Preparing the Next Generation of Lawyers
IT IS A TREMENDOUS PRIVILEGE to serve as interim dean this year. As a longtime member of the Brooklyn Law School faculty, I take pride in our community— students, faculty, and alumni—and in our distinctive history of opening doors to the legal profession for all. I will continue to emphasize the Brooklyn Law School traditions of diversity and opportunity as I lead the school during the search for a new dean.
In August, I was honored to open the academic year by welcoming the entering class of J.D. and LL.M. students at our annual convocation ceremony. Our new students are a talented and impressive group, and I look forward to seeing the great things they will do with their legal education. I encouraged them to explore all that the Brooklyn Law School community has to offer them, both in the classroom and beyond. I also described our 23,000-strong global alumni network and reminded them that they will—sooner than they imagine—join that group.
It was a particular thrill to introduce students that evening to a special guest, Judge I. Leo Glasser ’48 of the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York, who, impressively, is still serving at age 94. Judge Glasser was dean of the Law School when I joined the faculty, and it was powerful to weave together the Law School’s past, present, and future possibilities at the ceremony. After hearing Judge Glasser’s many achievements, from his early days on the Lower East Side to his bravery in Europe during World War II to his legendary days as a master teacher and scholar to his years on the bench, the students gave him a standing ovation.
Today, all of us at the Law School—our preeminent faculty and dedicated staff—are devoted to helping our students succeed. Our alumni and friends have a critical role to play in this endeavor. We are thankful when you identify and help recruit applicants; we are delighted when you hire or recommend our students for jobs or internships; and, of course, we are grateful when you support the Law School philanthropically. I urge you to become more deeply engaged in our community in any or all of these ways.
As interim dean, I am working hard to ensure that Brooklyn Law School continues to prepare students for today’s challenges and for those on the horizon. To that end, we are embarking on a transformation of the curriculum that will deepen students’ research, writing, and legal skills. We will help them envision the arc of their legal education, so that they can take charge of their learning. This will place them in a strong position in the job market and help launch their careers. Brooklyn Law School has always been a leader in legal education. We are very excited about this most recent development, and I promise you will hear more about it in the months ahead.
As we move forward, I will continue to rely on you to support our students and to help us build an even stronger future for our dynamic and vibrant Law School community.
Maryellen Fullerton
Interim Dean and Professor of Law