On Monday, August 9, Dean Mark E. Brandon welcomed the Class of 2024 during the opening day of First-Year Orientation. In his speech, Brandon highlighted that the incoming class consists of 152 students—drawn from a pool of over 1,500 applicants. More than 50 percent of the 1Ls are women and just under 20 percent identify as members of a racial or ethnic minority. Members of this class have studied, lived, or worked in 43 countries outside of the United States, including those in Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, and they read or speak 12 different languages and dialects from around the world
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Emphasizing the diverse backgrounds, skills, and experiences of this new incoming class, Brandon challenged the students to “make your mark on the School of Law, [and] on your community, nation, and world” through the practice of law. “Today is the 1st day of your professional lives. And the way you approach Law School—the way you approach your studies, and the way you engage with one another—will form the foundation of your professional reputation for decades to come.”
Brandon also offered his vote of confidence and reassurance in all the students sitting in the room who may “feel overwhelmed or lost, or feel they just won’t make it.”
“If you’ve been admitted, we strongly believe that you have what it takes to succeed here,” said Brandon. “Talk to me, talk to your teachers and mentors, [and know] that we have additional resources to support you. . . There’s a future for you at the Law School. . . You belong. Don’t doubt it.”
