Excellent faculty gave of their time to make this unique course possible

When I went to law school - that would be last century, many years ago - law was taught very differently.  We studied Torts, Contracts, Constitutional Law and Property and Probate law.  We learned from appellate decisions out of text books, without really practicing applying the law. 

What a wonderful revelation it was to be a part of Suffolk Law School’s, one-of-a-kind, DUI/OUI course for law students.  The funding of this course by The Century Council, now the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org), gave students the opportunity to step out of their classrooms into the school’s courtrooms.  There, in addition to learning the law, they experienced the practical aspects of prosecution, defense, and adjudication of impaired driving cases.  With the guidance from the faculty of judges, professors, and lawyers, students also learned of the importance of professionalism, civility, and ethical behavior. 

Having presided over hundreds, if not thousands of impaired driving cases, I was honored to be a part of the excellent faculty that gave of their time to make this unique course possible.   Responsibility.org and Suffolk Law School are to be congratulated for providing the practical experience and knowledge that the law students need to be able to understand the legal, societal, and human impact of impaired driving cases. 

Judge Robert Pirraglia

Rhode Island District Court Judge (Senior Status)

*The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) or any Responsibility.org member.*

Image courtesy.