Law School Holds 26th Annual Diploma and Hooding Ceremony
The Law School held its 26th Annual Diploma and Hooding Ceremony at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel on Saturday, June 1. The event, which followed the University of Chicago Convocation, featured remarks from Dean Thomas J. Miles, the Clifton R. Musser Professor of Law and Economics; Barry E. Fields, ’91, Lecturer in Law, Chair of the University of Chicago Medical Center Board of Trustees, and a member of the University’s Board of Trustees; and Diane P. Wood, Senior Lecturer in Law and Director of the American Law Institute.
A total of 199 JD students, 76 LLM students, 4 JSD students, and 2 MLS students were awarded degrees.
“You came to a law school with an unapologetic enthusiasm for the life of the mind and a conviction that ideas matter and are worth discussing,” Miles said in his opening remarks. “[You came to] a law school that does not impose a single viewpoint or style of thought, but instead a school that exposes students, and faculty alike, to contrasting views, and has confidence in your ability to think critically and independently and to choose your own path.”
The 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award was bestowed upon Fields. “Throughout his career and continuing today, Mr. Fields has been a selfless and inspiring civic leader,” said Miles, who shared that students often rave about Fields as a teacher.
In his remarks, Fields shared two pieces of advice for achieving long-term success in the legal profession. First, he noted the importance of creating a career plan that’s flexible. “Unanticipated challenges will arise, unplanned relationships will develop and evolve, and unexpected opportunities will appear,” he said. “These new events should cause you to reevaluate what brings you fulfillment and joy.”
Second, he advised students to make integrity their guiding principle as they follow their career paths. “Integrity is not simply about complying with state-issued ethical standards,” he said. “Integrity is also about being honest, being fair, being true to your values, and respecting others—even under the most difficult circumstances.”
Miles then introduced Judge Wood, who recently retired as Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. “During her judicial service, Judge Wood issued thousands of decisions,” said Miles. “Her opinions are acclaimed for their brilliance, precision, and command of all aspects and fields of the law.”
In her speech, Judge Wood spoke about “the art of agreeable disagreement,” reminding students of the very important and difficult task of respectful and honest debate, especially in today’s world.
“Even if no common ground emerges at first blush, the story isn’t over,” she said. “Find out what really bothers the other person. Maybe they have a point; maybe even if you aren’t persuaded, you can meet them halfway on something, or begin the process of developing an action plan that works for everyone.”
During the ceremony, four members of the faculty presented graduates with their hoods: Bridget Fahey, Assistant Professor of Law; Farah Peterson, Professor of Law; John Rappaport, Professor of Law; and Tom Ginsburg, Leo Spitz Distinguished Service Professor of International Law and Ludwig and Hilde Wolf Research Scholar. Ginsburg is also a professor of political science and the faculty director of the Malyi Center for the Study of Institutional and Legal Integrity, and of the University’s Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression.
Read the Speeches From the 2024 Ceremony
Barry Fields, ’91: “Planning a Fulfilling Legal Career in An Unpredictable World”