Last Thing O.C. Needs Is New Law School

After reading that Joan Irvine Smith proposes to donate $1 million to help establish a new law school at UC Irvine, my wife, Julia, (a UC Irvine graduate of the inaugural freshman class, 1965) and I hope this letter is part of a growing chorus urging her to support some other endeavor.

There are many worthwhile programs that deserve her assistance. An endowment could be established for scholarships to students in existing programs. The elementary and secondary schools could use program help. There are many service organizations such as the Salvation Army that really help people in need, and there are, of course, many local service groups as well. The last thing Orange County, the nation or the world needs is another law school.

Moreover, $1 million would not be enough to establish a “Harvard of the West” and provide ongoing operating funds. We and many others would be adamantly opposed to any taxpayer money being used to support something as non-deserving as a new law school.

MICHAEL J. HANNA & JULIA CREAHAN HANNA, Los Alamitos. Michael J. Hanna is an attorney.