When I first visited the University of Michigan Law School, I was a born-and-raised, beach volleyball-playing, suntan-searching Los Angelino fully committed to living in a large coastal city. Yet after just a few short weeks immersed in the intellectually dynamic, physically breathtaking environment of the Law School, I was hooked.

What will catch your eye first, as it did mine, is the unparalleled beauty of the Law Quadrangle. The School's majestic Gothic buildings inspire feelings of awe, serenity, and reflection. The grassy courtyard within the Quad invites visions of classmates strolling by in lively dialogue, students lying around reading in the shadows of the library cathedral, and of course, frisbees and footballs flying to and fro. And the vibrant university life enveloping the city of Ann Arbor is but a few paces away.

But what will reel you in is the dynamic intellectual culture, one that simultaneously energizes and disciplines great conversations about legal principles, doctrines, and institutions. The law truly comes alive within these magnificent walls.

The law comes alive because of our students. They come from every corner of the country and around the globe, bringing remarkable talents and achievements. While here, they challenge each other to view interesting and difficult legal or social problems deeply and from new perspectives. And, to a degree rarely found at other law schools, the students sustain this stimulating intellectual environment while nurturing a wonderfully supportive, collegial, and open atmosphere.

The law comes alive because of our faculty. Whether assessing scholarship or teaching, whether from the perspective of an academic, a judge, or an attorney, Michigan Law is widely and perennially regarded as being at the forefront of legal education.  The grand stone walls of our School prove permeable, as for the past several decades our faculty has become internationally renowned for their interdisciplinary approach to the study of law and legal institutions. The quantity of faculty with joint appointments (14 or 25%), with PhDs in cognate disciplines (23 or 40%), and with fellowships in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (8 or 14%), amply illustrates that no other law school faculty surpasses Michigan's in the sheer range and breadth of scholarship and expertise. And at the same time, through their scholarship and public service they shape the world of law and policy in concrete ways, influencing governmental decisionmakers and frequently doing stints as such decisionmakers themselves.

 And the law comes alive because of our alumni who, having left the physical splendor of the Quad, maintain a profound attachment to the School and to the students following in their footsteps. Our alumni have employed the skills, principles, and qualities of character honed at Michigan to achieve extraordinary professional distinction around the world. They are leaders in courtrooms and boardrooms across the land, as private entrepreneurs, as government lawyers or elected officials, and as champions for underserved peoples and causes both domestically and internationally. Despite the challenges of their demanding careers, Michigan's 19,650 alumni remain valued and committed members of the Law School community throughout their lives.

The quality of the educational experience you will find at Michigan is unparalleled. This Web site will give you a sense of our law school and community. Better yet, come visit in person. I did, and decided that this was the place for me.

Evan H. Caminker
Dean