Gary A. Munneke

Professor Gary A. Munneke died November 22, 2012.

The College of Law Practice Management lost a good friend on Thanksgiving morning when long-time Fellow Professor Gary A. Munneke passed away suddenly at his home in North East, Maryland. Gary was a leader in the American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Walla, and his family. His obituary can be found at http://rtfoard.tributes.com/show/Gary-A.-Munneke–94777338.

The ABA Law Practice Management Section summarized Gary’s many accomplishments in a recent tribute:

Gary was nationally known for his work in the filed of law parctice maagement and the ever-changing state of the legal profession.  Having started his legal career in career planning and placement, Gary was a lifetime devotee to preparing and developing future generations of lawyers. Among his many courses, Gary taught Professional Responsibility and Law Practice Management. Outside of the law school community, Gary was an affable and itinerant leader in the ABA and the New York State Bar Association having most recently chaired a sub-committee of the latter’s Task Force on the Legal Professiona and co-authored its corresponding seminal report.

Gary spent a large part of his career working in leadership positions with the ABA, including chairing the Law Practice Management Section and being elected to the Board of Governors. Most recently he served as liaison to the Board of Governors representing the Section Officers Council (SOC). Previously he served on the ABA Finance Committee of the Selection on Legal Education and Bar Admissions, the Law Practice Management Section Task Force on Evoloving Business Models for Lw Firms, and the Association’s Diversity Center Governing Board.

In addition to his work with the ABA, Gary had also served as the chair of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Law Practice Management and the president of the National Association of Law Placement. In recognition of his outstanding lifetime achievements,in 2011 Gary received the prestigious Sam Smith Award—the highest honor bestowed by the ABA Law Practice Management Section.”

Gary was inducted as a Fellow in the College of Law Practice Management in 1996.

“Just before his death, Gary submitted a chapter for an ABA LPM book I am editing, called Flying Solo, 5th Edition. Gary’s chapter was titled, “Why Specialize?” and offered sage advice to young lawyers considering starting a law practice. Gary was a prolific writer and, more importantly, an excellent writer. While many other lawyer-writers were writing about the latest tech gadgets, Gary’s writing always focused on the challenges facing the profession, particularly those challenges faced by law students and young lawyers. Gary was a mentor to a generation.”

— Bill Gibson, President, College of Law Practice Management, 2010-2012.

“Gary was one of a handful of law school academics admitted to the College. He was a pioneer and leader and mentor for those of us who sought to incorporate real world issues of law practice management into law school curricula. He will be sorely missed.”

— Ron Staudt, President, College of Law Practice Management,  2012-2014