A Message from the Law Council President

Dear Fellow Law Alumni,

Thank you for giving me a few moments of your time. My name is Michael Spencer and I am a 1996 graduate of our law school. I have the honor of serving as this academic year’s president of the Law Council, the governing board of the Law Alumni Association. As you probably already know, the Law Council advises the dean of W&L Law on matters related to career strategy, admissions, curriculum, alumni relations, reputation within the bar and fundraising. The Law Council has 40 members who serve staggered four-year terms, plus three officers. The Law Council meets twice a year in Lexington.

It is always great to return to Lexington to not only reminisce about the past, but also to see how the law school is advancing as the global landscape changes. I encourage you to come back to Lexington and see what is happening. It is worth the trip. Personally, I have been on campus several times already this fall. This close-knit community is alive and well. The students are excited to be in Lexington and back to in-person classes. They are challenged by the learning opportunities in the classroom, clinics and externships. I truly enjoyed interacting with the students and hearing about their experiences and aspirations. I encourage you to return to Lexington for your reunion, an admitted student open-house reception or to just walk around campus and experience again the special nature of W&L Law.

As many of you are aware, we are the midst of searching for the next dean of our law school. I am serving on the search committee, along with five other law alumni. We are seeking a dean who will carry the law school forward following the tremendous success of Brant Hellwig’s tenure. We gathered a stellar list of candidates during the fall semester and hope to name the next dean by spring 2022, with that individual starting July 1, 2022. If you would like to learn more, you can visit the dean search website at law.wlu.edu/deansearch

I also want to encourage your support of the law school. We need you. Alumni are critical to the success of W&L Law. We talk to admitted students about our experience, assist students in their career search, support the school financially, mentor students throughout their time in Lewis Hall, and provide a strong alumni network that enhances our careers — and the school’s reputation. Alumni make the law school better and that serves all of us. Alumni have played such a critical role in my own legal career, not only as a student but as an attorney. You may be surprised as to whom you meet and connect with when you are back on campus. Just coming to the Law Council meetings opened doors for me that I did not know were possible. I would love to chat with you about my experiences when I see you in Lexington! One person once said to me, “I’m not certain we need more lawyers, but I do know we need more W&L lawyers!” Invest in W&L Law and the next generation of W&L lawyers. My investment in W&L Law has given me unexpected returns and I believe you too can have the same experience.

All the best, Michael

Spencer ’96L, Law Council President