Members of the Law School Class of 2022 celebrated their graduation at the Diploma and Hooding Ceremony at Rockefeller Chapel on June 4, 2022. The event featured remarks by Dean Thomas J. Miles, the Clifton R. Musser Professor of Law and Economics; Emily Nicklin, AB ’75, JD ’77, a senior litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis and member of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees; and Senior Lecturer Frank Easterbrook, ’73, a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Earlier that day, graduating Law School students attended the 536th University Convocation with other graduating students from across campus.

Afterward, they lined up outside Rockefeller Chapel and prepared to receive their Law School diplomas and hoods.

Dean Thomas J. Miles (right) and Professor Jonathan Masur led the procession into the chapel.

Students, many displaying wide smiles, filed in and took their seats.

They listened as the three speakers acknowledged their successes and offered advice.

In his welcome remarks, Dean Thomas J. Miles noted that when members of the JD class arrived at the Law School in Autumn of 2019, “we applauded you as you entered the auditorium and, at that time, none of us could have imagined the events and challenges that would soon come and shape your time in law school.” He then promised that when “you leave the chapel today … we will applaud you again, and you will have earned that applause unlike any other graduating class.” Miles also led a moment of silence in memory of the late Elle D’Amore, a member of the class who passed away in 2020.

Miles also noted that many members of the LLM class of 2022 were originally to have been part of the Class of 2021 but had chosen to defer until they could attend in person. He said the Law School was grateful to have had them, though a bit later than planned. “We celebrate with you today,” he said.

Miles presented the Distinguished Alumna Award to Emily Nicklin, AB ’75, JD ’77, a senior litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis and a member of the University’s Board of Trustees. In her speech, Nicklin advised the graduates to be intentional in setting their long-term goals because more than “just about anyone on this planet, you are likely to reach those goals.” She then spoke of the privilege of their education and urged them to remember, “in the heights of your success, that you are like a turtle in a tree—you didn’t get there by yourself. And so this means … that you must lift while you climb. You must, as they say, give back.”

Senior Lecturer Frank Easterbrook, a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, spoke to students about judicial decision-making, arguing against the idea that judges’ decisions tend to reflect their background, politics, or “just the views of the presidents who appointed them.” “Given selection pressure in litigation, the surprising result is agreement. There is much more judicial agreement than the attitudinal model of judging would predict,” he said. He urged graduates to “think better of the judicial system than the editorial pages do” and told them they could “look forward to a career in a professional discipline, not just a career in politics by another name.”

Students then lined up and waited to hear their names. Justin Swinsick, the director of graduate programs, read the names of the graduating LLM and JSD students. Charles N. Todd, the dean of students, read the names of the JD students.

Four members of the faculty presented graduates with their hoods: Emily Buss, the Mark and Barbara Fried Professor of Law; Jonathan S. Masur, the John P. Wilson Professor of Law; Alison L. LaCroix, the Robert Newton Reid Professor of Law; and Lior J. Strahilevitz, the Sidley Austin Professor of Law.

Law School faculty watched with pride as their students became graduates.

After the ceremony, the new graduates recessed from the chapel and were greeted with applause.

They congratulated each other and took photos with family and friends.

Back at the Law School, the Class of 2022 celebrated -- and took more photos.

They chatted with classmates ...

... and said goodbye to the faculty. Here, two students pose with Dean Tom Miles.

Congratulations to the Class of 2022!

Other graduation coverage: Watch a recording of the Diploma and Hooding Ceremony and read about the traditions and memories the Class of 2022 will carry with them. Read speeches by Judge Frank Easterbrook and Emily Nicklin, '77.

Members of the Law School Class of 2022 celebrated their graduation at the Diploma and Hooding Ceremony at Rockefeller Chapel on June 4, 2022. The event featured remarks by Dean Thomas J. Miles, the Clifton R. Musser Professor of Law and Economics; Emily Nicklin, AB ’75, JD ’77, a senior litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis and member of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees; and Senior Lecturer Frank Easterbrook, ’73, a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

In his welcome remarks, Dean Thomas J. Miles noted that when members of the JD class arrived at the Law School in Autumn of 2019, “we applauded you as you entered the auditorium and, at that time, none of us could have imagined the events and challenges that would soon come and shape your time in law school.” He then promised that when “you leave the chapel today … we will applaud you again and you will have earned that applause unlike any other graduating class.” Miles also led a moment of silence in memory of the late Elle D’Amore, a member of the class who passed away in 2020.

Miles also noted that many members of the LLM class of 2022 were originally to be part of the Class of 2021 but had chosen to defer until they could attend in person. He said the Law School was grateful, adding, "We celebrate with you today.”

Miles presented the Distinguished Alumna Award to Emily Nicklin, AB ’75, JD ’77, a senior litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis and a member of the University’s Board of Trustees. In her speech, Nicklin advised the graduates to be intentional in setting their long-term goals because more than “just about anyone on this planet, you are likely to reach those goals.” She then spoke of the privilege of their education and urged them to remember “in the heights of your success, that you are like a turtle in a tree—you didn’t get there by yourself. And so this means … that you must lift while you climb. You must, as they say, give back.”

Senior Lecturer Frank Easterbrook, a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, spoke to students about judicial decision-making, arguing against the idea that judges’ decisions tend to reflect their background, politics, or “just the views of the presidents who appointed them.”

“Given selection pressure in litigation, the surprising result is agreement. There is much more judicial agreement than the attitudinal model of judging would predict,” he said. He urged graduates to “think better of the judicial system than the editorial pages do” and told them they could “look forward to a career in a professional discipline, not just a career in politics by another name.”

Four members of the faculty presented graduates with their hoods: Emily Buss, the Mark and Barbara Fried Professor of Law; Jonathan S. Masur, the John P. Wilson Professor of Law; Alison L. LaCroix, the Robert Newton Reid Professor of Law; and Lior J. Strahilevitz, the Sidley Austin Professor of Law.