The Year in Photos, 2023-24

The school year kicked off with orientation for the Class of 2026. In his welcome speech, Fourth Circuit Judge Toby Heytens ’00 shared how the power of friendship shaped his own experiences as a student at UVA Law.

As her tenure as dean drew to a close, Risa Goluboff reflected on her service over the past eight years, including spearheading a faculty hiring spree, expanding the Law School’s clinical offerings, launching the Roadmap Scholars Initiative and managing changes spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Leslie Kendrick ’06 was named the next dean of the Law School, effective July 1. She directs the school’s Center for the First Amendment, serves as a special adviser on free expression and inquiry to the University provost, and served as vice dean from 2017 to 2021.

Graduates in the Class of 2023 are the best employed in the country, according to American Bar Association data. Also, a record number of alumni clerked for federal appellate circuit courts for the 2023 term.

Katherine Janes ’21 will join two other classmates clerking at the U.S. Supreme Court for the 2024 term.

Leaders across the education field helped kick off UVA Law’s Education Rights Institute, launching an effort designed to improve access to high-quality education, particularly for disadvantaged students.

Thanks to an $11 million boost from an anonymous donor, UVA Law met its $400 million goal for the Honor the Future capital campaign 15 months early. Pictured: Honor the Future campaign co-chairs J. Warren Gorrell Jr. ’79, Dasha Smith ’98, Catherine M. Keating ’87 and David C. Burke ’93 stand with Dean Risa Goluboff at a campaign kickoff event in May 2018. 

The school launched a new Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation Program that will expand opportunities for appellate advocacy and build upon synergies between related clinics, their dockets, and the Law School’s faculty and alumni in the appellate bar.

The ghouls and goblins invaded UVA Law for the First Year Council’s Halloween Carnival.

Professor Mitu Gulati was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Professor Josh Bowers was elected to the American Law Institute. Professor Ruth Mason was awarded a multiyear fellowship by Germany’s Max Planck Society. Professor Michael Livermore taught in France as “Major Changes” Chair, hosted by Sorbonne University and the Paris Institute for Advanced Study.

A short course offered students a rare glimpse into the congressional investigation of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, featuring firsthand insight from key figures, such as former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney.

Among members of the Class of 2025 who shined: Courtney Capen Douglas was named editor-in-chief of the Virginia Law Review, Laura-Louise Rice was elected president of the Student Bar Association, and Chloe Chiles and Toni Woods won the ECVC Transactional Law Competition.

Aquila Maliyekkal ’24 and Sean Gray ’24 won the 95th William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition.

Faculty scholarship was recognized by peers. Professor Kenneth S. Abraham received the 2024 Prosser Award from the Association of American Law Schools’ Section on Torts and Compensation Systems, an award recognizing lifetime contributions to the field of tort law. A paper by Professors Kristen Eichensehr and Cathy Hwang was recognized as a top 10 corporate law article for 2023. Professor Saikrishna Prakash was awarded the 2023 Mike Lewis Prize. …

… Professors Payvand Ahdout and Xiao Wang won awards from the AALS for their papers. Professor Aditya Bamzai was named this year’s recipient of the 2024 Joseph Story Award at the Federalist Society’s National Student Symposium. Professor Danielle Citron received the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ 2024 Privacy Leadership Award.

Students pursued research and pro bono projects abroad, including at the U.N. office in Geneva (pictured above), the U.S. Embassy in Argentina, South Africa (pictured above) and Kenya.

One of UVA’s oldest traditions, the 116th Libel Show, showcased student-produced skits and songs.

The State and Local Government Policy Clinic worked with Del. Katrina Callsen ’14 to help pass foster care reform in Virginia, among other projects the clinic worked on. Pictured are: Ryan Carp ’25, Divya Sharma ’25, Del. Katrina Callsen ’14 and Professor Andrew Block.

Roger L. Gregory, the first Black judge to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and this year’s recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Law, explained his view of the Constitution and the value of collegiality in a talk at UVA Law.

The 41st annual North Grounds Softball League Invitational, organized by UVA Law students, raised a record $40,000 for charity.

The Lambda Law Alliance celebrated its 40th anniversary gala and recognized alumni for their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.

After teaching at UVA Law for decades, Professors Richard Bonnie ’69, an expert in criminal law and health law, and A. E. Dick Howard ’61, a constitutional law scholar, announced their retirements (pictured with Dean Risa Goluboff and Professor Richard Schragger).

A solar eclipse in April brought the UVA Law community together for a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Professor Cale Jaffe ’01 received a UVA Excellence in Public Service Award for, among other accomplishments, his efforts to preserve a historic Black schoolhouse in Cumberland County, Virginia.

Professor Richard Re gave a “REcap” of the last three years and offered advice to 2024 graduates in his Charge to the Class.

Several graduating students were recognized for their accomplishments and contributions at UVA Law. Grace Zipperer was named the Law School’s first recipient of the Immigrant Justice Corps’ Justice Fellowship. Tyler Adams, a U.S. Army veteran, was named a 2023 Tillman Scholar. New Powell Fellow Michael Pruitt will provide legal support to public-benefit recipients. Keegan Hudson was this year’s recipient of the Gregory H. Swanson Award. See all graduation awards and stories about the Class of 2024.

NFL executive Dasha Smith ’98 told this year’s graduating class that she wanted to impart three lessons that helped her take risks in her own career.

Alice Abrokwa, an experienced civil rights litigator and senior counsel with the U.S. Education Department, and Edwin “Eddy” Hu, a former financial economist with the Securities and Exchange Commission, will join the Law School faculty this summer.