News - The Dean's Brief

Widener University Commonwealth Law School celebrated its 35th anniversary recently with a sold-out gala at the Hilton Harrisburg that brought together more than 340 alumni, faculty, students, and friends for an evening of reflection, gratitude, and pride in how far the institution has come. In a…

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…

Widener University Commonwealth Law School has awarded the 2025–26 Reybitz Business Advising Program Fellowship to third-year student Elizabeth Wenger. The fellowship was established through a gift from Ronald Reybitz, a 1996 graduate of the law school who serves as special counsel to Fitzpatrick…

When Guy D’Andrea, a 2008 graduate of Widener University Commonwealth Law School, steps into a courtroom, his mission is clear: to be the voice and the shield for those who’ve been silenced. As co-managing partner at Laffey, Bucci, D’Andrea Reich & Ryan, he has built a career representing…

When Donald Smith enrolled in Widener University Commonwealth Law School’s evening division program in the late 1990s, he was already serving as Pennsylvania’s deputy secretary of compensation and insurance under Gov. Tom Ridge. His days were filled with overseeing three bureaus and the state’s…

U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Joseph F. Bianco visited Widener University Commonwealth Law School recently for a talk that offered an inside look at the federal courts and judicial decision making. What began as a professional development event quickly turned into an interactive civics class that put…

For Amanda LoPiccolo, a 2005 graduate of Widener University Commonwealth Law School, family law is both challenging and deeply rewarding. For the past 18 years, she has served as an attorney with Dauphin County Domestic Relations, where her days are filled with everything from managing the court…

Widener University Commonwealth Law School has named third-year student Brent Finkbeiner and second-year student Grant Villa-Rodriguez as Patrick J. Murphy Law and Government fellows for the 2025-26 academic year. The competitive fellowship, funded by Widener Law Commonwealth alumnus Patrick J.…

Kristi Thomas ’07 turned the opportunity she found at Widener University Commonwealth Law School into a career milestone, rising to partner at Sheppard Mullin, one of the nation’s top firms. A Pennsylvania native who grew up in the state and earned her undergraduate degree at the University of…

  Widener University Commonwealth Law School has once again provided LSAT preparation to LSAC’s Plus, Guided Journey Program, which has more than doubled in size, now serving more than 1000 scholars this year.  The school’s Center for Equity & Justice recently secured a $110,000…

Kristen B. Hamilton, a 2005 graduate of Widener University Commonwealth Law School, has been sworn in as the 131st president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, also known as the PBA. She is the youngest female president in the association’s history and only the eighth woman to hold the position.…

For several Widener University Commonwealth Law School students, the PLAN MLK Jr. Internship Program became more than just a summer opportunity; it became a personal and professional turning point. Rishi Nayee, a rising third-year student, chose to spend his summer working with the Community…