The Spirit of the Law
Forget every single bad lawyer joke you’ve ever heard. Turn instead to the best case scenario. Subject is Gene Shreve, law professor and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Having led students through the process of law school for more than 30 years, Gene Shreve is an IU institution unto himself. "I still marvel at life and our endless potential for growth," he says before continuing, "I think it remarkable that year after year, Indiana Law has been populated by truly wonderful people."
Help for the Poor
Gene’s career began in the Massachusetts Department of Attorney General and as law clerk to a federal judge before spending several years as a poverty lawyer with the Boston Legal Assistance Project. He returned to Harvard Law to teach and pursue a graduate degree. Then, after faculty positions in Vermont, Washington D.C., and New York, he joined the Indiana Law faculty to teach Civil Procedure and Conflict of Laws.
His office used to be crammed with American folk art, but now brims with African and Oceanic art, an interest he developed while teaching in Paris. "I find that an office full of art removes a lot of the anxiety and stress students can feel when visiting a professor’s office."
Rewarding Compassion
That compassion is vintage Shreve. His gift to Indiana Law is tailored for people who wish to pursue the practice of law through some form of public service. "I wanted to support students who want to serve the public interest by pursuing a legal career outside the law firm partner track. Their idealism and social commitment should be rewarded."
Gene has won prestigious awards in both teaching and research, yet his demeanor remains unassuming and genuinely attentive. "I know a lot of law schools are internally quite competitive, but student and faculty members of the Indiana Law community really support each other. That makes coming to work a pleasure. The enterprise of a law school is education, and a community environment is more conducive to learning."
Scholarships Encourage Public Service
The direction of Gene’s gift stems from what life was like during his time as a law student. "My loan agreement contained a provision that offered loan forgiveness if I went into certain kinds of public interest work as a lawyer after graduation. This provision helped me out, but has long since vanished from law school loan agreements. To provide scholarships to students committed to practicing law in the public interest will restore some of that support."
Lawyer, professor, mentor, philosopher—Gene Shreve typifies the reason why Indiana Law excels, and why its graduates show such exemplary support. It’s the spirit of the place and the people coming together for a greater good.
