Professor Jim Klein's Retirement
After 38 years on the College of Law faculty, Professor James M. Klein retired this summer. He was honored for his service at the Law Alumni Gala on September 12. Jim and Heide will be moving to South Carolina later this year where he will serve as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Charleston School of Law. He has touched many lives and contributed to their successes.
Since joining the law faculty in 1971, Jim has made a tremendous difference and made this a better law school in countless ways. In 1971, he co-founded the College of Law Legal Clinic and taught in it until 2000. Through his efforts, representation was provided to the underprivileged and generations of law students learned about life, law and practice. He also served as an associate dean from 1992-3 and as Interim Dean from 1993-5. In 2000, he founded our Public Service Externship Clinic which has provided hundreds of law students the opportunity to do public service work under the supervision of outstanding judges and lawyers across the country.
Professor Klein has been a scholar, with distinguished writings and books in Ohio Civil Practice, unemployment insurance and the laws of China and Australia. He has also served our profession as a member of the ABA Accreditation Committee, participating in over 20 law school inspections, served as University NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative for 17 years and as a member and former president of the local chapter of the American Inns of Court. He has received numerous awards in honor of his service including the Access to Justice Distinguished Service Award in 2001 for his role in overseeing the merger of ABLE and Legal Services of NW Ohio. In 2008, the University named him a Distinguished University Professor, one of only 12 faculty members in the University so honored.
We invite you to share a personal message or remembrance with Professor Klein and our community by filling out the form below. We know he would love to hear from you.
We are also establishing an endowed fund to honor Professor Klein’s commitment to public service. Earnings from this fund will support law students’ summer employment in programs providing legal representation to indigent clients such as legal services and public defender programs. You may choose to donate on-line or by sending a check made payable to The University of Toledo Foundation and mailed to:
Office of the Dean
University of Toledo College of Law
2801 W. Bancroft, Mail Stop #507
Toledo, Ohio 43606-3390
In either case, please indicate that your gift is intended for the College of Law Prof. Klein fund. Whether you can give $50, $100, or $1,000, your gift will send a message that you share Jim’s commitment that the legal profession serve the poor. The more money we raise, the bigger difference we can make.
If you donate by June 30, we will add your name to our 2008-09 Honor Roll of Giving.
Finally, we will honor Professor Klein at our September 12 Law Alumni Gala, a recognition and reunion dinner for all law alumni. It will be held at Toledo’s Inverness Country Club and you will soon receive an invitation. I hope all of our alumni will attend.
I look forward to your help as we honor a valued teacher, colleague and friend.
Sincerely,
Douglas E. Ray
Dean and Professor of Law
Peter J Rashid said on 5/26/2009 9:52:50 AM:
Prof Klein: You were one of my favorite professors and UT Law School will miss you. I enjoyed meeting you from time to time after graduation, which might be a little harder now. Wishing you and yours all the best in South Carolina!
Chris Parker said on 5/23/2009 9:38:05 AM:
Jim:
Congratulations on your retirement. Although it has been said many times in many ways, let me say it one more time - your gain is our great loss - at the academic level at the College of Law, at the local level with your hard work and tireless efforts for the profession and the Inns of Court and for our community overall. In case there is any concern, we will keep a snow shovel with your name on it in hopes that you will one day leave the sunny, mild climate of South Carolina and return the great white north. Best wishes to a distinguished man, Chris Parker
Jesse Goldner said on 5/22/2009 8:43:38 PM:
Jim,
You've had a great run at Toledo! It is clear from Doug's letter and the many comments that have preceded mine, that you've had an enormous, positive impact on the Toledo legal community. But, beyond that, you have the respect and admiration of so many of us in legal education, even well beyond your own students and colleagues. I recall with fondness some of our mutual experiences--such as the site visit I did both at Toledo and at Florida Coastal during your visit there. I trust that your home in Charleston will at least approximate your digs in Florida! Best wishes for continuing success with your new adventure.
