Development News: Fall 2025
A message from the Associate Dean for External Affairs
Dear Alumni and Friends,
It is an honor and joy to introduce myself as the new associate dean for External Affairs at the Law School. In many ways, this feels like a homecoming. Earlier in my University tenure, I served as director of Alumni Relations at the Law School, among other roles. I have a deep appreciation for the distinctive nature of our community, and the critical scholarship and transformative educational experiences that define our institution. I have also witnessed the many ways our dedicated alumni continuously support and enrich our mission.
One of the most exciting aspects of my new role is the opportunity to work alongside you—our alumni and friends—to strengthen and expand our engagement. By the time this edition of The Record reaches you, we will have officially launched our “Meet the Dean” event series to welcome Adam Chilton into the deanship of the Law School. These events are a wonderful opportunity for Dean Chilton to share his reflections and vision for the future, and to hear directly from you about what matters to you most.
“Meet the Dean” is just one of the ways we seek to connect with you and foster connections among alumni, faculty, and students. From new initiatives like the virtual “Dean’s Dialogues” series to beloved traditions such as Reunion Weekend, we look forward to a vibrant and inspiring year ahead.
Thank you for all that you do for the Law School and for your ongoing partnership. I would love to hear your thoughts on how we can best support and connect with you. Please email me anytime at acoppelman@uchicago.edu—I look forward to hearing from you and, hopefully, seeing you in the months ahead.
Warm regards,
Alison Coppelman
Associate Dean for External Affairs
2024–2025 Fundraising Highlights
Support from our alumni community is crucial to the success of the Law School. Your contributions have a meaningful impact on everything that makes the Law School an exceptional place, supporting our world-class faculty, scholarships for deserving students, student organizations that enrich the law school experience, and the clinics that serve the Hyde Park community and beyond. Each and every gift made a difference for our institution. Thank you to everyone who supported the Law School during the 2024–2025 fiscal year!
- 3,720 Alumni, friends, and students who made gifts to the Law School
- $4.2M Annual fund dollars raised
- $19.3M Total dollars raised
Reunion Weekend 2025 Makes an Impact
On May 2–4, the Law School welcomed more than 900 graduates and their guests back to Hyde Park for Reunion Weekend. Throughout the weekend, attendees enjoyed special programming, including an all-alumni Wine Mess, faculty master classes, alumni panels, class dinners, and more! Led by 105 volunteers serving on 11 Class Committees, reunion celebrants raised an incredible $6.25M, with 35 percent of alumni celebrating a reunion making gifts supporting the Law School.
A Record-Setting Giving Day
The University of Chicago’s 10th annual Giving Day took place noon to noon March 25–26.
This year, Law School alumni, students, faculty and staff, and friends raised a record $1.1 million supporting the Law School. We are especially grateful to the anonymous Law School Council member who sponsored a $100,000 challenge match that inspired so many to give generously.
Thank you to everyone who made this Giving Day our most successful yet!
- $1.1M raised (a new record!)
- 415 gifts
- 299 alumni donors
- 123 faculty, staff, and student donors
- Support from 36 states, 22 countries, and 4 continents
2025 Law Firm Challenge Winners
- Group 1 Winner: Sidley Austin LLP
- Group 2 Winner: Bartlit Beck LLP*
- Group 3 Winner: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz*
- Group 4 Winners: Norton Rose Fulbright*; Fox Swibel Levin & Carroll LLP*; Stearns Weaver Miller*; Dechert LLP*
*Firms with 100 percent alumni participation
Congratulations to the winning firms and thank you to all 50 firms who participated this year.
