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Breaking: UCLA Law Dean Michael Schill Will Leave for Chicago

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 1:22 PM - By Elie Mystal

UCLA School of Law logo.JPGUCLA School of Law will lose its dean at the end of the year. Dean Michael Schill will leave the law school at the end of the year to assume the deanship of the University of Chicago Law School. Dean Schill just informed his students over email:

Dear Members of the Classes of 2010, 2011, and 2012,

A little over five years ago I came to UCLA School of Law from the east coast to become dean of one of the greatest educational institutions in the world. From the moment I arrived I appreciated the strength and depth of our student culture. Indeed, you are part of the reason my five years as the dean of this school have been the happiest and most fulfilling years of my life. Thus, it is with mixed emotions that I announce today that I will be leaving the deanship at the end of the calendar year for a new challenge as dean of the University of Chicago Law School.

Why is he leaving so suddenly? Why was this decision made now instead of over the summer? University of Chicago Dean Saul Levmore announced he was stepping down back in February. Why the late trigger at UofC?

Dean Schill offers some additional information about his decision process — and the University of Chicago touts its new dean — after the jump.

UCLA Law Dean Schill.JPGUpdate: The announcement might be surprising to UCLA Law students. But when we emailed with Dean Schill, he explained that his process for making this decision was not sudden:

There is nothing sudden or unusual about the decision. The search process took place over the summer (Chicago is on quarters so Chicago hasn’t even begun its school year yet) and I made a decision a couple of weeks ago. I plan on remaining at UCLA for the next four months to assist in the transition, which I know will be a smooth one. I am, however, eager to begin a new professional challenge. Chicago is the home of the most important idea to shape the law over the past half century. I intend that the school will continue that leadership role in the future.

So far, the response from the University of Chicago has been positive. One Chicago law professor told Above the Law:

Mike is a first-rate scholar and a proven dean, who is widely regarded as a thoughtful and caring leader. We couldn’t ask for more.

We haven’t heard back from a certain high-profile former law professor at U of C.

We wish Dean Schill the best of luck. Congratulations to the University of Chicago Law School on its new hire.

Read Dean Schill’s full email to UCLA students — and the email informing Chicago students — below. Or check out the U of C press release, over here.

UCLA SCHOOL OF LAW — DEPARTURE MEMO — DEAN MICHAEL SCHILL

Dear Members of the Classes of 2010, 2011, and 2012,

A little over five years ago I came to UCLA School of Law from the east coast to become dean of one of the greatest educational institutions in the world. From the moment I arrived I appreciated the strength and depth of our student culture. Indeed, you are part of the reason my five years as the dean of this school have been the happiest and most fulfilling years of my life. Thus, it is with mixed emotions that I announce today that I will be leaving the deanship at the end of the calendar year for a new challenge as dean of the University of Chicago Law School.

The law school has accomplished so much over the past five years. Over the past three years, this school received more applications than at any time in memory. Your entering credentials are stronger than any group of students in our history. Perhaps more importantly, I have seen your aspirations and achievements grow and grow. I am so proud of each of you and regret that I will not be here to shake your hands and hug you as you cross the podium at commencement.

These are challenging times for many of you. The temporary disruption in the legal market has no doubt created some uncertainty about your employment prospects. I want you each to know how confident I am in your futures. Each and every one of you has what it takes to be an enormously successful lawyer. The faculty, administrators and staff that we have assembled here are dedicated to helping you fulfill your dreams. That commitment will continue regardless of who sits in the dean’s office.

Financially, the school is in strong shape despite the problems with California’s budget. And, our alumni have stepped up and are now sharing the cost of your education. This shift in our funding model will need to continue for our school to prosper and grow. It is my sincere hope that when each of you graduates from the school you support future generations of Bruins and the law school that has given you so much.

During the coming week, a search will commence for a new leader, who will undoubtedly continue to build upon the traditions of innovation and excellence that are the foundation of this school. While I am greatly looking forward to my new responsibilities in Chicago, I also hope that I will remain in contact with many of you. Though I will live 1,700 miles away, a piece of me will always reside in Westwood and at UCLA Law.

Warm regards.

Mike

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL — LAW SCHOOL DEAN APPOINTMENT

From: President Robert J. Zimmer and Provost Thomas F. Rosenbaum

Subject: Law School Dean Appointment

We are very pleased to announce that Michael H. Schill, a nationally known scholar of property law and highly successful leader in his current position as dean of the UCLA Law School, will become the next dean of the University of Chicago Law School on Jan. 1, 2010.

The Law School has a remarkable history of achievement, a distinctive culture of rich intellectual engagement, and a dynamic collection of faculty, students, and staff. An important part of this history is a powerful collaboration with scholars across the University, and in spite of the challenging economic times, it is a moment when the University must commit to investing in the Law School to support its sustained eminence. We are very confident that Mike will bring to the deanship the values, vision, aspirations, University-wide perspective, and leadership to help ensure that the future of the Law School is as compelling as its past.

This appointment follows the recommendation of a national search conducted by the committee of elected faculty of the Law School, chaired by Professor Eric Posner, and we are grateful for the vision and energy that the committee and its chair brought to this crucial task.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to Saul Levmore for eight years of devoted service as dean. He has been an excellent steward of the school and its core values of intellectual engagement and informed argument. We are delighted he will remain with us in the capacity in which he arrived twelve years ago, namely as an original scholar and distinguished member of our faculty.

A graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, Mike Schill spent a period in private practice before joining the University of Pennsylvania, where he was professor of law and real estate. He became the Wilf Family Professor in Property Law at New York University School of Law and professor of urban planning at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He was the founding director of the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. Mike has continued to pursue his scholarship in real estate and housing policy, deregulation, finance, and discrimination. He is a co-author of the property law casebook used by more than half of all law students nationwide. He became dean at UCLA in 2004 and has been widely recognized as a dynamic leader for that law school in the five years he has served as dean.

Please join us in welcoming Mike to the University.

Schill appointed next dean of University of Chicago Law School [University of Chicago Law School (press release)]

Earlier: University of Chicago Law School Dean To Step Down

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Posted in: Law Professors, Law School Deans, Law Schools, UCLA School of Law, University of Chicago Law School

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