Reunion

1:00 - 2:00 P.M. Town Hall with Dean Kerry Abrams

Join us for this special program with Dean Kerry Abrams and learn about current priorities and life at Duke Law School today.  Brandon Neal ’08, Law Alumni Association Board President, will moderate.  Alumni are invited to submit questions for Dean Abrams in advance through this form or by emailing alumni_office@law.duke.edu. 

4:30 - 5:30 P.M. Duke History Reexamined

Join Valerie Gillispie to learn about the history of our institution as well as discuss the discoveries and research done in the Duke University Archives over the last decade.

7:00 - 8:00 P.M. Duke Law Goes to Washington, D.C.

Walter Dellinger, Douglas B. Maggs Professor Emeritus of Law, leads a panel of distinguished Duke Law alumni sharing their stories and experiences while serving in different areas of the government and public sector.  Panelists include Martina Bradford ’75, Waverly Gordon ’10, Mike Levin ’05, Deanna Okun ’90, and David Trott ’85. 

Special thanks to the Class of 1985 for hosting.

1:00 - 2:15 P.M. What is Fraud? with Professor Samuel Buell

People tend to assume that fraud is a simple concept, easily identified if not always quite so easy to prove in court. This is true only when it comes to the rare Bernard Madoffs of the world. It turns out that fraud is a highly contestable concept and, in the business world, a fascinatingly diverse phenomenon. Understanding fraud—as both a behavior and a legal doctrine—is the key to grasping why white collar crime is so different from street crime and why, for example, it was always very unlikely that bankers involved in the mortgage-backed securities disaster of the early 2000s would end up in jail. Using examples from recent corporate scandals, this session will illuminate the true nature of business fraud and explain why debates about what constitutes a white collar crime will always be with us.


North Carolina CLE credit is pending. Directions on how to apply for credit in other states will be provided. Live attendance is required for CLE credit verification.

7:00 - 8:00 P.M. A New Beginning After 44 Years

A conversation with Duke Law Clinical Professor Jamie Lau and recent exoneree Ronnie Long.

When Ronnie Long was convicted in 1976 for a rape he did not commit, Gerald Ford was President and music was played through 8-track tapes. After Long was released on August 27, 2020, following more than 44 years of wrongful incarceration, he returned to a community that looked nothing like the one he left. Join Professor Jamie Lau as he describes the path leading to Long’s exoneration and hear directly from Mr. Long about the challenges of starting over after 44 years.

4:00 - 5:00 P.M. ACC's of Duke Athletics: Academics, Compliance, and Conditioning

Join Todd Mesibov, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Compliance, Heather Ryan, Associate Director of Athletics/Academic Services & Senior Woman Administrator, and William Stephens, Associate Director of Sports Performance/Head Basketball Sports Performance Coach, as they address current issues facing college athletic departments and student-athletes.  They will also share stories of their experiences working with premier Division I athletic programs and elite student-athletes.

11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Ask an Expert with Enrichment Technician Kate Byrnes

Join Kate Byrnes from the Duke Lemur Center for an engaging presentation and Q&A session on the importance of engaging lemurs in their natural behaviors through enrichment - complete with plenty of photo and video examples of the DLC’s resident lemurs. After several years caring for lemurs at the DLC as a primate technician, Kate’s passion has led her to her current position as the Duke Lemur Center’s first-ever enrichment technician. In over 12 years of working with wildlife in human care, Kate has focused on developing and improving enrichment programs encouraging natural behaviors with recycled and repurposed materials, making her the ideal expert to share the DLC’s fantastic enrichment program with you!

11:00 - 11:45 A.M. Tales of Strength and Hope for this Unexpected Time

Special program for alumni and their families

In his book, Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court, Jay Bilas ’92 looks at the true meaning of toughness in sports and in life; in Luna Stays Home, Venus Liles ’10 writes a children’s book to support family conversations about the COVID-19 crisis.  Join us for one of these two concurrent programs for conversations with the authors.  Children and families are encouraged to attend.

Toughness: Developing Strength On and Off the Court with Jay Bilas ‘92
Join us for a book talk and Q&A with Jay Bilas ’92, author of Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court.  Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Book synopsis: Through his ups and downs on and off the court, Bilas learned the true meaning of toughness from coaches, teammates, and colleagues. Now, in Toughness, he examines this misunderstood—yet vital—attribute and how it contributes to winning in sports and in life. Featuring never-before-heard stories and personal philosophies on toughness from top players and coaches, including Coach K, Bob Knight, Grant Hill, Mia Hamm, Jon Gruden, Tom Izzo, Roy Williams, Bill Self, Curtis Strange, and many others—Bilas redefines what it takes to succeed.

Luna Stays Home with Venus Liles ‘10
Join Venus Liles ’10 for a virtual reading of her book, Luna Stays Home.  This program will be interactive and children are encouraged to bring drawing materials (paper/crayons). Recommended for families with children ages 2-8. 

Book synopsis: Meet Luna. She’s into superheroes, rainbows, and chocolate ice cream. With sprinkles, of course. She also loves adventuring to her favorite places, but now she has to stay home for a super long time. With the help of her parents, she processes her feelings during this unexpected transition, with honesty and hope.