Jesse
Ron Tritschler said on 5/22/2009 8:54:05 AM:
Congratulations. The impact that you had on the students at the UT Law School is immmeasurable. Thanks for all that you have done for the UT Law School community, and in particular for the guidance which you provided to me. Best Wishes, Ron Tritschler
anthony green said on 5/22/2009 8:44:37 AM:
you run a very well organized school and i hope i will be attending this one when i get older
dick and elaine friedmar said on 5/22/2009 1:12:38 AM:
jim-your retirement will be utlaw's loss. you served it well. i'll always remember working with you on the small claims assistance program at tol muni court back around '73 or '74. i think it's still operating. take care and enjoy yourself. dick and elaine
kleia R. Luckner said on 5/21/2009 9:03:11 AM:
Wonderful news about your retirement but sad for UT Law School as your role and function there were most noteworthy and will be very hard to duplicate.
I always knew as a night student pursuing a second profession that you were ever present for me should I so need. Thank you for your active presence in my law school educational program.
And on a personal note ,our 2 families so enjoyed the time we spent together. Jonah and Mark were quite a team either with OH sports or over nights here at 3452.
Can you believe the little sis Maia is an AUSA in Washington D.C. ! She loves it.
Do hope we can stay connected. I too retired after 37+ years at Toledo Hospital. You will love this new phase for you and Heidi.Enjoy
Ted Mohler said on 5/20/2009 4:36:16 PM:
Dear Professor,
You served me with a complaint in your Civ.Proc. 1 class about 25 years ago. That was a good way to spark discussions about what a lawsuit really is. I enjoyed your teaching. Continued success, and good health. Ted Mohler '88
Holly Sydlow said on 5/20/2009 11:57:30 AM:
Although I was never in one of your regular law classes (my loss) , your values and commitment to
the community were conveyed to me during informal discussions. For me , you were that example that lawyers could be effective and kind. It will be a sad day for UT Law when you head south .
Kathy Woodward said on 5/20/2009 11:32:08 AM:
Professor Klein, it is not possible to imagine the UT College of Law without you. Best wishes for a wonderful and long retirement.
Debora Wells-Guevara said on 5/20/2009 11:01:16 AM:
Congratulations on your retirement. What a distinguished career. You have impacted so many people through your amazing work and teaching. Enjoy S. Carolina and your new adventures!
Mike Squillace said on 5/19/2009 5:44:42 PM:
I don't remember anything Jim taught me in class. What I do remember that he was our studly big man in the post for our hoops team (Randy Whatley, Kevin Greer, Jeff Schmeil, Paul Kelly and coach Steve Shoults) that took us to the championship game in 1979! We lost, but he was, to steal a line from Reggie Jackson, "the straw that stirs the drink". I also remember he cost us a repeat visit to the title game the next year because he took a "sabbatical" to someplace warm. Needless to say, he was irreplaceable. I will never forgive him for that. Now he is retiring to South Carolina! Some guys have all the luck. I will say that my time spent in the Civil Law Clinic helped me more than any course I took in law school. Jim has been an asset to UT and I hope there is someone just like him waiting in the wings to endeavor to fill his shoes. Jim, congrats and best of luck! I will come to Charleston to pay you a visit on my way to the beach. Mike Squillace '80
Julia R. Bates said on 5/19/2009 2:25:28 PM:
You have touched the lives of so many that work here in the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, we are indeed blessed to have been tutored by your wit and wisdom. South Carolina is lucky to have you! Julia Reinberger Bates'76
Socorro Guerrero said on 5/19/2009 11:35:47 AM:
In 1977 I participated in the criminal law clinic supervised by Professor Stephen Ripps. After graduation I continued my representation of the indigent as a public defender in Detroit. It was due to the efforts of people like you and Steve Ripps that made my learning experience at UT a memorable one. Thank you and I wish you well in your next journey!
Tom R Helberg said on 5/19/2009 10:53:50 AM:
Not sure how to address you, since you always seemed equally comfortable being addressed as
Professor Klein or Jim, even back in '81 when I was one of your first year Civ Pro law students and later in the civil clinic. You really were one of my most memorable profs that really made the law school experience tolerable. You are a wise and kind soul that will be missed. Congratulations
on a such a well rounded career!
Edward J. Soma said on 5/19/2009 10:48:42 AM:
Jim:
You were the best! All the best and ENJOY your retirement!
