Rosenblatt is the face of MC School of Law
He’s always full of enthusiasm and has a positive attitude. He’s one of those rare individuals you feel blessed to be around.
When it was announced that Jim Rosenblatt was stepping down as dean of Mississippi College School of Law, I couldn’t believe it. Rosenblatt is such a fixture at MC School of Law. He has overseen the law school in downtown Jackson for the past 11 years, but it seems like it has been longer because it is difficult to imagine anyone other that Rosenblatt as the face of MC School of Law.
Thankful, Rosenblatt will remain at the law school as a professor.
Incoming Dean Wendy Scott will have big shoes to fill when she starts Aug. 11. A graduate of Harvard University and New York University School of Law, Scott will make history as the first African-American to serve as dean at Mississippi College School of Law.
I wish Scott well and I’m confident she will do a good job, but I can’t think of anyone who has done more to advance the law school than Rosenblatt.
Mississippi College School of Law has its origins in the Jackson School of Law that dated back to the 1930s. Mississippi College acquired the law school in 1975 and moved it to its campus in Clinton. In 1981, the law school moved to its present downtown location on Griffith Street.
Rosenblatt came to the law school from a military background. He had been a major in the Army JAG Corps.
He fondly tells the story of learning about the dean position from his brother, an attorney at Butler Snow law firm, which at the time was located a block from the law school.
Under Rosenblatt’s leadership, the law school expanded its law library, a new state-of-the-art classroom building was constructed, a new student center with an auditorium was constructed, and the original building was renovated.
At a time when some businesses were fleeing downtown Jackson, Rosenblatt enthusiastically supported the law school remaining in downtown Jackson.
He said the downtown location provided students with so many opportunities to interact with the legal, business and political communities.
Rosenblatt is a rare leader, one who spreads goodwill. He has made the law school open to the community. The law school has played host to political debates and other events.
Rosenblatt is a familiar face at events in the community. I guess it goes without saying that I admire Rosenblatt — who he is and what he represents.
One might think that Rosenblatt might be unapproachable as a dean of a premiere law school, but that would be the furthest thing from true. He is a genuine, down-to-earth person. This world would be a lot better if we had more people like Dean Jim Rosenblatt.
Contact Jimmie E. Gates at jgates@jackson.gannett.com or (601) 961-7212. Follow @jgatesnews on Twitter.