Law students are furious after learning controversial talkshow host Jerry Springer is to be a guest speaker at their graduation ceremony later this year.

A committee of students at Northwestern University’s Law School in Chicago, Illinois has caused uproar among the graduating class after selecting the risque TV personality, who graduated from the school in 1968, to speak at the upcoming convocation, reports New York gossip column PageSix.

Angry members of the 2008 class are voicing their disapproval on Above The Law - a popular internet blog among law students and lawyers - with one student posting, "This man exploits stupid, poor, desperate people for holier-than-thous to laugh at and belittle."

However, David Van Dandt, the school’s dean, has defended the choice, explaining, "Mr Springer is an alumnus who has held public office as a city council member and mayor of Cincinnati.

"We look forward to his participation."