History of the Benchers Society|Levels of the Benchers Society
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The Benchers Society
The term "Bencher" derives from the English "Master of the Bench". A Bencher is a senior barrister who has been selected as a member of the governing body of his Inn of Court. The UW Law School Benchers Soceity carries on the tradition of Benchers as the top of the alumni in support of their "Inn" -- the University of Wisconsin Law School. They are the most committed to the Law School, the class of lawyers and alumni who believe that the Law School should not just be a great school, but should strive to be the best.
History of the Benchers Society
In 1963, a dedicated group of alumni led by David Beckwith (1952) and Robert Curry (1953) agreed to make annual contributions to support a discretionary fund for the Dean of the Law School. The purpose of the fund was to provide funds wherever needed and determined by the Dean. Beckwith and Curry corralled ninety-eight of their closest friends to join them in pledging $100 a year to the Benchers Society Fund.
Dean George Young, who worked with Beckwith and Curry in establishing the Benchers Society, is reputed to have kept the money from the Benchers Fund in the desk of his drawer for immediate use when emergencies arose. The practice of literally pulling money out of a drawer ended with Dean Young, but figuratively it continues because the Dean is often called upon to come up with funding for emerging needs and he must act with flexibility, creativity, and rapidly to move the UW Law School forward in the competitive educational environment. The ability to act quickly and responsively to opportunities that maintain and enhance the reputation of UW Law School are all principles that go back to the Bencher Society's roots, to the vision of Beckwith and Curry, and ultimately, to the English tradition of Benchers as the top of the class and the most committed.
Levels of the Benchers Society
In 2007, a group of committed alumni served on the Benchers Society Finance Committee. This committee revisited the status and requirements of being a Bencher and proposed some changes to the Dean and the Law School Board of Visitors. These changes were voted on and adopted by the group to create levels within the Benchers Society to encourage support from current Benchers and to encourage younger alumni to become a Bencher.
Bencher:
The Benchers Society Finance Committee believed that the current level of Bencher remain as the hallmark of the group. However, it was determined that it was necessary to increase the annual donation required to be a Bencher to remain as a viable resource to the Dean. The increase would occur in phases to a level that truly reflects the merit of being a Bencher: 1) $1,000 in 2008; 2) $1,500 in 2009; 3) $2,000 in 2010; and 4) $2,500 in 2011. This category is recognized as the top level of commitment and the highest level within the Benchers Society.
Barrister Bencher:
Membership to the Benchers Society in this category is at sole discretion of the Dean and consists of those whose membership the Dean concludes will benefit the Benchers Society and the Law School. Annual dues for this group are $500.
Alumni Bencher:
This level of Benchers is reserved for alumni who graduate from the Law School within the past five years. The starting dues for them will be determined by their graduation year. Annual dues will be $100 for the first year after graduation from law school, increasing by $100 per year up to $500 in the fifth year. Subsequently, each alumnus will be invited to become a full Bencher, or will voluntarily assume another status.
Lifetime Bencher:
Membership at this level is at the sole discretion of the Dean and is reserved for those who have contributed to the Benchers Society or the Law School to the extent that the Dean concludes that to preclude membership to the Benchers Society would constitute an injustice. Annual dues are $500.
For more information on the Benchers Society
Contact Jini Rabas, Director of Alumni Relations
(608) 263-7906 or jmrabas@wisc.edu