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Honoring 35 years of impact in law, government, and public service while continuing to build a bold future together for the next generation of legal professionals.

In the capital city where policy takes shape, Widener University Commonwealth Law School has spent 35 years giving determined students a chance to rise, turning grit and opportunity into a legacy of service across Pennsylvania and beyond.

The school opened its doors in 1989 with a clear purpose: to give Pennsylvanians a personal and practical path into the legal profession. Three and a half decades later, that mission still drives the work happening inside classrooms, courtrooms, and communities across the Commonwealth.

From the start, Widener Law Commonwealth’s home in the capital city gave students a front-row seat to how government works. John L. Gedid, emeritus professor, the school’s inaugural vice dean and founder of the Law & Government Institute, remembers the first years vividly.

“There was enormous energy,” Gedid said. “Students were eager and determined to learn. They’d line up outside my office with questions, and within days, we were off and running.”

That proximity to the Pennsylvania state capitol quickly became a defining advantage. “The supreme court, the legislature, the governor, they were all right here,” Gedid said. “We wanted students to understand how law and government intersect from day one.”

The Law & Government Institute, along with centers in environmental law and sustainability, equity and justice, and business advising, continues that tradition, connecting students directly to policy and advocacy work that impacts real communities.

Through the Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic, students take on real cases and learn what it means to be an advocate long before graduation.

“The clinic has evolved to meet the needs of the indigent and elderly in Dauphin County,” said Associate Clinical Professor of Law Mary Catherine Scott, who directs the program. “We’ve added practice areas where people most need help, landlord-tenant, unemployment, and custody issues.”

When the pandemic forced courts and offices to close, the clinic stayed open virtually. Students continued representing clients online, proving that justice doesn’t stop when circumstances change. “Our students learn early that the law is about people,” Scott said. “That realization often shapes their entire careers.”

Since gaining its own accreditation in 2015, Widener Law Commonwealth has expanded its reach while keeping its hallmark focus on personal attention.

Dean andré douglas pond cummings said the law school’s strength lies in that balance between innovation and accessibility. “From the very beginning, we gave people an opportunity to succeed,” he said. “Our admissions programs opened doors for those who might have been shut out of the profession. Alumni like Kristi Thomas ‘07, Charles Duncan ‘05, and Susan Schwab ’92, U.S. magistrate judge for the middle district of Pennsylvania, have gone on to incredible careers because of that opportunity.”

Looking ahead, cummings said the school is building new pathways in emerging fields. “We’re expanding in areas like artificial intelligence, health care, sports and entertainment law, and government practice,” he said. “Our more than 4,000 alumni prove that when you invest in people, they rise.”

Kevin Gold ’93 still remembers the energy of those early days—late nights in the library, the camaraderie of classmates, and the pride that came with building something new. 

“I still remember when our class published the first edition of what was then the Widener Journal of Public Law,” said Gold, now a partner at Pillar + Aught in Harrisburg. “The teamwork and effort it took to make that happen have always stayed with me.”

He credits faculty mentorship and enduring friendships for shaping his professional path. “The relationships and lessons from Widener have remained critical throughout my career,” he said. “There are so many graduates who’ve gone on to lead and make an impact. They’ve enhanced the reputation and brand of WLC.”

Among those shaping the law from the bench is  Keli M. Neary ’06, U.S. district judge for the middle district of Pennsylvania. One of her most meaningful moments came from being recognized for her writing.

“I was incredibly honored to receive the ‘best brief award’ from the Moot Court Honor Society,” she said. “It was exactly the affirmation I needed that I was on the right track.”

Neary’s law school experience also deepened her sense of purpose. “Through Phi Alpha Delta’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Bar Association, I taught civics lessons to students across Harrisburg,” she said. “I was thrilled when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed to host one of my classes for a mock trial.”

Today, she sees a clear line connecting her time as a student to her work on the bench. “There’s one common thread among alumni – the drive to give back,” she said. “Whether through pro bono work or community service, WLC graduates consistently show up.”

That same commitment to service continues through programs like Wills for Heroes, a statewide partnership between the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Widener Law Commonwealth that provides free estate planning documents for first responders, veterans, and their families.

Paul Edger ’11, a former chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, or YLD, has helped lead the program’s growth over the past decade.

“Professor Hussey was my wills and trusts professor and I never thought I’d end up working in that area,” Edger said. “It wasn’t until I became YLD chair that I truly saw the impact the program made for veterans and first responders. Over 12 years, we’ve completed 26,000 packages statewide.”

When the pandemic paused events, Edger reached out to Widener Law Commonwealth to help bring the program back. “In the final months of my term in 2022, I asked the law school to host the first Wills for Heroes event in nearly two years, and then-Dean Hussey and the administration jumped on it,” he said. “Since then, the students… have taken the lead in coordinating volunteers and attorneys.”

Since the program’s return, more than 250 veterans and first responders have been served directly through events at Widener Law Commonwealth, adding a powerful local impact to the statewide total.

The event has become one of the school’s largest annual service efforts, giving students hands-on experience drafting real wills under attorney supervision.

“It’s one of our biggest events every year,” Edger said. “Students get a true sense of what it means to serve clients and the community. For me, it’s also a way to give back to Widener not with money, but with opportunities that connect students to real work and real people.”

William “Ski” Rozier ’04 entered the evening division while working full-time as a police officer. He remembers professors who stayed late to help students succeed.

“They were sincerely invested in us,” he said. “That selflessness is something I’ve carried forward.”

Law school also reshaped how Rozier approached leadership. “Learning to think like a lawyer changed everything,” he said. “Critical thinking became automatic. It helps me see situations from multiple angles and make decisions based on facts and fairness.”

He said Widener’s influence runs deep. “The camaraderie and sense of community are what make Widener special. People recognize our graduates as ethical, well-prepared professionals.”

As Widener Law Commonwealth celebrates 35 years, its focus remains the same: expanding access, elevating ethics, and empowering service.

“Our students and alumni remind us what’s possible when education and opportunity meet,” cummings said. “That’s the legacy we’ll keep building for the next 35 years.”