ABA Journal, Financial Pressures Lead Law Deans to Leave Their Posts, New Study Finds:

The average tenure for law school deans has shrunk from 10.3 years in the 1950s to 2.8 years since 2020—and financial pressures are largely to blame, according to a study published Wednesday by the Association of American Law Schools. …

While 65.9% of those surveyed stated tight budgets and financial constraints were major or extreme challenges, other factors contributed to the pressure.

“Being held responsible for outcomes while lacking the authority, the resources or sometimes even an accurate financial picture needed to address them,” contributed to the stress, according to the study, titled Relentless: The Pressures Shortening Law School Deanships and What Must Change. …

Of the deans who served fewer than four years, nearly two-thirds, or 63.2%, pointed to strained relationships with university administration as a major challenge. 

Law.com, Law School Deans Face ‘Untenable’ Pressures as Tenures Shrink:

Deans are often “being held responsible for outcomes while lacking the authority, the resources, or sometimes even an accurate financial picture needed to address them,” frequently making the position “untenable,” according to a new study, titled “Relentless: The Pressures Shortening Law School Deanships and What Must Change.”

Key Findings from the Law School Dean Tenure Study

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