News Archive

By Alicia Dean Carlson

John Render, ‘71, confesses that a recent gift to the law school from his law firm
has an element of self-interest.

“We do have a slightly ulterior motive,” Render says. “We want to be able to continue to
recruit the very best graduates.”

Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman, based in Indianapolis and with more than 150 attorneys and offices in Wisconsin, Kentucky and Michigan, is one of the nation’s top health care law firms. Hall Render partners made the $200,000 gift to the law school’s $12 million dollar IMPACT Campaign to benefit the William S. and Christine S. Hall Center for Law and Health intended to support the center’s excellence in research initiatives and health law education.

The Hall Center for Law and Health—already a top-ranked program—should continue
to attract top law students and scholars. The law school’s strength in health law is one more important factor in building Indiana’s reputation as a major player in the biomedical field with a respected medical school and major industry muscle from companies like Eli Lilly and Co. and several major hospital corporations, according to William Thompson ‘87 the firm’s president.

“We would like to see it continue to grow into a destination program,” Thompson says.

But the gift also reflects a legacy of support and loyalty that began with the late William
S. Hall ‘51, whose work as general counsel to the Indiana Hospital Association led to the
firm’s founding in 1971.

Hall—along with Render, Thompson and scores of other attorneys in the firm—are
grateful for the law school’s commitment to providing an evening program.

“I would not be here without that opportunity,” says Render, who taught high school
English and history during the day before rushing off to law school classes in the evening.
“Many of us can say that.”

Pictured left to right: William Thompson, ‘87, and John Render, ‘71.