Letter from Interim Dean Stephen C. Yeazell

Fall 2009

This year marked the 60th anniversary of UCLA School of Law. While much has changed at the law school and in the nation during the past 60 years, the spirit of our community remained constant. Since the law school's founding, we have been a pioneer in legal education and committed to the public good. Our school has always been made up of engaged and accomplished scholars, students and alumni who set high intellectual standards for each other.

This spirit, reflected in you, is our most precious asset. And, it's one that we must sustain. As a great public institution, we need to be able to provide the same world-class education that you received to future generations. With state support at an all time low, our students have to bear an ever larger share of the costs of their education. This academic year they will pay more than $35,000 for in-state tuition. Despite significant state cutbacks, we have-with alumni support-- substantially increased our financial aid budget and expanded our loan forgiveness program for those in public service.

Notwithstanding the current challenges, UCLA School of Law continues to thrive. We have expanded our programs and curriculum to include a new Empirical Legal Scholars Program, an externship program in Washington, D.C. and a unique joint effort with the Anderson School of Management to establish a start-up company incubator, among others. The volume of applications to our J.D. program continues to grow and hit a new record - more than 8,250 applicants for 300 spots - surpassing last year's record high. The entering credentials of the class of 2012 are stronger than any class in our history.

Our faculty members continue to be recognized for their impressive accomplishments. Professor Daniel Bussel was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. Professor Ann Carlson was appointed by the National Academy of Sciences to an important national panel on climate change. Professor Timothy Malloy was elected by Cal/EPA's Department of Toxic Substances Control to the state's new Green Ribbon Science Panel. Ten of our faculty members have also been appointed to new law school endowed professorships.

The quality and quantity of events at the law school is also notable. Recent events include a visit by Kenneth R. Feinberg, who was appointed special master for executive compensation by the Secretary of the Treasury earlier this year. He discussed issues in compensation during a Business Law and Policy Program presentation. Somaly Mam, one of the world's leading advocates to eradicate human trafficking, shared her experiences at a special lecture presented by the International Human Rights Program. Frederick Schauer, David and Mary Harrison distinguished professor of law at the University of Virginia, delivered the 2009 Melville B. Nimmer Memorial Lecture. Nelson Rising '67, director, president and chief executive officer of Maguire Properties, Inc., gave the Regents Lecture, and father and son David Glickman '57 and Steven Glickman '82 discussed their work as trial lawyers during the 2009 Irving H. Green Memorial Lecture. In late-Octoberber an all-UCLA panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the newly dedicated A. Barry Cappello Courtroom at the school. And, in early December another all-UCLA trio of state and federal judges will swear in the newly admitted members of the California Bar-in a lovely ceremony organized and sponsored by your alumni association.
Your energy is equally impressive.

This year 29% of all law school alumni gave to UCLA School of Law. This places the law school in the top five among major American law schools for generosity in giving back. The Law Firm Challenge, now in its seventh year, also continues to break records. The school's participation rate reached an impressive 77% among the 82 law firms participating. And, the Campaign for UCLA School of Law is going strong. We have reached 65% of our $100 million goal to date.

We need your gifts now more than we have ever needed them before. We need you to pay it forward and provide the funds necessary to support student financial aid. The resources to fund summer internships for students working for the government or nonprofit agencies come from you. So, please make our school a top charitable priority this year.

UCLA School of Law is more than just a place where we work, or study or from where we graduated. Because of the extraordinary qualities of our community, I know I can count on your help. Please take the time to send us a gift or log onto www.law.ucla.edu/giving and support our school and its students in this critical time.

Sincerely,
Stephen C. Yeazell
Interim Dean and David G. Price and Dallas P. Price Professor of Law