Prof. Robert Schapiro, Dean, University of San Diego (USD) School of Law will be visiting NLSIU on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. During the visit, he will deliver a lecture for faculty members on “Recent Developments in US Constitutional Law, with a Focus on Executive Power.”

About University of San Diego (USD), School of Law

The University of San Diego (USD) School of Law is an ABA-accredited, globally recognised institution dedicated to educating principled, practice-ready lawyers and leaders. Known for its collegial and forward-looking approach to legal education, USD School of Law combines academic rigour, ethical leadership, and experiential learning within a collaborative and supportive community.

Located in San Diego, one of the most innovative and entrepreneurial regions in the United States, USD School of Law is at the intersection of law, business, technology, and public policy. The institution’s geographic proximity to an international border further enriches the academic environment, offering students exposure to cross-border legal issues, international commerce, migration, and comparative governance. USD School of Law serves as a vital intellectual and policy resource for Southern California and the broader global legal community.

Deeply committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community, USD School of Law believes that diversity of thought, experience, and perspective strengthens legal reasoning, sharpens critical judgment, and prepares students for leadership in an increasingly complex legal landscape. Consisting of internationally recognized scholars and accomplished practitioners whose scholarship is published in leading legal journals, the faculty is renowned for its accessibility, commitment to mentorship, interdisciplinary engagement, and meaningful collaboration.

Through its nationally respected legal clinics, among the oldest on the West Coast, students represent real clients in real cases, integrating theory with practice while serving the community. The research centers and institutes further support advanced legal scholarship and student engagement with pressing legal and policy challenges. Guided by a distinguished Board of Visitors and supported by comprehensive administrative and career-development services, USD School of Law ensures that students are prepared to succeed professionally and lead with integrity, competence, and compassion throughout their careers.

About The Speaker

The Dean and C. Hugh Friedman Professor of Law at the University of San Diego School of Law, Dean Robert A. Schapiro, is widely regarded as a leading authority on federalism, constitutional structure, and inter-systemic governance. Dean Schapiro has a distinguished career spanning legal scholarship, academic leadership, and public engagement.

Dean Schapiro’s scholarship has been published in premier law journals, including the Stanford Law Review, Virginia Law Review, Cornell Law Review, and Northwestern University Law Review. He is the author of Polyphonic Federalism: Toward the Protection of Fundamental Rights, a seminal work that has shaped contemporary thinking on constitutional protection and the interaction between legal systems.

Before joining the University of San Diego, Dean Schapiro served as Dean of Emory University School of Law and co-directed the Center on Federalism and Intersystemic Governance. A graduate of Yale Law School, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Law Journal and clerked for Judge Pierre N. Leval of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, followed by a clerkship with Justice John Paul Stevens of the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Law Institute and a recipient of multiple honors recognizing his contributions to legal education and leadership.

As a public intellectual, Dean Schapiro is frequently sought out by local, national, and international media for expert commentary on U.S. Supreme Court decisions, constitutional developments, and evolving legal frameworks. Known for his ability to translate complex legal issues into accessible, globally relevant insights, particularly at the intersection of law, technology, and international practice, Dean Schapiro is a trusted legal expert for leading U.S. media outlets and academic platforms.

His Supreme Court clerkship, dual-dean leadership experience, and deep scholarly credentials place him among a rare group of legal academics who have shaped both U.S. constitutional discourse and modern legal education.