Philly Leader

University of Pennsylvania Law School issued the following announcement on Dec. 23.

A look back at the top stories from the Law School this past year.

In 2021, during a time of unprecedented challenges, the relentless work and efforts of our dedicated faculty, staff, alumni, and students contributed immensely to the growth of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. We have continued an upward trajectory as one of the nation’s preeminent legal education institutions, as evidenced by our climbing a full position to #6 in the U.S. News & World Report Law School Rankings.

Here, we celebrate the top 10 news stories from the Law School in 2021, ranked by page views, which highlight some of our community’s incredible accomplishments over the past year as well as our reaffirmed commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our classrooms, in the legal profession, and beyond.

1. Grace Greene L’20 to clerk for Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts

   Following clerkships on the district and appellate level, Greene will begin her work with Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts in 2022.

2. Natasha Sarin joins President Biden’s administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy with the Treasury Department

   In the spring of 2021, Assistant Professor of Law Natasha Sarin joined the Biden Administration as a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the Treasury Department.

3. Meet the JD Class of 2024

   After receiving the most applications in Law School history, we welcomed an impressive and diverse group of promising scholars.

4. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren pays tribute to Prof. Stephen Burbank

   During Civil Procedure, Judicial Administration, and the Future of the Field: A Festschrift, United States Senator and former Law School professor Elizabeth Warren shared her recollections of working alongside David Berger Professor for the Administration of Justice, Emeritus Stephen Burbank, noting that he should be honored for his “hardcore commitment to making the court system better.”

5. Prof. Feldman offers insight into the likelihood of employers requiring mandatory COVID-19 vaccines

   When employers across the country began considering mandating COVID-19 vaccines as conditions of employment, Heimbold Chair in International Law and Professor of Law Eric A. Feldman shared his expert insights on the legal contours of these decisions.

6. Four distinguished faculty members retired from the Law School in 2021

   At the close of the 2020-2021 academic year, four faculty members retired from their positions at the Law School: William A. Schnader Professor of Law Regina Austin L’73; David Berger Professor for the Administration of Justice Stephen B. Burbank; Charles A. Heimbold, Jr. Professor of Law Charles W. Mooney Jr.; and John J. O’Brien Professor of Law & Professor of Philosophy Stephen R. Perry.

7. University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School establishes the Morgan Lewis Impact Fund for Racial Justice

   With the generous support from Morgan Lewis, the Law School established a $250,000 fund to support racial justice and anti-racist initiatives at the Law School.

8. “I could and I would”: Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander Scholarships Honor Life and Legacy of Trailblazing Civil Rights Activist

   Following a suggestion from Penn’s Black Law Students Association, the Law School launching three new full-tuition scholarships created in honor of Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander Ed’1918, G’1921, Hon’1974, the first Black woman to graduate from the Law School.

9. Meet this year’s First Generation Professionals Fellows: Trevor Kirby L’23 and Virinchi Sindhwani L’23

   Trevor Kirby L’23 and Virinchi Sindhwani L’23 became the second group to participate in the First Generation Professionals Fellowship program, which is supported by a generous contribution from David Silk L’88 and aimed at supporting students who are the first in their families to attend professional school.

10. Law School supports nine First Generation Professionals Fellows across all class years

    In the fall, a third cohort of First Generation Professionals Fellows began their law school journeys, marking the first time the First Generation Professionals Fellowship has simultaneously supported students in the 1L, 2L, and 3L classes.

Original source can be found here.