Dear friends,

Resilience. Innovation. Accountability.

These are the types of characteristics that we champion at Richmond Law as we train the next generation of lawyers. This issue of Richmond Law brings you stories that bear them out.

Courtney Paulk, L’00, is the first person in history to complete the Double Triple Crown of endurance swimming (learn what that means in Courtney Paulk's endurance mindset). She’s also president of Hirschler and offers valuable insights into the power of breaking down monumental tasks into manageable steps — a practice applicable not only in the open waters, but also in our legal careers.

Addressing our planet’s climate crisis will require new, innovative ways of thinking, and you’ll hear from three Richmond Law professors who are doing just that. Through their research and advocacy, professors Danielle Stokes, Noah Sachs, and Joel Eisen exemplify the spirit of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration that our society needs to mitigate the impacts of the environmental challenges we face.

Professor Chiara Giorgetti has emerged as a key figure in the global effort to address the ongoing war in Ukraine. Drawing on her expertise in international claims commissions, she is playing a pivotal role in establishing mechanisms for reparations and holding aggressors accountable, thereby exemplifying the complex intersection of legal scholarship and practical advocacy.

From the historic achievements of our alumni to the groundbreaking research and advocacy of our faculty, I hope these stories serve as a powerful reminder of the feats we can accomplish when we employ the skills necessary for success. And I hope they inspire you as they do me.