Rutgers Law School opens new building in Camden

The Rutgers University School of Law-Camden yesterday marked the opening of its $37 million new building, which officials praised as a symbol of the school's excellence and another step in rebuilding Camden.

The law school was the recipient of one of the largest checks, $11 million, cut from the $175 million in state recovery money sent to Camden in 2002. Rutgers issued bonds to cover the balance.

The 53,000-square-foot, four-story building off Fifth Street near the Benjamin Franklin Bridge has a three-story mural that is illuminated at night. The building is the first major construction on the downtown campus in two decades.

For the first time, the school has a moot-court room. "The physical space matches the quality of our students, faculty and staff" at last, said Rayman Solomon, law school dean.

Both Solomon and Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D., N.J.) praised former State Sen. Wayne Bryant for his role in pushing the project. Bryant sponsored the 2002 Camden recovery bill.

Solomon said Bryant had a "singular vision for Camden's rebirth," and Andrews thanked Bryant for his "profound and lasting contribution." Bryant was convicted last year of bribery and pension fraud.

Andrews added: "As Rutgers in Camden prospers, so will the city of Camden."

As an example, law students put in 30,000 hours of annual work in a pro bono program to help the surrounding community. There are plans to expand that program now that the school has more space, the university said.

Gov. Corzine also attended the ceremony. Earlier in the day, he met with senior citizens in Cherry Hill's municipal building to tell them that he had them in mind when he wrote his budget.

He said he not only preserved programs that aid seniors, such as help paying for prescription drugs, but exempted them from cuts to property-tax rebates and expanded a program that gives grants to some whose property taxes are increased.