Office of the Dean

At Yale Law School we don’t simply offer a rigorous, world-class education. We nurture a unique intellectual environment that revolves around the development and exchange of ideas and the cultivation of creative and critical thinking about the law and its meaning in our world. We approach disagreement and diversity of thought with seriousness and respect. Most of all, we value the individuality of our students and the multiplicity of their convictions and aspirations. 

We live in a time of change and uncertainty. Strain on the rule of law and our governing institutions and the rise of technologies like AI make our mission as urgent as ever. Carved in stone over one of the Sterling Law Building’s doorways, it says: “law is a living growth, not a changeless code.” At the Law School, we nurture students who will put that idea into practice, who will strive to shape events, the uses of technology, and the architecture of our government, rather than be shaped by them or accept what might seem inevitable. 

No matter their path after law school, our students emerge with the knowledge and intellectual wherewithal to adapt and thrive amidst turbulent and transformative times. Now, more than ever, the world needs lawyers and leaders equipped to meet the challenges of our day with dexterity, imagination, and humanity. Here at Yale Law School, we build the foundations for precisely that. 

Sincerely,

Cristina Rodríguez
Sol and Lillian Goldman Dean and Professor of Law
Yale Law School