$2.5 million gift to DePaul College of Law establishes endowed faculty chair

CHICAGO — DePaul University’s College of Law is advancing its academic excellence with generous support from DePaul alumnus Jack Martin (LAS ’58, JD ’61, DHL ’13), who has long given back to the university philanthropically and through servant leadership.

“DePaul is unique in its mission to provide educational access to all, support leading scholarship, and offer students a real-world education that connects academia with professional life and community service,” said DePaul President Robert L. Manuel. “Endowing a chair also directly supports academic freedom, and I’m very grateful for dedicated alumni like Jack Martin who embody our mission. I’m grateful for his steadfast support.”  

Martin’s generous support totaling $2.5 million will create the Jack Martin Endowed Chair in the college. The endowment will support the teaching and research of a faculty member who is an active voice in constitutional law, human rights law, immigration law and related public policy issues. Martin has previously given generously to the college’s John P. Minogue Minority Endowed Scholarship and the university’s Holtschneider Chair in Vincentian Studies.

“Jack Martin is an exceptional role model for our faculty and students,” said College of Law Interim Dean Julie Lawton. “His lifetime of support for his alma mater aids faculty members who contribute to legal scholarship and engage in public discourse, which in turn benefits and inspires the diverse student body they mentor.”

Martin’s dedication to DePaul and its law school is both personal and rooted in a shared affinity for the university’s Vincentian mission of service. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1958 and a law degree in 1961 from DePaul. Martin had a long, successful career in the legal profession, including serving as Vice President–General Counsel of Ford Motor Company. He rounded out a 50-year-plus legal career by spending eight years working full time as a volunteer at Gulfcoast Legal Services in Sarasota, Florida, a non-profit legal aid office, representing undocumented immigrants in immigration and appellate courts.

Martin served as a member of the university’s Board of Trustees from 1998 to 2007, when he was named a Life Trustee and presented with an honorary degree for outstanding contributions to the College of Law and the legal profession. He also served on the College of Law Dean’s Council advisory board from 2008 to 2014.

In commenting on his interest in immigration and human rights, Martin said, “These are hard days for immigrants. It is clear that immigration laws, regulations and enforcement policies are in need of reform. I hope that through this gift DePaul will work with others to seek principled changes consistent with its Vincentian mission.”

Martin’s altruism has been ubiquitous throughout his legal career. In 1985, Martin founded Ford’s pro bono program through which Ford lawyers provide free legal aid, primarily to senior citizens. In the early 1990s he involved Ford in the recruitment efforts of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Assistance Partnership Project, which makes the resources of private law firms available to legal aid lawyers on a pro bono basis.

His contributions to the legal community also include cofounding the Civil Justice Reform Group, a consortium of corporations that advocate for reform of product liability laws, and establishing the Corporate Advisory Council of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association. After retiring, he volunteered as an attorney with Gulfcoast Legal Services in Sarasota, Florida, a non-profit legal aid organization serving low-income clients. 

DePaul recognized Martin’s service to the business community in 1997 when it awarded him its Law Alumni Service Award. Among other awards Martin has received are the American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award, the American Bar Association Section of Litigation John Minor Wisdom Professionalism and Public Service Award, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association National Award and the State Bar of Michigan Roberts P. Hudson Award.

About DePaul University College of Law

DePaul University College of Law is a respected and integral part of Chicago's renowned legal and business community, committed to providing the academic and professional opportunities that open doors to exciting careers. The DePaul Law faculty is a dynamic blend of leading scholars and respected practitioners. Our law professors focus on innovative programs of instruction and bring real-world experience to the classroom. The College of Law offers JD, Master of Laws (LLM) and Master of Legal Studies (MLS) programs.

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