With the new academic year upon us, we are excited to provide Richmond Law students with the critical tools they need to launch their legal careers.

Among the many lessons they will learn about contract drafting and legal analysis, criminal practice and civil procedure, it is my hope that one lesson will rise above all others: the importance of human connection. We strive to educate future lawyers who will balance their success with empathy and a commitment to community well-being.

In this issue, we share three stories of how human connection remains centered in the midst of a rapidly changing world. Students and faculty involved in Richmond Law’s Institute for Actual Innocence Clinic are deeply invested in their clients’ lives and demonstrate how personal connection can drive meaningful change in the legal system.

We hear from alum Brother Rutter, L’94, who shifted his prominent legal career to a more balanced life where he prioritizes family, personal wellness, the creation of a supportive work environment, and commitment to community impact through his family’s art foundation.

Artificial intelligence is being increasingly integrated into the legal profession, and we explore how law schools and practitioners are striving to balance this technology with ethical practice to ensure that AI serves as an aid rather than a replacement for human expertise.

Together, these stories paint a picture of a profession at a crossroads — where technology meets tradition and innovation meets compassion.

As you read through these stories, I hope you will be inspired by the ways that law, technology, and community can come together to create a more just and connected world.