List of deans of Columbia Law School


Deans of Columbia Law School:
ImageDeanTenureNotes--
Theodore William Dwight1858–1891as "Warden", left to found New York Law School--
William A. Keener1891–1901--
George Washington Kirchwey1901–1910--
Harlan Fiske Stone1910–1923earned LL.B. from Columbia in 1898--
Huger Jervey1923–1927earned LL.B. from Columbia in 1913--
Young Berryman Smith1927–1952earned LL.B. from Columbia in 1912--
William Clements Warren1952–1970--
Michael I. Sovern1970–1979earned LL.B. from Columbia in 1955. Left to become provost of Columbia University--
Albert J. Rosenthal1979–1984--
Benno C. Schmidt, Jr.1984–1986left to become president of Yale University--
Barbara Aronstein Black1986–1991earned LL.B. from Columbia in 1955. First female dean of an Ivy League law school--
Lance Liebman1991–1996--
David W. Leebron1996–2004left to become president of Rice University--
David M. Schizer2004–2014--
Gillian Lester2015–2024
Daniel Abebe2024–--