January 6, 2021, was a harrowing day in American history. The failed insurrection was a frightening look at a future without the rule of law — and a group of law deans are doing something about it.
Initially, deans from 171 law schools wrote an open letter condemning the attack. Then Mark Alexander, dean of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, had the idea to put together a group of deans to write a book about the events.
The premise is based on discussions that several of the deans had immediately following the attack, and a theme was born from those talks: democracy is fragile.
“Without lawyers — what they are charged to do and the constitutional oath they take — we have no democracy,” said Anthony Crowell, dean of New York Law School.
The book, “Beyond Imagination? The January 6 Insurrection,” was released on Dec. 30 and includes chapters written by 14 deans from around the country, each detailing subjects such as leadership, electoral politics, racism and the role of law schools in educating attorneys committed to upholding the rule of law.
Alexander told Reuters he wants the book to become the foundation for both new courses at law school as well as continuing legal education sessions for lawyers.
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New England Law | Boston announced Lisa Freudenheim as its new dean.
“Dean Freudenheim brings to the role a unique, impressive skill set and a passion for legal education,” said Board Chairman Albert Balboni. “She is one of a select few law school deans across the country who come from a professional background of legal writing and academic and student support.”
Freudenheim has been a member of the faculty for more than 10 years, most recently as associate dean in March 2020 and co-acting dean for the fall 2021 semester. Prior to that she taught at Suffolk University Law School, Boston College Law School and Brandeis University.
“One’s view of a law school changes significantly when shifting to the role of administrator,” Freudenheim said. “It is a significant responsibility with nuanced choices to make in the interests of the greater community. I care about our students and I deeply respect the work of our staff and faculty who make this law school the special place that it is in the minds and hearts of our students and alumni.”
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Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of University of California, Berkeley School of Law, was reappointed for another five-year term.
“Erwin combines a superhuman capacity for hard and brilliant work with an extraordinarily humane attitude toward everyone with whom he interacts,” said Professor Molly Van Houweling, Berkeley Law’s associate dean of J.D. Curriculum and teaching. “I’ve never met anyone more capable and kind, nor fully appreciated before how rare and wonderful it is for those characteristics to be combined in a leader.”
Chemerinsky is hailed as the most frequently cited American legal scholar, and National Jurist named him the most influential person in American legal education. In his tenure, he has helped the school improve its financial stability and student diversity, as well as expand its faculty numbers and experiential offerings.
“It has been a tremendous honor and pleasure,” he said. “Berkeley Law is a unique and special institution. By every measure, it’s an excellent law school and distinguished by an unwavering commitment to public service and an extraordinary community. Despite some major challenges, I believe the law school has gotten stronger and better over the last four years.”
