SLU's Interim Dean

There's been extensive coverage already of the happenings at St. Louis University over at Brian Leiter's shop (and also at Paul Caron and Legal History Blog).  I did, however, want to point out two things that I think people have not yet focused on.  First, quoting from a news story:

[Interim Dean Thomas Keefe] says he wants to focus SLU's curriculum on teaching students to be lawyers, "not how to become law students, not how to write learned law journal articles, not how to espouse all kinds of legal theory." He says he's also looking forward to being the first dean to wear shorts and T-shirts in the office.

I'm going to be most interested in what changes Keefe makes.  Also, here's a link to Thomas Keefe's law firm website.  As one of my colleagues observed about this, being a very successful PI lawyer, which Okeefe obviously is, is exceptionally difficult and draws on a lot of skills.  It's not clear to me that he has a lot of management experience, at least experience managing lawyers; nor is there any evidence of experience with legal education, other than as a law student 34 and more years ago.  And I'd add that my friends on the SLU faculty -- indeed the entire SLU community -- are in my thoughts.  I'm hoping things settle down quickly so everyone can get back to the work of educating students and doing service and scholarship.

Comments

[SLU Law prof]

This is the culmination of years of hostility from Biondi towards the law school. As someone who has been on the faculty for decades, I can attest to everything in Dean Clark's letter as being true and just the tip of the iceberg. Biondi has boasted of his hatred for lawyers, even to law alumni, yet there is no question that he depends on the law school revenue and law alumni giving. This is the second Dean in three years that has resigned as a direct result of Biondi's incompetence and dishonesty. He is not fit to run a University, let alone one where he has the Board and all top positions in his back pocket. Keefe is just another yes-man; he has indicated that he will continue his law practice and serve as dean, for all practical purposes, part-time. Few law faculty have faith in his abilities. While he has spoken to the media on numerous occasions and has bashed our beloved ex-Dean while doing so, he has yet to send an email to the law faculty or law school, nor has he called a meeting to discuss his appointment. SLU Law has a tremendous faculty (and a particularly strong junior faculty), engaging and smart students, and a wonderful staff, yet the only thing that can save this school is a new President and administration. Dean Clark may have paid a big price, but like any good leader, she stood by her morals and is the first (in my experience) to stand up to this autocrat. I, for one, would without question follow her to a new school.

[Alfred Brophy]

Thank you for this, SLU Law prof -- I'm saddened to hear it.