Left to their own devices, universities probably just double down on the trend of being real estate hedge funds with a degree-minting side hustle. Unfortunately, they have to respond to existential threats from Trump administration like getting their accreditation taken from them or having to fight in court over billions of dollars in federal funding. As such, universities have to move with a bit more finesse and planning; NYU is commiting to that reality by having Trevor Morrison serve as their Chief Legal Officer. Law.com has coverage:
New York University has appointed Trevor Morrison, who was dean of the NYU School of Law from 2013 to 2022, as its first chief legal officer and senior presidential adviser for institutional policy.
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In a memo to senior leadership, NYU President Linda Mills said Morrison will report to her and will be NYU’s senior-most legal strategist, leading on such issues as institutional integrity, governance, ethics, risk and compliance.
You can imagine that some of the issues discussed will be. “Do you think Trump will threaten our ability to take international students if at least three faculty in the Economics department don’t scrounge up some data on how tariffs are actually good for the country?” and “If we don’t call the police on campus protestors within the first five minutes of them erecting signs, how much federal funding will it cost us?”
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Best of luck to Morrison in the new role. As rough as it is to balance integrity with the short-term shock of the disturbances the Trump administration can throw your way, there is some solace in knowing that Harvard and Perkins Coie are better off fighting the good fight than Columbia and the Yellow-Bellied Nine fared by caving in early.
NYU Hires Its Former Law School Dean for Newly Created Chief Legal Officer Role [Law.com]
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s . He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who is learning to swim, is interested in critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and by tweet at @WritesForRent.