Magistrate Trevor N. Fernandes said on 5/19/2009 10:46:29 AM:
Professor Klein is one of the smartest & kindest men I have ever met: he reached out to me my first semester of law school when I had trouble, and went over my Final Exam with me in Civil procedure. He attended my Ordination as a Catholic Deacon. He genuinely cares about his students and their lives. It is a great loss for the Law School and our city for the finest, most well-rounded teacher and person I have known in my life. God bless you, Professor Klein. I shall miss you greatly, particularly since we both wear bow ties. Goodbye, Mr. Chips!
John Roca said on 5/19/2009 10:25:28 AM:
Congratulations, Jim. I consider myself fortunate having been a student of yours and having been party to several arbitrations where you served as arbitrator.
Doug Kennedy said on 5/19/2009 9:10:33 AM:
Congratulations on your retirement as well as the decision to move to Charleston, SC. As a litigator, I use the skills from your Civil Procedure class, not to mention the Civil Law Clinic, on a daily basis. Thanks and good luck. Doug Kennedy '80
Sue (Ahrendt) McCollam said on 5/19/2009 9:09:32 AM:
Jim - I recall those Clinic days quite vividly - 7 years of them as the Civil Law Clinic secretary. It was fun and very educational for me as it was my first experience with the legal field. You and Tom Willging, Jim Carr, Dick Sweterlitch, Robin Kennedy, and the late Steve Ripps, among others. What a crew. And your students were very interesting too. Those were the days! I wish you and Heide all the best of luck and good times in your retirement. Best wishes - Sue McCollam
Richard Mitchell said on 5/19/2009 8:52:40 AM:
It was an honor being taught by Jim, working for him and later representing clients before him as the arbitrator. His practical approach to education and student support will be missed. Congratulations!
Michael Flynn said on 5/19/2009 8:11:20 AM:
Congratulations! I was at UT from 1987-97, but I don't think we ever met. Gere Fulton was my colleague at UT and he told me you were moving to Charleston. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you in your move (I moved here in January from Purdue). I hope you will stop and see me when you get to town.
Mike Flynn, Chair, Department of Health and Human Performance, College of Charleston, Silcox Bldg, George St.
Stephen Klein said on 5/19/2009 8:10:19 AM:
Jim and I share a common name but are related only by our commitment to making the justice system accessable to everyone. My experience in Jim's Legal Clinic at the Legal Aid office shaped my beliefs for the rest of my career. If Jim was able to serve as role model for more law students, fewer people would find humor in lawyer jokes. Congratulations, Jim, on a life well-spent!
Judge Craig Hedric said on 5/19/2009 8:10:13 AM:
Prof. Klein: Congratulations on the retirement!! You have been a wonderful asset to the UT community. Your service to the law school, the university community and the Toledo community has been spectacular. My memories of law school are of you taking the time to talk with me about careers, classes and sports. I recall the intramural basketball games we would play and the fun we had. You have been a true inspiration to hundreds and hundreds of students, including this one. Thanks for all you have done for my career and the career of all UT students. Good luck in retirement and have fun. Judge Craig D. Hedric, Butler County Common Pleas Court (class of 1986)
Joel K. Bedol said on 5/19/2009 6:29:25 AM:
Jim:
I remember you well from my time in the Civil Law Clinic in the fall of 1976. It was a significant and memorable experience - one as or more meaningful than any of my other classes at the law school. I will always be grateful to you for that.
All the best to you for the next chapter of your career.
Best regards.
Joel
Bill Tutwiler said on 5/18/2009 10:45:15 PM:
A great educator,advisor and friend to students of the law
Always a breath of fresh air with his practical approach and
and focus on the realities of practice. I enjoyed his classes
and the clinic experience. Surely he will be missed by students
Colleagues alike and the COL will be left with a huge hole to
try to fill and the culture of the COL will be forever altered.
Good luck Jim and Happy Retirement!
Bob Hines said on 5/18/2009 10:11:07 PM:
Jim, I remember my time at Toledo with fondness, and you were always my favorite faculty member. It's hard to believe we met 35 years ago. It's a damn short movie isn't it? Enjoy the rest of the show! Stay in touch.
