School Notes: Yale Law School
March/April 2025

Law School awards 89 Hurst Horizon Scholarships for 2024–25

Now in its third year, the Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program at the Law School has grown rapidly to comprise 89 students across the JD classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027. The program’s expansion is part of a larger trend at the Law School—over the last seven years, the number of students who are the first in their families to attend graduate or professional school has increased by 50 percent, while the number of first-generation college students has grown by 80 percent. “We are thrilled to have 89 students walking our halls tuition-free this year,” said Dean Heather K. Gerken. “These are remarkably talented students who make Yale a better place.”

Course assignment leads to affordable homes

Four new two-family houses conceived by students in the Housing Connecticut: Developing Healthy and Sustainable Neighborhoods course are now under construction in New Haven’s Newhallville neighborhood. The first-of-its-kind course was cotaught by faculty from the Law School, Yale School of Architecture, and Yale School of Management and organized by the Yale Urban Design Workshop. Students from the three schools were charged with creating detailed development proposals anchored in affordable housing while also considering other community needs. 

Law School reflects on its bicentennial year

Throughout 2024, the 200th anniversary of the Law School’s founding was a chance to celebrate, reflect, and look to the future. As part of bicentennial celebrations, Dean Heather K. Gerken traveled to 12 cities across the world, where she met with more than 2,000 alumni. The year culminated in a spectacular Alumni Weekend in October that welcomed more than 1,300 alumni back to New Haven. The year’s festivities are chronicled and archived on the Law School website, which hosts a treasure trove of bicentennial-themed content, including feature stories, a historical timeline, fun facts, videos, and more.