Welcome Message from Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr.

It is my honor to welcome you to Drake University Law School. Here, you will find a community of accomplished faculty, engaged administrators, exceptional students, and extraordinary alumni united in a common purpose: to prepare outstanding lawyers who will promote justice, serve their communities, and uphold the ideals of ethics and professionalism. Our relentless drive and collaborative spirit spark innovative scholarship, creative teaching, and set the standard for an education that combines theory and practice.

At Drake Law School, we recognize the importance of learning by doing. As one of the nation’s 25 oldest law schools, our founders established this institution to teach law in proximity to the courts so students could witness the law in action. From our top-tier legal clinic to our first-in-the-nation trial practicum to our Institute for Justice Reform and Innovation to our centers of excellence, we provide a superior practical training experience. Our frequently cited journals publish exemplary articles that are practical and relevant to the legal community. And our innovative curriculum prepares you with the knowledge, skills, and global perspective essential to practice law effectively in the 21st Century.

At Drake Law, we raise the bar.

• We raise the bar by providing an exceptional learning environment in a welcoming, inclusive community distinguished by accessible and accomplished faculty, dedicated staff, and a collegial student body.
• We raise the bar with small class sizes that allow students to engage closely with one another and our professors.
• We raise the bar with our faculty of leading scholars, dedicated to teaching and producing legal scholarship that shapes public discourse.
• We raise the bar with a learning environment comprised of excellent students from diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
• We raise the bar with our 6,000 strong law alumni who have made extraordinary achievements in the legal profession and who are eager to share their experience and expertise with students.
• And we raise the bar with our location in the capital city of Des Moines that provides our students with unmatched access to the bench, bar, legislature, and leading companies.

The legal profession is a career choice that comes with a profound responsibility: lawyers protect rights, fight for justice, and interpret, or even make, law. Our graduates practice in law firms of all sizes, work as in-house lawyers for corporations, hold positions in government and nonprofits, and serve as judges and elected officials. I am proud to lead this distinguished Law School that is dedicated to training the next generation of lawyers and leaders. I am inspired everyday by the work and accomplishments of the community I am privileged to serve, one that is dedicated to the Drake Way: practical skills, collegiality, student success, and public service.

I encourage you to explore our website to learn more about our programs and resources. It is my pleasure to also invite you to our campus so that you can experience for yourself our exceptional community and learn more about what makes a Drake Law education so special.

Sincerely,

Roscoe Jones, Jr.
Dean and Professor of Law

Video message from Dean Roscoe Jones

Biography

Learn more about Dean Jones's background and experience. Read his biography here.