The dean’s office at the UCLA School of Law will now be
occupied for the time being, as Norman Abrams was appointed this
past week to serve in the interim by Chancellor Albert
Carnesale.
Abrams’s appointment keeps the deanship within the
university ““ he has been on the law school faculty since 1959
and served a 10-year stint as vice chancellor of academic personnel
for most of the 1990s.
On Aug. 16, Abrams will take over for Jonathan Varat, who
stepped down from the post in June after a review of his tenure in
which he wrote that some “appear to prefer a change in the
course of my administration.” Varat, who served as dean for
five years, will return to full-time teaching and writing at the
law school.
“It’s an exciting challenge,” Abrams said
about his appointment. “I’m excited by the possibility
of leading it even for a short time.”
In his letter announcing the appointment, Carnesale said a
nationwide search will “commence in the near
future.”
Many at the law school feel confident in the chancellor’s
appointment of Abrams.
“He’s incredibly respected by the law school faculty
as well as the campus community, and American legal
academia,” said David Sklansky, a professor of law and
associate dean.
Sklansky added that Abrams’ familiarity with the school
will serve as an immediate asset in the transition from Varat.
“He has a good grasp of the job of the faculty he’s
going to be presiding over,” Sklansky said. “He
understands … the mission of the law school, and he’s an
active teacher.”
Law Professor Stephen Yeazell, who has known Abrams for 28
years, said Abrams’ “broad knowledge of the
university” will also smoothen his transition into the
deanship.
Though he said it was too early to set goals for his tenure as
interim dean, Abrams said he wants to build on existing projects
Varat initiated.
“This is a great law school with momentum and I want to
… maintain it and go from there,” he said.
Abrams steps into the position with a wealth of experience in
administration and an expansive background in the field of the
law.
He received his law degree from the University of Chicago in
1955, and before coming to UCLA, served at Columbia Law School and
Harvard Law School.
During his 44-year UCLA teaching career specializing in criminal
procedure, evidence and federal criminal law, he served from
1966-1967 as a special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General in
the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. He also served
as associate dean of the law school from 1989-1991.