Jenelda E Witcher said on 5/18/2009 8:21:23 PM:
I remember James Klein as Dean Klein, during my years at the Law School from 1991 to 1994. He was a kind and fair man, making decisions that touched my law school experience in a very positive manner. I wish him all the best in his retirement years. May he enjoy life to the fullest in South Carolina and in any other places that he chooses to be. Thank you, Dean Klein for all your help when I was in school. You're the best.
Ralph DiLeone said on 5/18/2009 8:19:25 PM:
Jim is truly a great professor who made the first year of law school very unique and more than tolerable. He left a lasting impression on his students. Good luck to a great and caring professor. Ralph
Thomas Moors said on 5/18/2009 7:49:55 PM:
I was a late starter in law school. Professor Klein was my advisor. I would have quit but for his patience in helping me work out the challenge of converting to law school at the age of 33.
For the last 24 years I have built a firm that has made a contribution in the Ann Arbor area.
Thanks a lot Jim.
Thomas Moors
Paul Frankel said on 5/18/2009 5:40:16 PM:
Dear Professor Klein, You have been a friend for a very long time and helped 3 Frankels travel through the law school. I can say its been a pleasure to know you and I can only say thanks on behalf of Adam and Brett. Enjoy the South and Ill see you if Lev will let me camp out at his cottage
mark roth said on 5/18/2009 5:36:53 PM:
Jim,
you are the one law professor who made a huge difference in my life. Working in the civil law clinic in 1974 convinced me that I wanted to go into a law practice that made a difference in people's lives Being General Counse of AFGE and protecting the civil service from the right wing nut jobs, has allowed me to make that difference and find real satisfaction in life. .you may not realize it but you were a role model for me and had a tremendous influence on my career decisions. You are truly one of the most humane and decent people I have had the pleasure of knowing as a law student and a lawyer.
I guess a simple thank you would be in order. Take care and enjoy South Carolina!
Mark
Mike Margelefsky said on 5/18/2009 5:32:10 PM:
A truly fine gentleman and an excellent professor. I remember but a handful of my profs from 30 years ago and Jim Klein is at the top of that list.
Stephen Nelson said on 5/18/2009 5:29:55 PM:
Jim Klein is really the last link to my class (1976), so it's kind of sad that he's retiring. On the other hand, he's a good friend and I know this is will be a great phase in his career. I hope to keep in touch.
Karl Sutter said on 5/18/2009 5:24:34 PM:
Professor Klein was instrumental in me getting my first job out of law school as a Reginald Heber Smith fellow, working at the Northern Kentucky Legal Aid Society in Covington Kentucky. I previosuly worked at the Toledo Legal Aid Society as part of the Legal Clinic, again with Jim's assistance and guidance. He has always been helpful, friendly and interested in my career. He has been a very positive influence on so many lives, including mine, and he will be missed very much. Best wishes to him and Heidi in the warmer reaches of our country!
Karl Sutter Class of '82.
Elizabeth Simcox said on 5/18/2009 5:16:56 PM:
Jim,
Congratulations upon your retirement and thank you for your outstanding contribution to clinical legal education. I did not realize at the time I participated in the College of Law Legal Clinic that it would be the beginning of my own long career in clinical education. Your guidance and enthusiasm for clinical education inspired me to make this an important part of my career. Although I am no longer connected to legal education, I continue to be involved in directing students at the undergraduate level in internship and externship placements. This area continues to be a major factor in any student's education as far as I am concerned and this philosophy comes from my experience as a clinic student at the College of Law. I thank you and the rest of the UT clinical faculty for inspiring me and thank you also for being such a good friend.
Best wishes to you and Heide and I hope to attend the event in September.
Liz
Jim Novak said on 5/18/2009 5:10:12 PM:
Professor Klein -- thanks for everything you did for me personnally (Civ. Pro.), and most espcially for the University. Best of luck to you and your bride in SC - they are lucky to have you.
Sincerely, Jim Novak, Class of 1985
Lafe Tolliver said on 5/18/2009 5:08:44 PM:
Hi Jim:
Best to you and your wife as you retire in S.C.! That law school is getting a top notch professor and human being. Class act all the way.
God has blessed you...in turn, continue to be a blessing. Keep jogging and continue to remember the poor and needy.
John C. Keenehan said on 5/18/2009 5:08:25 PM:
You taught me Civ Pro in 1975! I haven't been disbarred(yet).Best wishes.
