John Lee Sets Unified Goals for John Marshall Foundation Efforts

As the new president of The John Marshall Law School Foundation, John Lee has set several important goals for his office.

"We are going to work to bring a unified approach to our fundraising efforts," he explained. "There are many elements to the law school, from the J.D. program to the graduate centers, the two clinics, endowed and special scholarships, established programs such as the annual intellectual property law conference, and the work of the faculty. All our constituencies need to be included."

A 1973 graduate and a member of The John Marshall Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors, Lee stressed that "alumni are the cornerstone of any school's fundraising efforts. I will be working with the Office of Alumni Relations to develop relationships with our alumni support groups across the country to encourage them to be involved and support our work."

Lee is undertaking a systematic review of foundations and other outside funding sources. "We are finding several foundations with funding some guidelines that dovetail with our programs and clinics," he added. He praised his hardworking staff which has helped him with his transition to president of the foundation.

Dean John E. Corkery and Lee are sharing the good news of the foundation with friends and alumni. "The dean highlights the many accomplishments of our students, and it is under his leadership that we've undertaken several exciting initiatives, such as adding to our faculty ranks and establishing the Veterans Legal Support Center and Clinic," he said. "And the dean and I have the full support of our board of trustees, and President Len Amari, who's done a great job at energizing the board."

Lee, the grandson of Edward T. Lee, one of the law school's founders, has his own John Marshall stories. For example, in its early years, the law school had only three full-time employees. In addition to his grandfather and his uncle, Noble W. Lee, his father, Edward N. Lee, served as the law school's bookkeeper after he had gone to Harvard Business School and returned to Chicago.

John Marshall's long history of offering educational opportunities to all qualified students, regardless of their backgrounds, is something that Lee strongly believes in and "I'm excited about my work to help ensure those founding principles are upheld, while at the same time helping the school to provide a legal education of the highest caliber."

He wants to hear the many wonderful stories at the law school. He will be relying on faculty and staff to share the institutional history and stories of the graduates they have interacted with during their careers.

Lee retired as assistant regional director for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission-Midwest Regional Office on Nov. 30, 2008. He had been on staff for 38 years. He also stepped down from serving on the law school's board of trustees, and its board of visitors.

"I never really retired," he laughs. "Two weeks later I stepped in to the (foundation) presidency, and during those two weeks of 'retirement' Len Amari had me working on the office transition."