More than fifty years ago, Tom Flaherty ’75 was drawn to BC Law for its strong academic reputation. Yet once enrolled, he found not only an excellent legal education, but a spirit of compassion and collegiality among students and faculty that shaped the kind of lawyer he would become.
In gratitude for the foundation BC Law provided, he established a charitable gift annuity (CGA) through his IRA, allowing him to support future generations of law students while he benefits from tax advantages and steady income today.
Who were your favorite professors when you were a student? There are three that stand out: Richard Sullivan, with whom I took labor law for a full year, which basically led to my career in labor and employment law; Len Strickman, who taught constitutional law, opened my mind, and taught me how to think like a lawyer; and Paul McDaniel, who made tax courses interesting!
What is something unexpected you learned about yourself while you were at BC Law? As editor-in-chief of the Boston College Law Review, I learned that I can juggle a lot of tasks and activities at the same time. I was putting probably thirty hours a week into the Law Review, working on it whenever I wasn’t in class and most nights, yet I still managed to have fun, make some great friends, and do other things.
Why is it important to support the Law School? Because it’s great! BC Law is a place that still offers something beyond academics—something that I believe is very important and fulfilling for lawyers to have in their background and to experience while they’re in school. People at BC Law have concern for one another and the community, and they want to do something to improve the legal system overall. That’s my answer, and I believe it. Establishing a charitable gift annuity allows me to give BC Law a larger gift than I would have felt comfortable giving at that moment in time, plus I get the tax benefits and cash flow as well.
By establishing a CGA with BC Law, Tom Flaherty has become a member of the Shaw Society. To learn how you can join the Shaw Society, please visit bc.edu/shaw or contact the Office of Gift Planning at 877-304-SHAW or giftplanning@bc.edu.