Key Takeaways
- • Alumni Elaine Fieldman and Rick Wiener, along with Rick's wife Raj, gave generous gifts to launch the MSU College of Law Moot Court Endowment, according to MSUToday.
- • The donors met as members of a six-person moot court team at the Detroit College of Law (now MSU College of Law), where they were class of 1976 graduates.
- • MSU College of Law's moot court program ranked No. 6 this year among the nation's top 200 law schools, marking the seventh consecutive year in the top 16.
- • The endowment will be celebrated at the College of Law's Castle Boardroom, Room 343, on Nov. 6, with alumni invited to attend and observe the moot court.
- • Each donor previously created scholarship funds, including the Elaine Fieldman Endowed Scholarship and the Richard and Raj Wiener DCL Legacy Scholarship.
Summary
Elaine Fieldman and Rick Wiener, both 1976 graduates of the Detroit College of Law (now MSU College of Law), met when they were selected for the same moot court team and have remained friends for roughly 50 years. According to MSUToday, the friendship inspired them to fund the MSU College of Law Moot Court Endowment alongside Rick's wife, Raj. The endowment is intended to support law students and strengthen a program the donors credit with sharpening their advocacy, oral argument, and writing skills.
The donors described the program's development since their time there. Rick Wiener recalled that only one national moot court competition existed during their studies, in which he and Elaine both competed, whereas the program now participates in many more. MSU's College of Law ranked No. 6 this year among the nation's top 200 law schools, marking the seventh consecutive year in the top 16, according to the article. Elaine Fieldman, who retired as a partner at Barris, Sott, Denn and Driker, said her first two jobs after law school were in appellate courts, and that moot court's appellate focus was directly helpful to her career.
Rick and Raj Wiener spent their careers in local and state government roles and private practice, operating their own firm from 1991 until their retirement in 2016. The article notes that each donor has established scholarship funds, including the Elaine Fieldman Endowed Scholarship and the Richard and Raj Wiener DCL Legacy Scholarship. The donors hope other alumni will contribute to the endowment, whether they participated in moot court or know someone who did.
The College of Law will recognize the donors at a celebration on Nov. 6 in the Castle Boardroom, Room 343. Alumni may attend and observe the moot court, and those interested in serving as volunteer judges can complete an online form. Donors seeking to give can contact [email protected]. The article did not disclose the dollar amount of the gifts.
The donors described the program's development since their time there. Rick Wiener recalled that only one national moot court competition existed during their studies, in which he and Elaine both competed, whereas the program now participates in many more. MSU's College of Law ranked No. 6 this year among the nation's top 200 law schools, marking the seventh consecutive year in the top 16, according to the article. Elaine Fieldman, who retired as a partner at Barris, Sott, Denn and Driker, said her first two jobs after law school were in appellate courts, and that moot court's appellate focus was directly helpful to her career.
Rick and Raj Wiener spent their careers in local and state government roles and private practice, operating their own firm from 1991 until their retirement in 2016. The article notes that each donor has established scholarship funds, including the Elaine Fieldman Endowed Scholarship and the Richard and Raj Wiener DCL Legacy Scholarship. The donors hope other alumni will contribute to the endowment, whether they participated in moot court or know someone who did.
The College of Law will recognize the donors at a celebration on Nov. 6 in the Castle Boardroom, Room 343. Alumni may attend and observe the moot court, and those interested in serving as volunteer judges can complete an online form. Donors seeking to give can contact [email protected]. The article did not disclose the dollar amount of the gifts.
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