From the Dean's Desk
Editor's Note: This issue of The Advocate was written, edited, and produced before the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic. At press time we are facing an unprecedented period in our history. But we are so proud of the strength and resilience our community is demonstrating in this difficult time. Stay safe.
Positive momentum. This is my response when alumni ask me what we are experiencing on the campus of American University Washington College of Law today. This is so tangible that we wanted to feature articles that depict momentum, connections, and leadership in this spring 2020 edition of The Advocate. Within these pages, you will find stories about law student well-being, alumni in law faculty positions nationwide, and a new law-tech fellowship program that connected an innovative law firm, a Silicon Valley technology company, and an outstanding Washington College of Law student.
When I first began meeting members of our wonderful alumni community in 2016, I was rightfully asked about the school’s plans to improve bar passage, job placement, and, yes, rankings. Now, nearly four years later, I can share that when I came to AUWCL, I asked this community of superb faculty and administrators to give it their all to improve the law school’s standing. And they did so! I am thrilled to share that we have seen improvement and upward momentum across the board: increases in LSAT and GPA, a lower acceptance rate, and higher bar passage and job placement.
Your alma mater has moved up 10 points in the U.S. News and World Report rankings over the past three years. In addition, with our latest bar passage and employment results showing continued improvement—particularly a nearly 80% pass rate for July first-time takers from the class of 2019, our best result in five years—we are well situated for the future.
I am proud that this past year our law school launched a new Tech, Law, and Security Program (p. 4), an initiative that will join our key, top-ranked specialty programs in Clinical Legal Education, International Law, Trial Advocacy, Health Law and Policy, and Intellectual Property as an innovative initiative in the Washington, D.C., legal community. With six programs, including part-time JD, placing in the top 15 in the nation in the latest U.S. News rankings, we have a lot to celebrate as a community.
As always, I am thankful for the generous support our law school receives from our dedicated alumni around the world. Your support through donations, student mentorship, participation in recruitment programs, and more, is the lifeblood of our institution. Our students, scholarship programs, and outstanding institutes and center could not thrive without you.
We ask that you continue to engage with AUWCL. To learn more about our alumni services or to make a gift in support of our law school and its programs, please visit wcl.american.edu/give.
With appreciation,
CAMILLE A. NELSON
DEAN AND PROFESSOR OF LAW
