Trevor D. Rees-Jones

Founded in 1769, Dartmouth is a member of the Ivy League and consistently ranks among the world's greatest academic institutions. Dartmouth has forged a singular identity for combining its deep commitment to outstanding undergraduate liberal arts and graduate education with distinguished research and scholarship in the Arts & Sciences and its three leading professional schools—the Geisel School of Medicine, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business.

We are a global law school community of distinguished alumni residing throughout the United States and in more than 75 countries. Our faculty is well-recognized for its outstanding teaching and scholarly leadership in such areas as dispute resolution (including litigation), international and comparative law, intellectual property, corporate, commercial and tax law. We offer a rich curriculum of over 165 upper class courses in subjects such as oil and gas, health and environmental law. Over one-half of our upper class courses have fewer than 25 students; three-fourths have fewer than 50 students. The first year class is divided into three sections (two full-time and one part-time evening) of approximately 90 students each, with small legal writing sections of approximately 25 students each. We emphasize the vital skill of legal writing through our six-hour legal research, writing and advocacy course and an elective three-hour edited writing seminar. The law quadrangle provides an idyllic setting for learning. The Underwood Law Library houses the largest private law collection in the Southwest. The Godwin Gruber Lawyers Inn offers students an elegant backdrop for study breaks and meals. A secure wireless network is available in all law school buildings. Most importantly, our small size fosters a scholarly community that features interaction with faculty, attention to your personal needs, and lifelong friendships. We have an active student government, five respected law journals, six specialized legal clinics and two related projects, numerous moot court and mock trial competitions, and one of the finest Career Services Offices in the country. In addition, students participate in the thriving intellectual life of the school. We have been chosen as the national headquarters for the Appellate Judges Educational Institute. In 2006 the Institute brought over 225 appellate judges and attorneys from across the country to SMU, including Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the Chief Justices of Texas and Indiana, and the Chief Judge of the Sixth Circuit. Recently, the 35 students in our SMU Oxford program assisted with our Supreme Court Summit in which Justices O’Connor, Ginsburg, and Breyer participated, as did Justices from Europe's highest court, the European Court of Justice. In spring 2007, we were honored to host a group of distinguished Justices from the ECJ on campus. A thriving community of scholars call Dedman Law home. Our distinguished faculty, coupled with our intelligent and inquisitive student body personify Robert Dedman's words, "Leadership starts with learning."

Graduates of Highland Park High School have been elected Governor of Texas, served as one of the nation’s astronauts, commanded the first Trident-class submarine launched by the United States, and distinguished themselves in fields ranging from medicine and law to the fine arts and journalism. Almost ninety years ago, the class of 1924 became the first graduating class of Highland Park High School, beginning a tradition of excellence and success at HPHS that is still valued today. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School and rated "Exemplary" by the Texas Education Agency every single year since the state accountability system began, HPHS is consistently ranked among the best schools in the nation. In 2010, U.S. News and World Report recognized HPHS as one of "America's Best High Schools." It has also been named a top school by such publications as Newsweek, Parade, Money, The Wall Street Journal, D Magazine, and Texas Monthly. Today approximately 2,000 students in grades nine through twelve attend Highland Park High School. In 2010, 16 HPHS students were named National Merit Finalists and 30 were named National Merit Commended students. HPHS students also earned an average SAT composite score of 1762 and an average ACT composite score of 26.3 in 2009. In addition, the Class of 2009 was offered over $18 million in college scholarships and earned 66,107 community service hours. HPHS has one of the most comprehensive Advanced Placement offerings in the Southwest at the heart of its college preparatory program. In 2010, 1,043 Highland Park High School students submitted 2,773 AP exams, with 64% scoring “3” or higher. You will find not only superior academic achievement at HPHS, but also the desire and ability to excel in music, drama, journalism, athletics, arts and other fields. More than half of the students at Highland Park participate on school athletic teams, and approximately 80% of HPHS students are active in extracurricular activities. In 2005, Sports Illustrated named the HPHS athletics program #1 in Texas and the 16th best high school athletics program in the country. HPHS students continue to excel after graduation as well, with approximately 97% of each year's graduates enrolling in colleges and universities. The HPHS Mission Statement reads: “The mission of Highland Park High School is to provide an environment which will enable students to develop and to continue the lifelong academic, cultural and physical aspects of learning in order to foster visionary individuals who strive toward excellence with a sense of global and technological awareness and who will go forth to serve the community and world as responsible citizens.” Even today, HPHS students continue to live out our school motto, "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve."