A Smart Investment: Leveraging Good Fortune to Give Back
With his estate gift, Darrell Netherton hopes to make law school more accessible to a wider variety of students.
Sometimes smaller is better, especially in a big city. Following his graduate and undergraduate studies at large, state universities, Darrell Netherton, WCL ’77, was drawn by the size of American University’s Washington College of Law.
“The night program had about 200 students in three sections, and I thought it would give me the opportunity to interact more with faculty,” he said. “That turned out to be true. I was fortunate to be there during a critical time, as the old lions of the law school were giving way to new, young talent.” After working a full day for a member of Congress, he would take evening classes four nights a week—and spend weekends in the law library.
“The Washington College of Law shaped my knowledge of law and how it related to the work I was doing on Capitol Hill,” said Netherton. “Lawyers approach problems differently, and my legal education gave me the analytical tools to problem-solve and write effectively.” In a land-use planning seminar with Professor Barlow Burke, Netherton wrote about how the Highway Beautification Act that was written by the Congressional Committee where he was employed became law. In 2002, at his 25th reunion, he was amazed when Burke pulled his paper off the shelf. “He said it was a reference work for him and contained inside information he would never have known otherwise.”
The law school’s prime location also offered access to consortium courses and accomplished mentors in the field. One of Netherton’s adjunct professors was Robert Reich, who was then assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General. “He came straight from work to teach a two-hour class, without a note or book in sight,” recalled Netherton. “He was a brilliant lecturer, and my notes were a guide to administrative law. That’s how good he was.”
After graduation, Netherton went to work at the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. “The agency had just been established, and they created the position of Legislative Counsel for me. It was a great way to start.” Later in his 22-year tenure, he was named Director of Regional Operations and oversaw 75 administrative judges across the country who had worldwide jurisdiction over U.S. federal employees and processed more than 8,000 appeals annually.
“I was raised with the belief that we have an obligation to give back,” Netherton reflected. Over the years, he has contributed both his time and gifts. About five years ago, he began making qualified charitable contributions from his IRA. “Donating the minimum distribution directly to an organization is not taxable, which is a huge advantage,” he explained. “I attended law school when it was not as expensive, and I had the GI Bill to help pay. I want to help make law school an option for more students of all backgrounds.”
“I have really good feelings about the Washington College of Law,” concluded Netherton. “It has been wonderful to stay connected to the alumni, faculty, deans and administrators.” His decision to give back by paying it forward is, perhaps, the finest expression of his appreciation.