From the Dean's Desk: Ready for What's Next

Change is coming to the legal profession – and the William S. Boyd School of Law is ready.

Nevada has adopted a new bar exam, and states across the country are preparing to adopt the NextGen Bar in 2026. These shifts represent more than just an adjustment in testing. They signal a transformation in how we define readiness for practice, and what it means to prepare the next generation of lawyers.

At Boyd Law, we’re meeting these changes with action. Our faculty are at the forefront of these efforts through designing courses that reflect the realities of modern practice and conducting scholarship that shapes the conversation around legal education. Our goal is to make sure our students don’t just succeed on the new exams, but thrive as lawyers in an ever-changing legal landscape. That means more opportunity to build practical skills, integrating doctrinal study with hands-on application, and an educational experience that keeps pace with the demands of the profession.

Our students are proving, every day, that they are ready to rise to the occasion, whether that’s through excelling in competitions, securing prestigious externships, or giving back to their communities through pro bono assistance. So too, our alumni continue to raise the profile of Boyd Law across the state and nation, role-modeling for our students what it looks like to turn preparation into impact.

“Raising the Bar” is more than the theme of this magazine. It’s the work happening here, right now. In Nevada, across the country, and within the profession itself, Boyd Law isn’t waiting for change to arrive – we are leading it.

Leah Chan Grinvald
Dean and Richard J. Morgan Professor of Law