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Professor Ben Cooper

OXFORD, Miss.–The University of Mississippi School of Law is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Cooper, Frank Montague, Jr. Professor of Legal Studies and Professionalism, as the new Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, effective January 25. He will succeed Matthew Hall, who has served as associate dean since 2011 and will return to the law school’s faculty.

“We appreciate the service of Dean Hall, his tireless energy, and the many contributions he made to the law school,” said Debbie Bell, interim dean.  “We also look forward to the upcoming leadership of Ben Cooper.  He is a well-respected teacher and scholar who is involved with the Mississippi bar as well as the American Bar Association.”

In his new role, Cooper will oversee the curriculum and academic programs.  He will also work with the Offices of the Registrar, Admissions, Student Affairs and Career Services, assist with issues related to bar passage, and with special projects as assigned by the Dean.

“I’m really excited about this position and to have the chance to work with Dean Bell,” Cooper said.  “I can’t imagine a better leader for our school.  I look forward to working with her and to devoting more time to improving our outstanding law school in every respect.”

Cooper is currently serving as co-reporter for the ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services, and is a member of the Mississippi Bar’s Ethics Committee, the Mississippi Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules, and the Executive Committee of the AALS Section on Professional Responsibility. In addition, Professor Cooper serves as the United States reporter for the reports, comments and notes section of the international journal Legal Ethics.

Prior to joining the faculty in 2007, Cooper practiced commercial litigation and higher education law in the private sector, first at Kirkland & Ellis in New York and then at Pepper Hamilton in Philadelphia, and gained partnership at each firm. He had previously served as a trial attorney in the Federal Programs Branch of the Civil Division and as a law clerk for the Honorable Anthony J. Scirica of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

To date, Cooper has taught Legal Profession, Civil Procedure, an Advanced Legal Ethics seminar, and Property. He writes and speaks on legal ethics and the law governing lawyers.