Dean’s Message

OUR STUDENTS’ ANNUAL ARRIVAL AT THE LAW SCHOOL felt especially sweet this fall, as we returned to fully in-person classes for the first time in three semesters. Though we continue to navigate the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, we are also looking past those challenges—envisioning and enhancing our school and community for the long term. As ever, the extraordinary generosity of our friends and alumni have made it possible for UVA Law to both meet our current needs and plan for a bright future.

Last year, 9,522 donors contributed $21.87 million—the third highest total in our history. I am grateful to the friends, law firms, corporations, foundations, and 8,369 alumni who made those gifts. Separately and together, the impact of these donations has been remarkable. In the past year, we have launched several new clinics, bringing our total to 23. We have hired a raft of stellar new faculty, increased our scholarship support for incoming students, and expanded our summer funding and loan forgiveness programs for students entering public service. All of this furthers our mission of preparing our students for careers of distinction, leadership, and service and helps us make a transformative legal education accessible to students from every background.

This year’s annual report celebrates the people who make UVA Law what it is today and what it will be in the future. It also highlights some of the opportunities and initiatives that your gifts have made possible. As we chart our return from the pandemic and rekindle our connections with each other, we are grateful for all the ways your support enables us to provide a world-class education, foster an unparalleled student experience, and facilitate path-breaking and engaged legal scholarship. Thank you.

Risa Goluboff, Dean Arnold H. Leon Professor of Law Professor of History