Sturm College of Law News
Jack Hanley named the first MSLA Robert B. Yegge Professor
July 01, 2011
I am pleased to announce that Jack Hanley is the first recipient of the Master of Science in Legal Administration (MSLA) Robert B. Yegge Professorship.
If you are familiar with the MSLA program, you know Jack Hanley. Jack has been associated with DU Law since 1967. He worked alongside Dean Yegge in developing the MSJA/MSLA curriculum, and he has taught Human Resources for more than a decade!
Jack began his tenure at the University of Denver under Dean Yegge after graduating from the University of Colorado. Shortly after graduating, Hanley was informed of an operations position at the College of Law; Dean Yegge wanted to spend more time working on his academic responsibilities and was seeking a business mind to handle the ‘business of running a law school’. Needless to say, Dean Yegge hired Jack but not before putting him through the “gauntlet” to see if Jack could keep up with the work!
Jack was kept busy with the day to day operations of the law school, and soon Dean Yegge asked Hanley to assist with the development of law school curriculums and programs. In 1970 Dean Yegge, Harry Lawson and Jack worked to develop a curriculum for a summer program based on court administration to be held in Aspen, Colorado. The program, named the Institute for Court Management (ICM), was a huge success and laid the groundwork for the Master of Science in Judicial Administration (MSJA). In 1972, the College of Law graduated its first MSJA students, and became the first and only academic institution to offer a masters degree in judicial administration.
Going on the belief that there would be greater acceptance among the judiciary if the MSJA program was part of a reputable law school, the program added a separate track for training administrators for public and private law offices in 1980. A decade later, in 1990, the two programs were combined to create the Master of Science in Legal Administration (MSLA). (For more detailed history, please click here)
Today, Jack is executive director at Reilly Pozner, LLP. He continues to bring his wealth of knowledge to the MSLA classroom, teaching Human Resources during the fall term. Ask any student who has attended his class, and you’ll undoubtedly hear how Jack is an invaluable resource in this field and will always go the extra mile for the students.
Jack describes Dean Yegge as a visionary and a leader…. He not only had great foresight but he carried out his visions. Dean Yegge broadened how young lawyers thought about the legal field. In retrospect, Dean Yegge was a pioneer of many things, but perhaps most notably he is considered by many to be the pioneer of legal administration.
The goal of the Yegge professorship is to see that Dean Yegge’s wishes and vision are carried out. Jack was very surprised and humbled by this award, as he did not expect to receive anything for something that he enjoys so much, Dean Yegge was a great friend and mentor to Jack, and to receive this award is something that “I will cherish every day,” says Jack.
THANK YOU Jack and Congratulations!
Hope Kentnor
Director, MSLA