International Conference on the Future of Legal Education

Mary Lu Bilek

Mary Lu Bilek, Associate Dean for Special Projects and Professor, graduated from Harvard Law School and practiced for five years before joining the faculty in 1985. She served as Interim Dean of the CUNY School of Law School during the 2005-06 academic year. Her broad experience in the classroom—teaching seven different required courses and lawyering seminars—and her role as Academic Dean for three different deans developed her expertise in curriculum development. Her commitment to CUNY Law’s values led to her participation in efforts promoting student-centered instruction across the range of skills and values necessary for graduating excellent lawyers, promoting the social justice mission of the school, and insisting on access to legal education necessary to create a diverse profession. She implemented an innovative Pipeline to Justice Program at CUNY Law, and she coordinates the School’s bar passage support program.