Robert E. Scott Begins Service as Interim Dean of Columbia Law School
New York, July 1, 2014—Professor Robert E. Scott takes the helm of Columbia Law School as interim dean today. Scott is a former dean of the University of Virginia School of Law and a nationally recognized authority in the fields of contracts, commercial law, and bankruptcy. He will lead the Law School until Jan.1, 2015, when incoming dean Gillian Lester officially begins her tenure.
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This past May, Scott was elected president of the American Law and Economics Association, an organization of law professors and economists dedicated to advancing economic understanding of law and related areas of public policy and regulation. He has also served as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1999. Scott is a life member of the fellows of the American Bar Foundation and a member of the American Law Institute. Scott has published extensively on contracts and commercial transactions. He is the co-author of five books, including The Three and a Half Minute Transaction: Boilerplate and the Limits of Contract Design,which explores the potential repercussions of boilerplate language in contracts.
Scott joined Columbia Law School in 2006 as the Alfred McCormack Professor of Law and director of the Center for Contract and Economic Organization. Previously, he was a popular visiting professor at the Law School and was voted by students as outstanding faculty member for the 1987 academic year.
Scott was a member of the law faculty at the University of Virginia from 1974 to 2006. He was the school’s dean from 1991 to 2001. He also served as president of the American Law Deans Association from 1999 to 2001.
Scott takes over for David M. Schizer, dean emeritus and the Harvey R. Miller Professor of Law and Economics, whose 10-year term ended June 30.