We in the Graduate Legal Studies and International Programs offices want to welcome you, the incoming students in the LL.M., M.C.L., S.J.D., Ph.D., Certificate, and Exchange programs, to the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. We are looking forward to working with you and getting to know you while you are a student here.
We have many resources available to you, from your first query to our office through your matriculation and graduation, and we also want to introduce ourselves to you so that you have a better understanding of whom to contact when you have questions.
Director of Graduate Legal Studies and Lecturer in Law, Professor Gabrielle Goodwin, has been working with international students for over 20 years, teaching both in the United States and at universities around the world. Her research interests include the intersection of law and language and cultural heritage law. Professor Goodwin oversees all academic issues within the Graduate Legal Studies Program, including course counseling, class schedules, transfers between degree programs, and preparing for and taking a U.S. bar exam. In addition, Professor Goodwin teaches Introduction to U.S. Law, Academic Legal Writing: Dissertation Fundamentals, Criminal Procedure: LLM, and Legal Discourse and Writing.
Assistant Dean for International Programs, Ms. Lesley Davis has worked at the Law School since 2003. She holds undergraduate degrees in English and French and a master’s degree in Central Eurasian Studies. She speaks French and Hungarian. She has worked with international students and scholars for more than 25 years. Dean Davis is responsible for all of the non-academic aspects of your stay in Bloomington and at the Law School (for example, visa status issues, personal or family emergencies, post-graduation plans, stress/culture shock). See Dean Davis when you have non-academic questions.
Director of Graduate Admissions, Mr. William (Will) Schaad began working with Indiana University's international students in 1992 while still a student there himself. During the past 20 years, he has served IU's international applicants and students as a director of the SPEA International Scholarship Program, academic advisor, personal counselor, admissions counselor, and international credentials analyst. He has been with the Maurer School of Law since 2010, first as admissions specialist for the JD Program, and currently as the Director of Graduate Admissions. Mr. Schaad oversees all aspects of the admissions process for the Graduate Legal Studies Program and can answer any admissions-related questions.
Coordinator of Graduate Legal Studies and International Programs, Cassidy Garner, is a 2022 graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences and Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, earning Bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and International Studies, with a minor in Gender Studies. Ms. Garner is your first point of contact for questions about Canvas, One.IU, online orientation, final exams, and most general concerns. Please let her know if you don’t know which member of the department to contact.
Ms. Lara Gose is the coordinator for the Stewart Center on the Global Legal Profession at the Law School. In her role at the Center, she manages grants, develops Center programs and coordinates Center events. Through the Center’s close relationship with the Office of Graduate and Legal Studies, she works with students in the graduate and exchange programs in the area of professional development and manages the Stewart Fellows Global Externship Program for JD students. Ms. Gose can help you with your professional development goals, including preparing for a job or internship search, applying to graduate programs or for grants/scholarships, or taking part in the Learning and Working program (new in spring 2021).
Student ambassadors are JD students who correspond with and meet with small groups of international graduate students to help them adjust to life in the law school, Bloomington and the United States as smoothly as possible. Among other things, Student ambassadors plan social activities for their groups and help the members of their group meet other students and learn the culture of the law school. If you have questions about life in Bloomington, or the logistics of getting here and settling in, you Student ambassador can help.
Teaching assistants (TAs) are JD students who provide academic help to students enrolled in Legal Writing and Research Methods or Academic Legal Writing. They work closely with Professor Lisa Farnsworth. Students meet with a TA to review their work on writing assignments or to get additional explanations of information discussed in class.