Lansing's Thomas M. Cooley Law School received high praise from the executive director of the State Bar of Michigan, John T. Berry at a commencement ceremony January 18, 2003. Berry commended Cooley leaders for their vision and boldness in committing resources to a new Center for Ethics and Responsibility. "Cooley now is on the cutting edge of the 'new era' of law school, committed not only to academic knowledge, but to giving students the skills and ethics to meet the real world practice of law issues," Berry told the 160 graduates of the John B. Swainson class.

From left to right: Don LeDuc, President and Dean of Cooley Law School; Ryan Keith Kauffman, who graduated summa cum laude and earned the Presidents Achievement Award; Professor Phil Prygoski, multi-term winner of the Stanley E. Beattie Award for Excellence in Teaching and John T. Berry, executive director of the State Bar of Michigan.