Gargoyle
Alumni Magazine for the University of Wisconsin Law School

Building Momentum

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Illustration of a winding road on rolling hills with green grass and a lake with a boat. Small circles showing the UW Law School Gargoyle mascot, justice scales, idea light bulbs, and readers with books adorn the road that passes by an illustration of the Wisconsin State Capitol Building.

A progress report on UW Law’s strategic plan.

At the heart of any great institution are the people within it. This is true for University of Wisconsin Law School, where our students, faculty, alumni and staff are all connected through the shared goal of making an impact in our community and our world; a theme not new to the Law School — with educational philosophies grounded in the Wisconsin Idea and our Law-in-Action approach to teaching and learning.

When UW Law unveiled its five-year strategic plan in May 2021, it was important to be bold, action-oriented and far-reaching in influence. Dean Dan Tokaji is “thrilled” with the work the school has accomplished so far in meeting its goals to educate exceptional lawyers and leaders to go out into the world and advance equal justice under the law.

While there are some long-term priorities that require more time, planning and resources, Tokaji is assured the Law School will succeed.

“I’m assured we can complete all our goals, but we will need help from our community to get there,” he said. “I feel fortunate that our alumni and broader community see how their support has a transformative effect on our students and Law School. I’m hoping others will be inspired so that we can continue to build and focus on what makes us stand out: our people.”

This 2023-24 academic year marks the halfway point of UW Law’s implementation of its strategic plan. Following is a brief progress report.

Students

  • Increased access to our renowned clinical program: Previously available to only 100 students in each class, as of 2022, any UW Law student is guaranteed a clinic opportunity if they want one.
  • Expanded financial aid resources: Starting last fall, all incoming students are now required to meet one-on-one with someone from the Law School’s financial aid advising team. These meetings walk students through applying for and/or accepting financial aid, encourage them to review their expenses and create a budget for the academic year, and familiarize them with the financial resources on campus.
  • Curricular changes: The Law School has enacted its most significant curricular changes in a half-century. Students starting in Fall 2023 have fewer mandatory courses, freeing up 10 credits for students in their 2L or 3L year to take additional elective courses or clinics of interest without negatively impacting Diploma Privilege eligibility.
  • Equal footing in the employment market: UW Law changed the grading curve to better align with peer schools and increase our students’ competitiveness when looking for jobs.
  • Enhanced classrooms and facilities: Over the last two years, UW Law has expanded and renovated many of the spaces where students receive direct services and counseling, like the Admissions & Financial Aid Office, the Academic Enhancement Program (AEP) and Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD).

Faculty

  • Investing in our faculty: Building financial resources to recruit and retain high-profile faculty is integral for UW Law’s future. Last year, the school closed 10 gifts to qualify for a match from Laureen Seeger ’86.
  • Updating our fellowships: UW Law changed the William H. Hastie Fellowship Program to be in line with other prestigious fellowships so the school can continue its mission and expand its reach, educating students who are committed to teaching in a law school setting after graduation.
  • Expanding Indigenous law: UW Law hired a new director of the Great Lakes Indigenous Law Center and just completed a successful search for a tenure track faculty member to teach federal Indian law. Still In Progress
  • Increasing the number of tenured faculty: UW Law’s rankings and reputational value are directly tied to the prestige of our faculty and their scholarship. A primary goal of our strategic plan is to grow our number of tenured faculty to 35 by 2026.
  • Rural law: UW Law is developing programs that highlight a variety of legal career pathways, including careers serving the legal needs of smaller communities and rural areas in Wisconsin that enhance access to justice outside of Madison and Milwaukee.
  • Renovated library space: Construction for the Legal Research & Writing Center is expected to be completed by Fall 2024, better situating the vital Law School program to increase accessibility and better serve students.
  • Research on teaching and implementing AI: The Dean’s Office formed an AI Working Group to explore the impact of large-language AI models and other AI applications on legal education generally and the Law School’s policies and practices more specifically. The Group continues to explore how to adapt to the changes AI will have on legal education and the legal profession.

To review the full strategic plan, including all nine established priority areas and ongoing action items, visit the Mission page of the UW Law School website.