Adjusting to Change: 1980 - 2000
1982
The Federalist Society is founded with "A Symposium on Federalism: Legal and Political Ramifications" at Yale Law School.
1985
Akhil Reed Amar, Class of 1984, and Harold Hongju Koh become the first Asian American faculty members at Yale Law School.
Pictured (left to right): Akhil Reed Amar and Harold Hongju Koh.
1985
Professor Oliver E. Williamson publishes The Economic Institutions of Capitalism: Firms, Markets, Relational Contracting. He would go on to win the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2009.
1985
Yale Law Library installs the INNOVACQ system, the beginning of automation of library acquisitions and cataloging.
1986
Stephen L. Carter, Class of 1979, and Drew S. Days III, Class of 1966, become the first Black faculty to receive tenure.
Pictured (left to right): Stephen L. Carter and Drew S. Days III.
1988
Dean Guido Calabresi establishes the School's financial independence from the University.
1988
Scott Brewer, Class of 1988, becomes the first Black Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Law Journal.
Pictured: A photograph of the 1987-1988 members of the Yale Law Journal with Scott Brewer in front, holding a scepter.
1989
Jean Koh Peters becomes the first Asian American woman faculty member at Yale Law School.
1989
The Career Options Assistance Program, to assist educational loan repayment for graduates choosing lower-paying positions, is established with funding from David A. Jones Sr., Class of 1960. Since its inception, more than 2,000 Yale Law School graduates have participated in COAP and received more than $58 million in benefits.
1989
Clinicians at Yale Law School receive ladder-faculty titles with “Clinical Professor of Law” as the highest rank.
Pictured: Carved animals from an archway in Sterling Law Building.
1991
Diana Vincent-Daviss becomes the first woman to be appointed Law Librarian and Professor of Law at Yale Law School.
1996
Global Constitutionalism Project is launched by Yale Law School, bringing together preeminent jurists from around the world annually for a conference in New Haven.
Pictured: Group from 2006 Global Constitutionalism Seminar.
1999
Lillian Goldman Law Library completes massive renovations, including climate control, installation of compact shelving, and creation of a rare books room.
