationship and would like to reach out for funding, ADO can provide the resources to make your solicitation efforts more targeted and ultimately more effective. We are happy to identify interested firms and provide contacts. Though we never guarantee firm sponsorship, we do understand what firms are seeking from these partnerships and can help you showcase the aspects of your event that are most relevent to sponsors.
Blueprint Student Process
- Meet with ADO to discuss needs; we can direct you to events for planning assistance if needed.
- Before inviting speakers, get approval and, if needed, recommendations from ADO.
- Once budget and date are approved, draft a letter making the case for sponsorship. Why is your event important? Why should a firm sponsor it? How will their money be used? NOTE: Firm sponsorships are NOT for travel fees of speakers or honorariums.
- Get letter approval by ADO.
- Begin solicitations with approved contacts from ADO. DO NOT SOLICIT ANY FIRM WITHOUT ADO APPROVAL
- Let ADO know of any confirmed sponsorships, and we will provide an invoice for the firm.
- Include the firm on any marketing and promotional materials related to the event.
- THANK the firm with a letter!
Proposal Form
If you would like to be featured on the Blueprint Benefactors Menu of Sponsorship Opportunities, please submit the online proposal form. Please complete this form as soon as possible. Many firms have preferred times of year for making contributions, and we want you to have many opportunities available to you. It is never too early to start thinking about this year's or next year's event(s). Please also include as many details as possible in your online submission, including approximate date of event, organization contact, budget and agenda or program.
Once your completed proposal form is in our hands, we will work to match your needs through a personalized solicitation plan. We are available to help you prepare individual proposals as well as to answer any questions you may have. Again, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee funding at this time. Please contact us early and in detail. Please also make use of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) to help identify alternate or additional funding sources.
If your event does not have funding one month prior to your event, we may remove the event from the menu and contact your organization to make other arrangements.