Chapter 3:
Administrative Overview

Administrative Overview

The School of Law operates under the direction of the Dean, who serves as its chief executive officer. The Dean of the School of Law reports to the Provost and also serves as a member of the University Cabinet. The administrative functions of the School of Law are organized into departments, typically led by directors, executive directors, and assistant or associate deans. Below are descriptions of departments, their reporting structure, and how they support students.

The Faculty of the School of Law is responsible for the academic programs of the School of Law. Faculty responsibilities include oversight of the curriculum, grading policies, degree requirements, and the certification of graduates. 

Key Contacts:

Academic Affairs

The Office of Academic Affairs is responsible for the administration of all academic programs at the School of Law and is led by the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The department is responsible for such as the academic calendar creation, setting the class schedule, contracting adjuncts, faculty policy matters, and policy creation and enforcement for students.

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Departments Reporting to Academic Affairs:

This Department Can Help You With:

Academic Excellence and Bar Support

Academic Excellence and Bar Support (AEP) is responsible for helping all law students achieve their academic potential through the administration of general and custom programming. Such programming may include one-on-one academic counseling, administration of a structured study group program led by second- and third-year law students, and focused workshops on academic skills. AEP is also charged with teaching two faculty-approved courses, which are specifically designed to reinforce skills necessary for academic and bar success.

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This Department Can Help You With:


Admissions & Financial Aid

The Office of Admissions & Financial Aid is charged with recruiting for the JD, LLM, and SJD programs, and is responsible for admissions to all programs of the School of Law. The department also oversees Financial Aid administration for the students of the School of Law and is the liaison to Student Financial Services for student accounts matters.

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This Department Can Help You With:

Budget Office

The Budget Office manages all finances of the School of Law, facilitates Human Resources functions for the School of Law, and works with all constituencies to facilitate spending and resource allocation throughout the academic year. The department also manages all restricted funds (i.e., donations given for specific purposes) to ensure donor intent is met and funds are used appropriately.

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This Department Can Help You With:

Building Management & Events

The Building Management & Events team leads in large event coordination, travel for competition teams, and coordinates the room management system for the School of Law. The department also oversees the facility and operations of the Worrell Professional Center, overseeing things such as building security, mail distribution, janitorial services, ensuring work orders are placed and executed, overseeing projects with construction or building updates, managing building access, and performing walk throughs of the building to ensure the building is kept in the best working condition for your educational experience.

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This Department Can Help You With:

Career & Professional Development

The Office of Career & Professional Development (OCPD) serves as the hub of career and professional development for all students of the School of Law. The OCPD is responsible for teaching Professional Development, a course for first-year JD students that focuses on professional identity exploration and formation, as well as introduction to skills and attributes expected in all legal sectors. OCPD provides career advising, connects and maintains relationships with employers, arranges events and workshops on a variety of legal interest areas, coordinates on-campus interviews, and administers mandatory graduate reporting for NALP and the American Bar Association.

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This Department Can Help You With:

Development & Alumni Engagement

Development & Alumni Engagement work to build relationships with students while they are in school so that the relationship transfers to engaged alumni after graduation. The team works to keep alumni engaged in events like Homecoming and to support the School of Law's philanthropic efforts. 

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Experiential Learning

The Experiential Learning team serves as a primary contact for students interested in clinics, simulation courses, field placements, and competition teams. Each of the opportunities provided through the department provide students with opportunities to gain hands-on, practical experience in various legal sector environments.

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Faculty Support Services

The Faculty Support Services team supports all of the Law Faculty through a variety of administrative tasks. The team assists faculty in setting up and managing courses in Canvas, preparing materials and assessments, managing exam review sessions, and more.

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What This Department Can Help You With:

Information Technology

Information Technology (IT) is responsible for the oversight and support of all technology in the School of Law. The IT team also manages the IT Help Desk, which is located on the 2nd Floor in the Library. The IT Help Desk can assist any member of the School of Law community with any number of technology issues including WiFi access, software issues, and some hardware issues. It is also the responsibility of the IT team to set the computer hardware requirements for entering students.

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This Department Can Help You With:

Law Library

The Law Library provides in-depth resources for reasearch and study. Located in the center wing of the Worrell Professional Center, the library serves as a hub of interaction between members of the School of Law community. The Law Library serves students in their educational endeavors through its collections, services, and staff.

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Marketing & Communications

The Marketing & Communications department is responsible for maintaining the brand and identity of the School of Law. In addition, the department manages marketing for the School of Law, assisting Admissions & Financial Aid with various campaigns geared to increase potential students' interest. The Marketing & Communications team also works to maintain the visual identity of the School of Law through the creation of various media, merchandise in partnership with the Student Bar Association, and graphics and logos specific to the School of Law. 

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Program for Leadership & Character

The Program for Leadership & Character (PLC) is responsible for creating leadership and character development opportunities that will enhance students' educational experiences. Funded by a generous grant from the Kern Foundation, the PLC works with faculty to infuse leadership and character into the curriculum while also development programming opportunities for students that help identify and develop their leadership potential. The opportunities provided by the PLC are a true differentiator in legal education as our graduates have the opportunities to gain skills and knowledge to gain enhanced self-awareness while learning to be effective influencers and leaders in the legal space they occupy after graduating. 

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Registrar's Office

The Registrar's Office is responsible for student records and registration for all programs within the law school. The department is responsible for class registration, the administration of exams, posting of final grades, transcript requests, processing of bar examination certification paperwork, and ordering diplomas.

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This Department Can Help You With:

Student Affairs

The Office of Student Affairs is responsible for many student matters outside of the classroom. The department oversees programming and engagement opportunities, including leadership development in partnership with the Program for Leadership & Character, oversight of the Student Bar Association and all student organizations, the Wake Forest Law Ambassadors, accommodations, student conduct, non-academic policy creation and implementation, student assessment, student wellness and support, Foundations Week, and graduation.

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Departments Reporting to Student Affairs:

This Department Can Help With: