Stanford Law Finds New Dean

The San Jose Mercury News (among many publications) recently reported that Stanford Law School has concluded its search for a new dean. Mary Elizabeth Magill, the current vice dean of the University of Virginia Law School, is set take over come September, Stanford Law said in its press release.

Magill, who is a scholar of both administrative and constitutional law, will succeed Larry Kramer. She is the Joseph Weintraub-Bank of America Distinguished Professor of Law and the Elizabeth D. and Richard A. Merrill Professor at Virginia Law. As vice dean, she “oversees the school's curriculum, its registrar and dean of students [and] has been responsible for recruiting faculty, mentoring junior faculty and promoting intellectual life at the school,” Stanford noted in its press release.

"Liz will bring impeccable judgment, grace and level-headedness to the deanship," said Paul Mahoney, Virginia Law’s dean, who was quoted in Stanford's press release. "Her style is inclusive and collegial, but decisive,"

Magill’s predecessor, Larry Kramer, stated that Magill “perfectly fits Stanford Law School's unique commitment to interdisciplinary work and its embrace of innovative change in legal education.” Kramer resigned in March to take on the presidency of The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

As dean of Stanford Law, Magill will oversee 650 students and 55 faculty, Stanford reports.