Ralph Brill Retires from Chicago-Kent

 

In a recent post to the Tortprof discussion list, my long-time colleague, Ralph Brill, announced the imminent closing of that discussion group, which he initiated and managed for many years, due to his pending retirement and the few postings on that list in recent years. I (and others) attempted to post responses regarding both the list and Ralph’s accomplishments during his almost 60 years of teaching. However, the list was closed down immediately, so ​(I believe) ​neither my posting or any other posting went through. I appreciate being able to make this post on the Tortsprof blog to acknowledge Ralph’s lifetime work and to suggest an alternative, much more active list for those previously enrolled in the Tortprof list.

  

Ralph’s retirement from Chicago-Kent at the end of this academic year after almost 60 years of teaching Torts (and other courses) deserves widespread acknowledgement. However, it unfortunately is likely to be little noted, at least among Torts scholars, since Ralph has always devoted his efforts more practically to actual cases (for which he has filed many persuasive briefs) and, especially, teaching and dissemination of information to students and faculty where he works and worldwide. He is rightfully regarded among Legal Writing and Research professors as the leading innovator and champion of work in that area, having created long ago Chicago-Kent’s three-year Legal Writing and Research program staffed by full-time faculty, which has since been copied in part or whole by almost all other law schools. His creation and management of the Tortprof discussion list is only a small indication of his efforts to facilitate dissemination of information to relevant audiences. We at Chicago-Kent receive several emails from Ralph every day with information about relevant developments in legal academia.

 

I have a personal debt to acknowledge. When I joined Chicago-Kent 30 years ago, Ralph likely was not one of my biggest supporters, given my more theoretical bent, although I have always insisted on theory being based on or at least taking into account actual practice, Yet he immediately welcomed me and took me under his wing. From the beginning of my time at Chicago-Kent, he has been my closest associate, professionally and personally. He has been my go-to person for any question about tort liability, in addition to providing me and other Torts professors at Chicago-Kent with information about recent cases and other developments. He has also been a role model for me in speaking up, however unpopular the view might be among the faculty generally, for actions that benefit our students rather than we faculty members.

 

I will greatly miss having Ralph always around at Chicago-Kent, but I hope to continue to benefit from his friendship and advice.