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Law School Administration: Who Does What?
From time to time you will find that you need help navigating your way through your law school career. Here are a few basic facts about the people who help administer the Law School. These are the people on the front line of student services. If they can’t help you, they will direct you to someone who can.
The Dean, the Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, Directors, and other Really Important People to Know:
Steven M. Barkan, Professor and Director of the Law
Library (room 6358) He heads the administration of the
Law Library as well as the IT Department. He also sometimes teaches
law courses such as torts and legal ethics. We won’t elaborate on
access to library services here. Check the Web site at:
library.law.wisc.edu/
Joanna Binsfeld, Curricular Coordinator (room
5106). Works in many different capacities of curriculum such as
scheduling courses, student questions, registration questions and
maintaining the student database.
Jane Ford Bennett, Senior Grade Reporter (room
5106). If you have problems or questions about grades or need help
with registration problems, such as dropping or adding courses,
getting authorization for Directed Research or Directed Reading, or
getting authorization for more than 18 credits in a semester, Jane
can assist you. She also answers questions about the Dean’s List
for each semester and can help you get information from your files,
including your personal statement, application form or LSDAS
report. All visiting students must see Jane to register for
classes.
Justin Boehm, Financial Specialist Receptionist
(room 5110). Justin’s financial responsibilities include travel
reimbursements, purchasing, and bank deposits. As a back up
receptionist, he assists with general questions.
Josh Cutler, Payroll Specialist and Building Manager (room 5110). Josh is responsible for staff and student payroll. In the main office, he handles facility problems and/or requests and building renovations.
Kenneth B. Davis, Jr. Professor and Dean of the Law
School (room 5211A). He presides over the governance of
the Law School. He represents the Law School in it’s interactions
with the larger university, the public, and the bar. He sometimes
teaches business law courses. You may need to consult with the
Dean, but you will probably have talked to someone else first.
Walter Dickey, Professor and Associate Dean for Academic
Affairs (room 5211B). As the senior Associate Dean, he
assists the Dean in administering the Law School, especially with
respect to academic affairs and the curriculum. He works closely
with the Assistant Deans who provide student services. He sometimes
provides the administrative final word on a question of importance
to students. He also teaches courses in criminal law and criminal
procedure and also directs the Remington Center. Professor Dickey
will serve as Associate Dean through Fall semester, 2009.
Theresa Dougherty, Executive Assistant to the Dean (room 5211). She works closely with the Dean and the Associate Deans. If you need to make an appointment to see the Dean, or one of the Associate Deans, she is the one to see.
Kimberly A. Frank, Student Services Coordinator (Room 2320) Kim works directly with faculty, staff, and students on all student events. Working closely with our student organizations, she handles logistical arrangements and catering arrangements for the LEO receptions and banquet, orientation, banquet, exit photos, honors and awards ceremony, and December graduation.
Eric Giefer, Director of Technology (room
6232). He and his staff run the law school computer network and
provide technical support for faculty, staff, and student
organizations; develop applications and databases for law school
administration; and support audio-visual systems and classroom
technologies.
Kathie Hendley, Associate Dean for Academic
Affairs (room 5211C) as of Spring 2010. She will be
assisting the Dean in administering the Law School, especially with
respect to academic affairs and curriculum. She also teaches law
school courses like contracts. In addition, she is on the political
science faculty.
Jane Heymann, Assistant Dean for Career Services (room 3221H). She leads the effort to assist students in seeking jobs. This involves counseling students, in groups and individually, as well as gathering, and making available, information about jobs. She works with employers who wish to utilize the Career Services Office as they look for employees. She helps students learn about general and specialized bar requirements and about how to make themselves most attractive to potential employers.
Michael Hall, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid (room 5111). He administers, along with the Admissions Committee, the process of reviewing applications to the Law School. He also administers the financial aid program.
Charles Irish, Professor and Director of the East Asian
Legal Studies Center (room 4312). He heads the East Asian
Legal Studies Center.
