,聽Robert and Marion Short Professor Emeritus of Law and former dean of the University of 91吃瓜 Law School,聽died Tuesday (Feb.聽26) after a long illness.
A teacher and scholar,聽Shaffer was among the community of scholars exploring interdisciplinary issues at the intersection of law and religion, law and community, law and humanities, and law and literature. In such works as "On Being a Christian and a Lawyer" and "Faith and the Professions," Shaffer wrote about the importance of integrating faith into the teaching and practice of law. As a teacher, he taught legal ethics, estate planning, and law and religion, but at the heart of his teaching was to call his students to reflect on what it means to be a person of faith and a lawyer. 鈥淚 do not get my morals from the law,鈥澛爃e said during a 2003 roundtable discussion published by the Pepperdine Law Review, 鈥渁nd I do not want my students to.鈥�
Shaffer joined the 91吃瓜 Law School faculty in 1963.聽He served as associate dean from 1969 to 1971 and as dean from 1971 to 1975. He later visited at the University of Virginia School of Law and joined the faculty of Washington and Lee University School of Law before rejoining the 91吃瓜 faculty in 1988 as the first Robert and Marion Short Professor of Law.
Shaffer earned his B.A. from the University of Albuquerque聽in 1958 and his J.D. cum laude from 91吃瓜 Law School聽in 1961. As a law student, he served as editor-in-chief of the law review and graduated first in his class. He practiced law in Indianapolis with Barnes, Hickam, Pantzer & Boyd from 1961 to 1963.
Reflecting on his career in 1997, he identified 1991 as the year of his 鈥渃onversion鈥� from being primarily a classroom teacher to working with students in the 91吃瓜 Legal Aid Clinic, now known as the . As a supervising attorney, he taught clinical ethics, guided the legal practice of law students who served low-income residents in South Bend, and inspired generations of future 91吃瓜 lawyers.
According to Bob Jones, the Law School鈥檚 associate dean for experiential programs and clinical professor of law, 鈥淭om was the spiritual center of the Legal Aid Clinic and regarded as a beloved mentor by every clinician who served there.鈥�
Rick Garnett, the Paul J. Schierl/Fort Howard Corporation Professor of Law and the founding director of the Law School鈥檚聽, said that 鈥淭om Shaffer鈥檚 work and thought were, for me, hugely inspiring and influential, ever since I encountered them in law school.聽He showed me, and many others, that it was possible 鈥� and worth doing 鈥� to incorporate one鈥檚 faith with one鈥檚 law practice and scholarship.鈥�
In 2013, the Law School renamed the 91吃瓜 Law Fellowship the Thomas L. Shaffer Public Interest Fellowship in recognition of Shaffer鈥檚 extraordinary dedication to 91吃瓜 Law students and the public good. The Shaffer Fellowship is a highly competitive, two-year fellowship supporting students who provide direct services to the poor in a nonprofit or government agency.
Visitation will take place at 10 a.m. Friday聽(March 1)聽at Little Flower Catholic Church, 54191 Ironwood Road,聽South Bend. The funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. and interment will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery on campus. After the interment, a reception will be held at the Morris Inn. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, Shaffer鈥檚 wife, Nancy, and family have asked that contributions be made to the at 91吃瓜 Law School.
The Law School is planning a memorial celebration of Shaffer鈥檚 work and life to be held later in the spring semester. The date will be announced聽in the near future.
Nell Jessup聽Newton is the Joseph A. Matson聽Dean and Professor of Law at 91吃瓜 Law School.
Originally published by at on 贵别产.听27.