Provost of Rutgers University–Camden, Dean Emeritus, and Professor of Law. Rayman L. Solomon became provost and dean emeritus on July 1, 2014.
During his 16 years as dean of the School of Law–Camden the school hired over
one-third of the current faculty, significantly expanded the clinical
and pro bono programs, and extensively redesigned the curriculum. Among
the innovations was creating many classes that combined clinical and
writing experiences and doctrinal and trial advocacy or transactional
skills. The deanship also saw the strengthening of the student
experience, as two additional journals were established. The increased
emphasis on alumni activity led to the successful completion of two
capital campaigns and the involvement of more alumni in the life of the school. Perhaps most importantly, a beautiful 50,000-square-foot
addition to the existing Law School building and a major renovation of
the original building has been completed. The increased high-quality
space including a new student lounge, the Clark Commons, and the Faculty
Lounge, has finally given the students, staff, faculty, and alumni a
layout that matches their quality.
Prior to coming to Rutgers University–Camden as dean and professor of law on
July 1, 1998, Dean Solomon was associate dean for academic affairs and curriculum at Northwestern University School of Law (1989-1998). Before
that he was associate director and a research fellow at the American Bar
Foundation (1980-1989). While there he was also the editor of the
American Bar Foundation Research Journal (now Law & Social Inquiry).
Dean Solomon graduated with a B.A. from Wesleyan University (1968) and
has a J.D. (1976) and a Ph.D. (1986) in American Legal History from the
University of Chicago. He served as director of the Seventh Circuit
History Project (1976-1978) and published A History of the United States
Court of Appeals, 1891-1941 (Government Printing Office, 1981). Dean
Solomon served as a law clerk to the Honorable George Edwards, Chief
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
(1978-1979). He also was a Bigelow Fellow at the University of Chicago
where he taught legal research and writing (1979-1980).
Dean Solomon's
areas of research are the history of the American legal profession, the
history of judicial ethics, and federal court history. He is co-editor
of two books: In the Interest of Children: Advocacy, Law Reform and
Public Policy and Lawyers' Ideals and Lawyers' Practices:
Professionalism and The Transformation of the American Legal Profession.
In the former he contributed "Goss v. Lopez: The Principle of the
Thing;" and in the latter "Five Crises or One: The Concept of Legal
Professionalism, 1925-1960." He has also published "The Politics of
Appointment and the Federal Court's Role in Regulating America: U.S.
Courts of Appeals Judgeships from T.R. to F.D.R." in the American Bar
Foundation Research Journal, and "The Seventh Circuit's Role in
Enforcement of Prohibition: Regulating the Regulators," in Law, Alcohol,
and Order: Perspectives on National Prohibition. Dean Solomon teaches
American Legal History and Trusts and Estates.
