Douglas Baird, Harry A. Bigelow Distinguished Service Professor in the Law School

On their first day as law students, members of the Law School’s Class of 2008 were seated in the classroom of Douglas Baird. Four years later and after multiple encounters with the former Law School Dean, these same students are honoring Baird with the Class of 2008 Teaching Award.

“Each class is special in its own way,” said Baird, who is the Harry A. Bigelow Distinguished Service Professor in the Law School. “I’ve had the good luck to have encountered this particular class several times during their time as law students.”

Those encounters with the Class of 2008 have included introductory courses, upper-level classes and several seminars.

“I am, of course, very flattered by this award, although I don’t quite believe myself to be the best teacher at the Law School,” Baird said. “When I look at people who have received this award in the past, I am very humbled to be among them.”

Baird, who received his B.A. in English from Yale College in 1975 and graduated from Stanford Law School in 1979, joined the faculty of the University Law School in 1980 and served as Dean from 1994 to 1999.

During his tenure as a faculty member, Baird’s research and teaching has focused on commercial law, and corporate reorganizations and contracts. His courses have included Contracts, Decision-making: Principles and Foundations, Bankruptcy and Reorganization: The Federal Bankruptcy Code, Commercial Transactions and Civil Procedure.