Emerging From A Drexel Haze
posted by Dan Filler
Greetings from the blog hermit!
I have been utterly derelict in my posting responsibilities for weeks now for the unavoidable reason that I’m helping construct Drexel College of Law. Several folks have suggested that they’d enjoy hearing what it’s like to start a new operation, and I hoped – and still do hope – to offer some insights. But my recent absence from the blog is perhaps a hint of what this task is like: completely engrossing.
As one would expect, the appointments process consumes a vast amount of energy. But there are a million less obvious jobs that require attention daily – whether or not time has been budgeted for them. Write text for an ad! Answer the email of a powerful member of the local bar! Resolve a (select one): (student) (faculty) (logistical) (philosophical) crisis! (You doubt that philosophical crises are part of the daily grind? Many mundane questions in a law school can be answered by reference to a school’s unstated principles and priorities. We’re still fabricating those things.)
I can summarize a few truths about the process.
1. Starting a law shool is a hell of a lot of fun.
2. Starting a law school is a hell of a lot of work.
3. Starting a law school requires humility. In the world of law school hierarchies, “new and unaccredited” is sometimes equated with “bottom of the heap.”
4. Starting a law school requires immense cockiness. Because you have to go to work each day believing that you have the capacity to create an excellent law school from whole cloth.
5. Starting a law school means never having to say “what did we do last time?” And never being able to say “lets just do what we did last time!”
Like many of our readers, I’ll be at the Marriott Wardman Park for the next few days. Please say hi if you see me sprint past!
November 2, 2006 at 12:00 am
Posted in: Law School
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