To be precise, 106 years. That’s how long the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law has turned out attorneys in the Beehive State, and yet in all that time, the school hasn’t had a female dean until now.
Elizabeth Kronk Warner, associate dean of academic affairs at the University of Kansas School of Law, will take over as Utah’s dean this summer.
In a prepared statement, she lauded the U. law school for doing “an exceptional job of balancing a commitment to excellent educational opportunities for students at an appropriate cost while also promoting outstanding scholarly work. I look forward to leading the college to even greater success in the coming years.”
Generative AI Facts And Fallacies
Four insights and misunderstandings to help demystify GenAI for legal professionals.
Kronk Warner’s academic work has focused heavily on tribal law, heading the Tribal Law and Government Center at Kansas Law and serving as a judge on two tribal courts. She’s taking over a top 50 school and the constant unspoken burden to outperform BYU.
Despite some wishful thinking, the legal academy has never been immune to the legal industry’s general overall lag when it comes to diversity. The sense people have that the academy is significantly farther ahead has more to do with the focus we place on a few high-profile appointments when we should use these appointments as an opportunity to reflect on how half the population holds a handful of positions and yet people feel inclined to call that “good.”
University of Utah law school names its first female dean [Salt Lake Tribune]
Why Better Billing Statements Can Improve Your Firm’s Finances—And Your Client Relationships
Outdated billing is costing law firms money. Discover how clear, modern billing practices boost profits, trust, and cash flow in 2025.
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.