Founded in 2008, the Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession at Stanford Law School advances the profession through research, policy and advocacy, teaching, and public programs. The Center seeks to connect theory with practice, and translate scholarly research to real-world impact.
The Center’s current work focuses on:
- reforming legal-services regulation to increase innovation and access to justice;
- understanding and shaping the role of technology in law and lawyering;
- protecting consumers and clients in civil litigation; and
- building a stronger, more diverse profession.
In the Spotlight
In the News
What’s at Play? Learning About the Design and Impact of Legal Innovation Sandboxes
Jotwell: The Journal of Things We Like (Lots)
Complementing this analysis is a recent report on legal regulatory reform from Stanford’s Rhode Center on the Legal Profession, Legal Innovation After Reform: Evidence from Regulatory Change, which shifts the focus away from questions of construction and centers on analyzing outcomes. In this report, David Freeman Engstrom, Lucy Ricca, Graham…
Read MoreThe Antitrust Division of the DOJ has formally expressed an opinion in North Carolina in favor of relaxing laws that criminalize the unauthorized practice of law (UPL)
U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division
Wrongful death lawsuit filed as lawmakers debate caps on damages from medical lawsuits
KCRG
Letter in North Carolina in support of UPL reform.
Deborah L. Rhode Center
J&J Faces Longer Path to Resolving Talc Lawsuits After Appeals Court Defeat
The Wall Street Journal
Speculation vs Data About Law's Futures
Future Law Podcast
Adultery Made Illegal for 275 Million People
Newsweek
Publications
Student Fellows
This inaugural group of student Civil Justice Fellows join at an exciting time at the Center—and will play a critical role in shaping its priorities and pushing our thinking forward. We look forward to their contributions to original scholarship, impactful projects, and vital discussions at Stanford Law School and beyond.
Advisory Forum
Ralph Baxter
Former Chair, Orrick
Mark Chandler
Former Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Cisco Systems; Fellow, Center on the Legal Profession
Gordon K. Davidson
Partner, Fenwick & West
Tom DeFilipps
Partner, Covington & Burling
Doru Gavril
Partner, Disputes, litigation and arbitration, Freshfields
Steven E. Fineman
Managing Partner, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein
David J. F. Gross
Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath
Brad Karp
Chair, Paul Weiss
Holly Sutton
Partner, Farella, Braun & Martel
Katharine Martin
Chair, Wilson Sonsini
David Sanford
Chair, Sanford Heisler Sharp
Shanin Specter
Founding Partner, Kline & Specter
Alexandra Walsh
Founder, Walsh Law
Mitchell Zuklie
Chair, Orrick