Harvard Law School Interim Dean John Goldberg addresses the Class of 2024

Summary

John Goldberg, Interim Dean of Harvard Law School, addresses the graduating class of 2024, acknowledging their resilience and achievements. He celebrates their diverse backgrounds and unprecedented challenges faced, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Goldberg highlights their pro bono service and academic accomplishments, emphasizing the importance of understanding and navigating the complexities of law. He urges graduates to use their skills to build a more compassionate and just world, reflecting on the value of open-mindedness and respectful disagreement.

Takeaways

• 🎓 **Class of 2024 Recognition**: The speaker acknowledges the Harvard Law School class of 2024 as a special group, marking a significant milestone in their academic journey.
• 👨‍🏫 **Leadership Praise**: John Goldberg, Interim Dean, commends the staff and administrative team for their efforts in implementing plan B, showcasing the school's adaptability.
• 🏆 **Historical Milestone**: The script highlights the 100th anniversary of the first LLM class at Harvard Law School, emphasizing the growth from four to 180 students.
• 🌟 **Academic Achievements**: The graduate program is praised for its diverse scholarly contributions, including topics like investment arbitration and artificial intelligence.
• 🌐 **Global Impact**: Graduates are set to return to official positions globally or venture into new roles with premier firms, showcasing the school's international influence.
• 📚 **SJD Dissertations**: The SJD graduates have completed dissertations on a wide range of cutting-edge topics, indicating the school's commitment to advancing knowledge.
• 👩‍💼 **Pro Bono Service**: The JD class is celebrated for performing over 393,490 hours of pro bono service, setting a new record for Harvard Law School.
• 🌈 **Diversity and Inclusion**: The class is recognized for its diversity, with a majority identifying as female and as persons of color, and representing nearly every US state and many international locations.
• 😷 **Pandemic Challenges**: The script acknowledges the unprecedented challenges faced by the class, including adapting to COVID-19 protocols and maintaining academic excellence.
• 🌟 **Graduate Excellence**: The graduates are praised for their work ethic, intelligence, and passion, which are seen as promising for a better future.
• 📖 **Law as a Complex Tool**: The speaker reflects on the complexities of law, emphasizing that it is a nuanced tool for understanding and reordering the world.
• 🤝 **Call to Action**: The script concludes with a call for graduates to use their legal training to strengthen bonds, overcome division, and work towards a more just and united world.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the transcript?

The speaker is John Goldberg, the Interim Dean of the Law School and a faculty member for 15 years.

What is the occasion being discussed in the transcript?

The occasion is the graduation ceremony for the class of 2024 at Harvard Law School.

What makes the class of 2024 special according to the speaker?

The class of 2024 is special because they have faced unprecedented challenges, such as returning to campus after more than a year of online learning, and they have shown resilience and hard work.

What is the significance of the year for the graduate program mentioned in the transcript?

The year is significant for the graduate program because it marks the 100th anniversary of the first class of LLM students graduating from Harvard Law School.

How many LLM students graduated in the first class 100 years ago?

The first class of LLM students 100 years ago consisted of four graduates.

What is the current number of LLM students graduating?

The current number of LLM students graduating is 180.

What types of topics have the LLM students produced scholarship on?

The LLM students have produced scholarship on topics ranging from investment arbitration and artificial intelligence to human rights and the comparative law of free speech.

What is the total number of pro bono service hours performed by the JD class?

The JD class has performed 393,490 hours of pro bono service.

How does the speaker describe the law?

The speaker describes the law as complex and nuanced, with rules that both prevent harm and empower action, promote stability while facilitating change, and demand both creativity and judgment.

What advice does the speaker give to the graduates about the practice of law?

The speaker advises the graduates to understand the complexities of the law, to empathize with different perspectives, and to approach issues with an open mind and a habit of understanding before disagreeing.

What is the role the speaker sees for the graduates in the future?

The speaker sees the graduates playing a crucial role in strengthening bonds, overcoming mistrust and fear, and working towards a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world.