The benefactors of this building can be congratulated not only for their liberality, Dean Smith and Chairman Galinson, but for their vision. Law is as important to a dynamic, progressive, free, and creative society as bridges and roads and utilities. The law sustains commerce. The law sustains a culture and a free society, so we can think and create and dream and triumph. That s what the law is for.
Some people think law is courts and litigators.
It is much more than that. Hundreds of thousands of lawyers in their offices every day act as judges. They make transactions, go forward without any direction from the courts or the government by mediating, negotiating, transacting business with other lawyers, and this is a great, great celebration of freedom. The law works better, the legal profession works better, and the courts work much better than is commonly supposed. Of course, there is room for improvement.