A Q&A with Dean Hellwig

Brant Hellwig will conclude his tenure as dean, a position he has held since 2015, in June 2021. He plans to return to the full-time faculty following a sabbatical. Below he reflects on his tenure.

What are some highlights?

Looking back over my time in the dean position, I am proud of our school’s ability to tackle an extremely challenging period in the market while fully embracing our distinctive nature — a closely knit law school that prioritizes the student experience, one located in a beautiful smalltown community.

Generations of alumni will cite outstanding professors they had during their time at W&L Law, professors who invested in them personally. It is gratifying to see our faculty across the board, both the more experienced faculty and the more recent additions to our community, embrace this defining characteristic of our law school. While our faculty have a range of teaching styles, the quality of the classroom experience remains high across the board. The quality of our program and the level of investment our faculty and administration make in our students distinguishes us from other schools, and the resulting atmosphere is uplifting.

Another gratifying aspect of my tenure as dean was to work with an incredible range of talented individuals at the law school, both faculty and administration, in a collective effort to move the school forward. So many people have rolled up their sleeves and dedicated themselves to our mission and overall success. It has been a joy to work alongside them. While we certainly faced challenges and stressful periods along the way, we frequently succeeded at having fun in the process.

Another significant highlight of my tenure in the dean’s office was the wide-ranging support we received from our alumni. As we embarked on the transition plan announced by the Board of Trustees, the law alumni increased contributions to the Law Annual Fund by over 33% in the first year alone. Significant annual increases followed, and we continued to raise endowed funds for scholarship resources. But our alumni have contributed far more than financial support. They have reached out to students we hope to recruit to W&L Law, and they have actively supported our graduates in landing positions in the legal profession. Our alumni both responded to and contributed to the momentum we have developed over the past few years. I am extremely grateful for their support and goodwill.

What will you miss?

The most difficult aspect of the decision to return to my full-time role as a faculty member was shar- ing the news with the students. While I was never one to cling to the “dean” title (I actually prefer to think of myself as a player-coach in this role), I did enjoy having that leadership role for the student body. I both enjoyed being and was honored to be “their” dean. are arriving at Lewis Hall for the first time (easy to spot given the number of photos that are taken in front of the building). And, at the conclusion of their law school career, at the picnic we traditionally hold on Cannan Green following the Commencement ceremony. Certainly, those interactions were limited in the past year, but they are coming back in full force now. While my engagement with students undoubtedly will continue in my capacity as a faculty member, I enjoyed being accessible to students in the dean role.

In that regard, some of my best moments in this position have been spent engaging with students. At the end of the spring semester in 2019, Peter Jetton (our communications director) and I led an impromptu road trip with students to visit the Equal Justice Initiative museums in Montgomery, Alabama, in advance of Bryan Stevenson’s Commencement address to the graduating class.

What’s our biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge is making sure that the W&L Law experience is fully available and enjoyed by the entire student body. While part of these efforts entails recruiting a more diverse student body, faculty and staff, the primary goal is for every member of our community to feel seen, supported and valued. That is why we have given out shirts at orientation that state the following under the W&L Law logo: “My school, our community.” I want everyone to feel a sense of ownership and belonging at our school, while also recognizing our obligation to support the community here for all. We have made significant strides on the degree of belonging at the law school, but significant work remains.

What would you do for the school if you had a magic wand?

That trip combined incredibly profound and moving experiences with lighthearted trips to local restaurants and a minor league baseball game. I also was able to take the students enrolled in the appellate advocacy class offered by Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Lemons to hear arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court. As usual, we were able to combine some great group meals on the trip with a tremendously educational experience. I remember with pride taking a group photo in the halls of the Court in front of the portrait of our alumnus Lewis F. Powell Jr.

But it is the small interactions with students that I will miss most. In classrooms, in the halls, in the Brief Stop, at the gym and in town at coffee shops and restaurants. In the parking lot when students

We benefit tremendously from the generosity of alumni and friends at W&L Law. Scholarship resources in particular have allowed us to keep the actual cost of our brand of legal education at a broadly accessible level. But if I could change anything, it would be to expand both the amount and distribution of aid to our students. This would reduce the financial pressure of law school and enable our students to expand their options in the legal profession, whether in the private or public sector.

A final thought?

To me, it feels good to walk into Lewis Hall. It is a comfortable, positive place where we get to work with phenomenally talented students. That is our past, our present and if all goes well, our future.