After two years of searching for leadership, the Cecil C. Humphreys Law School has tapped one of its own to fill the dean's position. A search committee named U of M law professor James R. Smoot as the new dean Jan. 11.
Third year law student Erin Hughes was on the selection committee that has been searching for a permanent dean since Don Polden left in June 2003.
"There's definitely a collective sense of relief among students," Hughes said. "Having gone through two searches, we've spent a lot of time and money."
Hughes currently serves as the president of The U of M student bar association.
She said that Smoot is well respected among her fellow students.
"He is very devoted to our school," Hughes said. "He strongly believes that our degrees should be more valuable."
Smoot addressed law school students, faculty and staff Tuesday in an open meeting commenting on a letter sent to the school from the American Bar Association.
The letter, which praised the high bar passage and job placement rates for The U of M law school, addressed the need for new facilities.
"It creates some important opportunities in raising awareness in state and local governments about how important the issue of getting a new building is," Smoot said in Wednesday's meeting. "The issue is at the top of The University's agenda."
Smoot said the American Bar Association expects The U of M law school to have a reliable plan for how they're going to get there.
"The real problem is getting funding to build a new law school," Smoot said.
University provost Ralph Faudree attended Tuesday's meeting and addressed concerns about a new facility.
"Dean Smoot has a multi-faceted plan to deal with the political issues of getting into the Customs House and the funding issues," Faudree said.
A new on-campus building would be almost entirely state-funded, while relocation to the Customs House downtown could utilize some federal funding.
The need for a better facility is one of Smoot's priorities as he takes on his new role.
As chairman of the faculty committee to relocate the law school into the Customs House building downtown, Smoot has been spearheading the efforts prior to his appointment as dean. The Customs House is currently home to the U.S. Postal Service Front Street Station.
"I would like for the school to have more involvement with the downtown legal and judicial communities," Smoot said. "Moving to the Customs House is the goal we're working on first, and we're making progress."
Smoot's appointment follows the temporary leadership from interim deans Rodney K. Smith and, most recently, Daniel Wanat.
"I want to preserve all of the things that we do very well here," Smoot said. "Most years, our students outperform other law students in the state in terms of bar exam passage rates and job placement."
In comparison to other law schools in the state, the U of M working with meager resources, he said.
Erin Hughes said that the current building is holding the school back.
"Academically, our school has an excellent program," Hughes said. "But it's essential that we get a new facility."
Good students are not choosing this school because of the facility, she said.
"At this point we need someone who will focus on the building project," Hughes said. "Dean Smoot is very devoted to that."
The quality of the law school faculty and instruction is also a primary concern for Smoot.
"Our faculty is dedicated to a rigorous curriculum and instruction," he said. "Retention of faculty members is a very important issue."
Regarding the need for a new facility, Smoot said that the Customs House is the first choice, but added that there are a lot of good reasons to stay on campus.
"It will be possible for us to draw on funds for a relocation that would otherwise not be available for new construction," Smoot said. "Fundraising experts say that identifying a project like that will make it easier to raise money."
Smoot said that much of his time will be spent in development, raising money for annual needs and a new facility.
"We're no longer a state supported school," Smoot said. "We're state aided."
Smoot joined The U of M law school faculty in 1990. He is a graduate of Yale Law School and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California.
