Midwest university renames law school after Naples couple donates $30M - Naples Daily News

A Midwestern university has renamed its law school after a Naples resident who has donated $30 million.

The DePaul University law school in Chicago announced Oct. 26 that it will now be called the Robert A. Clifford College of Law after Clifford and his wife, Joan, gave the money.

US News & World Report in 2026 rated DePaul's law school as the 131st best in the country.

"I am deeply grateful to Bob and Joan for their remarkable generosity, their longstanding partnership and their unwavering belief in DePaul’s Catholic and Vincentian mission," said DePaul President Robert L. Manuel in a news release.

Robert and Joan Clifford are both alums of DePaul, a private Catholic research university in Chicago founded in 1898.

DePaul said in the news release that the $30 million "will usher in a new era for the College of Law , expanding opportunities for students and faculty, while elevating its national reputation for excellence in legal education."And Robert Clifford is a DePaul Life Trustee and founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices PC, a premier Chicago law firm specializing in personal injury and wrongful death litigation.

“This extraordinary gift honors Bob’s distinguished career while shaping the future of legal education at DePaul for generations to come,” Manuel said.

“It builds on the College of Law’s proud history and strengthens its position as a leader in preparing exceptional lawyers who lead with integrity, serve their communities and advance justice."

The couple are active in the Naples community through their philanthropy , from donating money for various projects to serving as trustees from 2007-2018 for the Naples Winter Wine Festival.

Joan Clifford also holds other titles. She's a Board of Directors member for Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples. She also supports the Golisano Children's Museum of Naples and serves on the Sustaining Leadership Council for Naples Botanical Garden.

The $30 million will be used, DePaul said, to:

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and News-Press.