Work and Life and Death: A Law School Dean's Perspective

Abstract

Everyone’s life is intimately involved with living and dying. But, I daresay that it’s a more present, persistent, and perennial aspect of the life of a dean. That’s because of two things. One is that we are visibly and intimately connected in a rich network of interactions with the people who work with us and the people we engage within our broader communities, and many of those folks are close to the end of their lives. The other is that, because we are deans, it matters very profoundly to people that we are engaged with them in these challenging life passages.

Keywords: Law School, Dean, Living and Dying, Retirement, Law School Culture, Dean Perspective, Law School Communities, Engagement