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Dean's Message
Message from the Dean
The Interconnectedness of a Pace Law School Education
Legal practice in the 21st century brooks no neat distinctions. A human rights advocate needs to understand corporate and commercial law. An attorney who represents small businesses must grasp intellectual property concepts. An attorney who litigates tort cases needs to consider tax rules. A lawyer whose main focus is on criminal defense often needs to understand securities laws. Law students take courses in so many areas precisely because good lawyers need to be conversant with so many aspects of the law. At Pace Law School, we believe that an excellent legal education should challenge and inspire students to explore connections, bridges and relationships between and among seemingly disparate areas of law.
We are fortunate to have several members of the Pace Law School faculty who are national experts in their fields. Our expertise in Environmental Law, International Law and public-interest work is already well known to many. This issue of the alumni magazine spotlights the school’s strengths in other areas such as commercial law, intellectual property, taxation and securities law. It is not unusual for a student to come to Pace Law School to pursue a passion in one area, and to graduate from Pace Law School with a newly acquired interest. Our alumni work in every sector of the legal market, and they probably received an introduction to the field as a student. We are pleased and proud of the depth and breadth of innovative thinking that our faculty members bring to the classroom.
Pace Law Faculty Engage in Broader Dialogue
As you peruse this edition of the Alumni Magazine, you will learn more about some of the exciting work our faculty is doing. Professor Andrew Lund is leading a national dialogue on corporate law and the compensation for corporate executives. The cover story, “Executive Compensation: Behind the Debate,” links his work to current debates. The issue also highlights Professor Lund’s Advanced Corporations Seminar. In that class, Pace students meet with and learn from key national scholars in the corporate law area. Freshly returned from his semester as a Fulbright Scholar in France, Professor Darren Rosenblum talks about his research on corporate board sex quotas, and whether gender-conscious seat selection is likely to be adopted by U.S. corporations in the near future. A profile of Professor Horace Anderson highlights Pace Law School’s growing presence in intellectual property law. Last but not least, Professor Bridget Crawford explores an unusual tax problem involving the Nobel Prize.
The Institute of International Commercial Law in the 21st Century
Many of you are may be familiar with the work of Professor Al Kritzer, the founder, primary architect and the heart and soul behind Pace Law School’s database on the Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). Vikki Rogers, as Director of the Institute of International Commercial Law at Pace Law School, is carrying on Professor Kritzer’s groundbreaking work and bringing it into 21st century to reflect the changing needs of a technology-driven global society. In this issue, you will read what is happening at the Institute of International Commercial Law today, and why online dispute resolution might be the wave of the future.
Pace Law School Alumni in the Global Context
Pace Law School has a solid presence in the global and domestic legal communities. We are pleased to highlight some of our alumni who are shaping how we as a global society conduct business. From the banking and the financial industries to patent litigation and insurance, the day-to-day lives of our alumni demonstrate the power of a Pace Law degree.
The active participation of our alumni community allows the Law School to flourish. Our alumni – you – serve as volunteer judges for our moots, speakers at our CLE programs, and mentors for our students. We are very grateful for your support.
Yours sincerely,
Michelle S. Simon
Dean and Professor of Law
Pace Law School