Dean's Letter
Y
ou might be reading this newest issue of ML from your now all-too-familiar home office. Perhaps you’re glancing at it on your phone or laptop as you take a break from the latest of far too many Zoom meetings or conference calls from your home. Life has become a series of adaptations since the spring.
Like everyone, the law school made many unexpected adjustments to protect the health and safety of our community. We received tremendous support from the University of Memphis through its IT infrastructure and training to transition to remote delivery on short notice. Law faculty embraced the challenge presented, underwent training and got to work; in fact, faculty continued additional training throughout the summer. And while it certainly wasn’t ideal, we participated in the University’s virtual graduation, though we also hope to recognize the Class of 2020 in person when it is safe to do so. Despite the pandemic, we have been able to develop and offer rich and innovative online programs. Enrollment in our summer externship course reached an all-time high, even while students worked remotely for their assigned placement offices, including field placements with federal and state judges at the appellate and trial court levels; prosecutor and public defenders’ offices; federal and state administrative agencies; health care entities; nonprofit legal services providers, academic institutions and select corporate in-house counsel departments. Additionally, our Clinic and Career Services Office teamed up to offer extensive summer pro bono opportunities, including collaborations with Memphis Area Legal Services, the Tennessee Innocence Project, Tennessee Access2Justice and Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services. Our Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic director and students quickly pivoted and adapted to the pandemic, tackling the issue of unlawful evictions and foreclosures in Tennessee during this pandemic. And while we faced the many trials and tribulations brought about by the coronavirus, the murder of George Floyd required us to examine our role in institutionalizing racism. I joined the Black Law Students Association for a Listening Forum to hear directly from members of our law school community how they have experienced racism and what we can do to mitigate future harm. The following morning, we participated in the Unity March, organized by the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association, the Memphis Bar Association and the
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UNIVERSIT Y OF MEMPHIS
Association for Women Attorneys. Together, we are working to plan a path forward in fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion and cultural competence. Delivery of our fall curriculum looks quite different this year. Limited seating capacities have necessarily prevented us from proceeding as usual. Many law classes continue to meet in person in a familiar manner, albeit adjusted in consideration of social distancing and mask requirements. Some other courses are being offered entirely online, where the faculty member has determined that this is the best pedagogical choice in light of the limitations placed on the use of space by COVID-19. A few courses are offered as hybrid courses, with some scheduled classes meeting online and others meeting in person. Others are being offered as hyflex, with approximately one half of the class meeting in person while others participate in the same class remotely; students rotate into the in-person class on specified days pursuant to an established schedule. So while our expressions may be hidden behind our masks, we are still the same friendly and available staff, diligent and driven students, hardworking faculty committed to excellent teaching and strong law school community that we have always been. And despite a worldwide pandemic, we’ve managed to embrace educational innovation and develop new partnerships in service of our community. We are not the same law school we were last year; we have grown stronger. To those who ask if this is a good time to go to law school, I answer that society cannot wait for more creative problem-solvers, policymakers and social justice advocates empowered to change the world. So yes, it’s a great time to go to law school. Best Regards,
DE A N KATH A R I N E T. SCHAFFZ I N