Marilyn Johnson, Admissions Office Manager. She
oversees the day-to-day operations of the Admissions Office.
Before you were student, your first contact with the Law School was
probably through the Admissions Office. The Admissions Office
processes applications, letters of recommendation, LSDAS reports,
and sends correspondence, to each applicant, throughout the
admission process. Also, the Admissions Office handles open
houses, visits to the Law School, and recruitment trips. If you
have a friend or relative interested in applying to Law School,
direct them to the Admissions Office.
Susan Katcher, Associate Director of the East Asian Legal
Studies Center (room 4312C). She assists in administering
the East Asian Legal Studies Center, and also teaches courses to
students involved in the Center.
Kevin M. Kelly, Assistant Dean for Curricular Affairs (room 5109). Dean Kelly helps plan the curriculum, including the schedule of courses, credits, and classroom usage. He recruits adjunct faculty, counsels students on curriculum issues, and handles Diploma Privilege eligibility and JD degree requirements issues, including those involving transfer students and visiting students.
Heinz Klug, Professor and Associate Dean for Research
and Faculty Development (room 8106). He works primarily
with faculty in seeking and administering research funds, and in
meeting the research demands of their work. He also teaches law
school courses.
Bethany Pluymers, Associate Dean for
Administration (room 5115). She is responsible for the
overall administrative processes, financial, human resources and
facilities management of the Law School, including staffing issues,
budgetary issues, payroll and benefits, reimbursements, facilities
etc.
Ruth Robarts, Assistant Dean for Student & Academic
Affairs (Dean of Students) (room 5105). She consults with
students about their academic, personal or professional issues.
The Dean of Students can help you with the following kinds of
issues: accommodations for disabilities (during the semester or
during exams); re-scheduling of exams; complaints about sexual or
physical harassment or assault; or visiting at other law schools or
transferring to other schools. She will also work individually with
students needing academic support.
Sue Sawatske, Faculty Secretary (room 5211) is located in the Dean’s Suite and is the one to contact for clerkship letters. She also schedules the Dean’s conference rooms (as opposed to classrooms) including the Atrium.
Rebecca Scheller, Assistant Dean of Admissions
(room 4314C). Rebecca helps to oversee the
Admissions and Financial Aid Office.
David Schultz, Professor and Associate Dean for Continuing Legal Education and Outreach (room 2348). He administers the Law School program which provides continuing legal education to Wisconsin lawyers, in addition to other programs designed to serve the bench and bar, such as the Wisconsin Jury Instruction project. He also teaches criminal law.
Mary Beth Shiels Lubing, Registrar (room 5107). She maintains records relevant to your legal education. If you need to know how many credits you have accumulated, which requirements you have satisfied, or need help planning to study abroad or become a visitor at another law school or apply for transfer, she can help you.
Margie Speier, Business Specialist (room 5103). She is responsible for payroll and benefits processing for the Law School. She can answer questions with regard to your payroll disbursements, pay dates, timesheets, etc. as well as questions about your benefits information such as health insurance, COBRA, etc.
Jini M. Rabas, Director of Alumni Relations and
Executive Director of the Wisconsin Law Alumni
Association. (room 2320) Jini Rabas works to foster closer
connections of alumni to the University of Wisconsin Law School, to
each other, and to our students. She serves as a creative point
person in Alumni Relations to Admissions, Career Services, current
students, and student organizations. As the Executive Director of
Wisconsin Law Alumni Association, Jini Rabas oversees its financial
matters and organizes the WLAA's board meetings and special events.
Lynn F. Thompson, Director of Student and Alumni
Events. (Room 2320) Lynn oversees the UW Law School’s
major alumni events, two main annual lectures, and the major
student events, including graduation and honors and awards
ceremonies, and the LEO banquet. Lynn’s door is open to any
student organization event planners and will offer assistance and
guidance when possible.
"When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"
John Maynard Keynes (when challenged with an 'inconsistency')