Guess Who’s Coming To Graduation?

David Schizer

Interview with Columbia Law’s Outgoing Dean David Schizer

It isn’t easy to give up power. As a dean, you grow accustomed to a certain level of deference. Of course, you also face budget shortfalls, demanding alumni and students, never-satisfied critics, and been-there-done-that faculty. After a decade at the helm, Dean Schizer is heading back to teaching. Now, he doesn’t have to parse his words before speaking (tenure, baby!).
So what changes has he witnessed over the past 10 years? What has he learned? And what advice would he give to his successor? In a recent interview with Forbes, Dean Schizer addressed these questions (and many more). Here are some excerpts from his conversation:
On Changes to the Law Profession:
“I still remember my first day at a firm, when a senior associate asked me to mark up a stock purchase agreement, and I said, ‘I’m happy to do it, but I have two questions: What’s a stock purchase agreement, and when you say mark it up, what do you mean?’ That can’t happen to today’s graduates.”
The Value of a Legal Education
“In my opinion, there has never been a more exciting time to go to law school. I realize not everyone thinks so, but every day, most front-page news stories are about issues that are closely connected to the law, including financial regulation, national security, marriage equality, tax and budgetary policy, criminal justice, human rights, climate change, and intellectual property, to name just a few…
A legal education changes the way our students think, teaches them how to be precise about what they know and don’t know, and helps them identify the assumptions that influence their conclusions. These skills are highly valued by employers in every sector, even in times of economic turbulence.”
Biggest Challenges
In my first four years as dean, I never had to think for a moment about job placement. It just was not an issue. But as I mentioned, this became a personal mission of mine after 2008. I didn’t expect that. But my view is that if Columbia has taken you in, we should do everything we can to give you the same professional opportunities that were available to our previous graduates.  It is unacceptable for people to be penalized because of the year (and circumstances) in which they graduate.
Advice to His Successor
“…Also, it’s always better to persuade people than to give an order. At the same time, the reality is that, when we ask 10 people a question, we often get 15 opinions.  At the end of the day, we need to make our own decisions and do what we think is right. We can’t please everyone, but it’s more important to be true to what we believe.
And one more thing: Deans often are surrounded by delicious food, so calorie-counting becomes all the more important!”
To read the complete interview, click on the Forbes link below.
Source: Forbes
 

Video of the Week

Ann Levine on Personal Statements and Law School Offers

Source: Ann Levine