The University of Pennsylvania Law School has received three major gifts totaling $12.1 million that will fund new scholarships and other forms of financial aid, public interest programming and the teaching of legal practice skills.

Penn Law received an $8.6 million bequest from the estate of Elizabeth Hamilton, which will be used to provide financial aid, scholarships and grants to Penn Law students in honor of her late father, Owen J. Roberts—a US Supreme Court Justice, Penn Law graduate and dean of the Law School. Roberts Scholars will exemplify the Law School’s commitment to academic excellence, service to the community and future contributions to the profession.

“These gifts provide crucial support for students and programs across the Law School,” said Ted Ruger, dean of Penn Law. “This funding will help us continue to attract the best students, while supporting them financially, academically and professionally. It’s fitting that this gift is in memory of Justice Roberts, one of the most noted jurists of his time, and a man who has such a rich history with the Law School.”

The funds provided in Justice Roberts’ name will increase the already robust scholarship and financial aid support currently provided by the Law School. Penn Law offers a variety of merit-based and need-based scholarships to incoming students to ensure access to an elite legal education for students of all economic backgrounds. 

Born in Philadelphia in 1875, Justice Roberts attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Penn, he graduated at the top of his class from Penn Law in 1898. He taught at Penn as a teaching fellow and professor of law from 1903-1919. He was appointed to the US Supreme Court in 1930 and—following his judicial retirement in 1945—served as dean of Penn Law from 1948 to 1951. As dean, one of Justice Roberts’ key achievements was to provide students greater scholarship funding.

In addition, Robert Toll and Jane Toll, 1966 graduates of Penn Law and Penn’s Graduate School of Education, respectively, have given $2.5 million to further support public interest programs at Penn Law, through the Toll Public Interest Center (TPIC). Mr. Toll, the executive chairman of the board of Toll Brothers, Inc., the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, and his wife have been longtime supporters of Penn Law and its public interest programming.

Penn Law’s public interest program was renamed the Toll Public Interest Center in 2006 in recognition of a $10 million gift from the Tolls, which greatly expanded TPIC’s activities and scope (Almanac May 9, 2006). The TPIC, which supports 31 student-led pro bono projects, also provides financial support to students seeking to enter public and government service. The Toll Loan Repayment Assistance Program (TolLRAP) allows students who pursue public interest or government careers to receive up to $140,000 in tuition reimbursement.

Michael J. Rotko, a 1963 Penn Law graduate, has given $1 million in memory of his late wife, Denise A. Rotko, NU’73, GNU’76, who received her nursing degrees from Penn’s School of Nursing and also taught there. She was the stepmother of Thomas Rotko, L’94 and mother of Daniel Rotko, L’15.

The funds will endow the Denise A. Rotko Associate Deanship of Legal Writing and Communications, to be held by Eleanor Barrett, the head of Penn Law’s Legal Practice Skills program. 

“Lawyers need to be strong communicators, and we work very hard to make sure our students are effective legal writers,” said Dean Ruger. “This generous endowment highlights the critical work our legal skills program does to teach our students to think, act and communicate like lawyers.”

As the Denise A. Rotko Dean of Legal Writing and Communications, Ms. Barrett (Almanac January 22, 2013) will administer and teach the first-year legal practice skills course; design and implement new skills, writing and communications courses and programs across the Law School; and oversee the moot court program.
 

“My wife was devoted to teaching at Penn—as a student, an alumna and a faculty member,” said Mr. Rotko. “This gift honors her commitment to ensuring that students get the skills they need to be successful in their careers.”

Penn Law traces its history to 1790 when James Wilson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, framer of the Constitution and member of the first US Supreme Court, delivered the University of Pennsylvania’s first lectures in law to President George Washington and members of his Cabinet. Today the hallmarks of the Penn Law experience are a cross-disciplinary, globally-focused legal education and vibrant and collegial community. Penn Law prepares graduates to navigate an increasingly complex world as leaders and influential decision-makers in the law and related fields.