The Lincoln Memorial University-John J. Duncan, Jr., School of Law (LMU-DSOL) will hold its inaugural commencement ceremony on Saturday in the Knoxville Civic Auditorium at 10 a.m. The institution’s namesake, Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr., will deliver the commencement address to the inaugural class of 75 graduates.
The LMU Board of Trustees announced that it would name its newly established School of Law for the long-serving congressman on March 27, 2009, and a few months later the first class of part-time students embarked on their studies.
At the naming announcement, LMU Chairman Autry O.V. “Pete” DeBusk said, “It is fitting that this program has been named for a great lawyer and civic leader who has helped so many. Our mission is to provide educational opportunities to the people of this region and Congressman Duncan has been serving this region for over 20 years. Jimmy’s family has served the people of Knoxville on the local, state and national level for generations now. When we were looking for a home to grow this program in, we were naturally drawn to this ‘Old City Hall’ with its history as a school and City Hall. Now that it is going to be known as the Duncan School of Law, it is like it is coming full circle from the time that Jimmy’s father was mayor of Knoxville and Jimmy was running around its halls.”
Duncan currently serves as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Highways and Transit Subcommittee. He also holds seats on the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He has served in Congress since 1988. Prior to his election to Congress, he served as a State Trial Judge, having been appointed by Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander in 1981. He started his career in law in 1973 with a private law practice in Knoxville with Zane Daniel. Duncan graduated from the University of Tennessee and The George Washington University National Law Center. He is married to the former Lynn Hawkins and they have four children and six grandchildren.
Graduates of Lincoln Memorial University-Duncan School of Law are approved by the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners to apply to take the Tennessee Bar Exam through December 31, 2017.
The Lincoln Memorial University-Duncan School of Law is located in Knoxville’s Historic Old City Hall Building. LMU-DSOL is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community, and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of lawyers to provide sound legal service in the often underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DSOL, call 1-800-325-0900, ext. 5303 or visit us online at www.lmunet.edu/law.
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