Welcome back to Green Hall! The beginning of the 2011-12 academic year is bittersweet for me, as it marks the end of my tenure at KU Law and a return to Boulder, Colo. I recently accepted the position of Assistant Dean of Career Development at the University of Colorado Law School, where I previously worked in 2000-01.
My last day at KU Law is Sept. 2, and I start work at CU on Sept. 19. Karen and LaVerta will adeptly hold down the fort until a new assistant dean takes over, likely around Oct. 1. The timing of my departure has given the three of us ample time to pave the way for a smooth transition. You’re in good hands.
I’ll admit: I have no idea what to say next. I guess that’s what happens when you’re about to leave a job you’ve held since Bill Self was a young, up-and-coming coach at Illinois and the town in which you’ve lived long enough to see Barbwire’s Steakhouse beget Mexikans, which begat a relocated Molly McGee’s, which is now something called Wilde’s Chateau 24, a place I am at least 15 years too old to enter.
If I start naming all of the people who helped make this job so special, I’ll undoubtedly leave out some and that would be regrettable. Let me instead say this: KU is a great place to work and to study law. Green Hall is full of friendly and helpful staff, brilliant and engaging faculty, and students who are serious about their studies but who don’t take themselves too seriously. I’ll miss you all and the sense of community that is so palpable here.
I truly appreciate the kind words and well wishes I’ve received from so many of you over the last couple of weeks. I’ve been blessed to work with colleagues and students who’ve made it a treat to come to work for the last eight years. It’s because of you that I’ve made legal career services my chosen profession.
As we all know, the legal profession has been rocked by global economic forces for the last three years. The students I’ve had the pleasure of counseling have been relentless in their determination to weather the storm, and to remain positive while doing so. You have my admiration and respect.
When the challenges posed by law school or the hunt for a job seem insurmountable, take a deep breath. Remember that being grounded and well-rounded, calm in the face of adversity, helpful to your colleagues, and quick to laugh at your own foibles will not only make you a happier person, but a better lawyer as well. I wish you success in whatever form makes sense for you and allows you to feel fulfilled.
Todd Rogers is the outgoing Assistant Dean of Career Services. His farewell letter originally appeared in the Kansas Law Free Press.