FROM THE DEAN

Dear St. John’s Law Family,

Earlier this month, I announced that the 2023-2024 academic year will be my last as dean. Now is the right time for this transition. Leading the Law School for the past 14 years has been an honor and a joy—an experience for which I’m truly grateful. I joined the legal academy 25 years ago to serve students and their learning experience, and I’m eager to continue this work as a faculty member. More importantly, the Law School is thriving, which makes this the perfect time to launch the search for our next leader.

When I became dean in 2009, the country was mired in the Great Recession. The accompanying slowdown in legal employment, criticism of law schools, and decline in applications raised serious questions about the future of legal education.

A lot has changed since then.

The future of legal education looks bright as we all adapt to an increasingly complex world—one in which lawyers are more important than ever. And legal education looks particularly bright at St. John’s. Our student-centered approach has led to an all-time high employment rate of 92%, a bar passage rate that is well above state-wide and national averages, entering classes that are more academically qualified and more diverse every year, and our highest-ever ranking.

Behind those successes are the people who make up the St. John’s Law family: students who are as hard-working, ambitious, and enthusiastic as ever; a top-flight faculty (including the eight new professors we welcomed this year) who are dedicated teachers, outstanding scholars, and skilled practitioners; an excellent and experienced administrative team; and two terrific Vice Deans—Rachel Smith and Christine Lazaro—who are perfectly positioned to shepherd us through this transition and beyond.

The Law School also owes so much of its success to our loyal alumni family (many of whom share reflections on life in the law in this issue of St. John’s Law magazine). As our alumni make their mark across practice areas and business settings, they also give back to alma mater generously as employers, mentors, teachers, and donors. Under the expert leadership of Brian Woods, the Law School has had one of its most successful fundraising years ever, and I’m confident that success will continue.

In short, the Law School is in a very good place and is well positioned to grow and thrive far into the future.

I’ve been blessed to spend so many years as dean—a job I absolutely love. And I’m equally blessed that, a year from now, I’ll return to a different job I love just as much: teaching, writing, and mentoring students as a member of the St. John’s Law faculty. I’m honored to be part of this community, and I look forward to serving as dean for the upcoming academic year and then working with my faculty colleagues to support a new dean for many years to come.

Onward!

St. John’s Law Magazine

Dean and John V. Brennan Professor of Law and Ethics

Michael A. Simons

Associate Dean for Law School Advancement

Brian J. Woods

Associate Dean for Enrollment and External Relations

Trent Anderson

Managing Editor and Lead Writer

Lori Herz

Copy Editors

Dominique Cendales

Claire K. Pollicino

Art Director

Jill Cuddire

Rose Creative Group

Please send comments to: Editor, St. John’s Law

St. John’s University School of Law 8000 Utopia Parkway Queens, NY 11439 www.stjohns.edu/law

Copyright 2023

St. John’s University School of Law

Michael A. Simons Dean and John V. Brennan Professor of Law and Ethics