Introducing the New Rutgers Law School
August 3, 2015
Members of the Rutgers Community:
On behalf of Chancellors Phoebe Haddon and Nancy Cantor, I am proud to announce that the American Bar Association has formally approved the merger of our law schools in Camden and Newark. This final step in the process, which follows Board of Governors approval this past spring, makes official the establishment of the newly merged Rutgers Law School, a single academic unit with locations in Camden and Newark. Effective immediately, Rutgers Law–Newark dean Ronald Chen and Rutgers Law–Camden acting dean John Oberdiek will serve as its co-deans.
This is a historic moment for our university and a welcome development for New Jersey and the region. The new Rutgers Law School is keenly attuned to the evolving demands of the legal profession and to the need for legal scholarship and education to address the public good. We are excited about the future of an institution that is both steeped in history as a cornerstone of one of America’s oldest universities and situated at the forefront of innovation in legal education.
As New Jersey’s public law school, Rutgers Law offers a wealth of advantages:
- A comprehensive curriculum, propelled by one of the nation’s largest faculties with wide-ranging expertise;
- Locations in two of the nation’s five largest legal employment markets, providing access to an extraordinary array of clinical, pro bono, and experiential learning opportunities;
- An active network of more than 20,000 alumni nationwide;
- Cutting-edge immersive technology bringing great legal scholars and students together in real time; and
- A proven tradition of educating diverse new generations of legal professionals for public and private practice.
The new Rutgers Law School is the culmination of conversations begun by former deans John Farmer and Ray Solomon several years ago and of plans embraced by faculty in both Newark and Camden. That same spirit of collaboration will continue to strengthen the programs and scholarship at Rutgers Law School, including the deep engagement with our host cities and regions for which Rutgers is already well known and highly regarded.
I know that Chancellor Cantor and Chancellor Haddon, who have brought their own tremendous energy to the merger process, join me in congratulating the faculty, administrators, and deans who have worked so hard to achieve this milestone. They and I look forward to working with Rutgers Law School to maximize the benefits of this merger for our students, New Jersey residents, and the region. We are eager to help as Rutgers Law revolutionizes legal education and scholarship for the 21st century.
Sincerely,
Bob Barchi