About us

From the Dean

The Indiana University Maurer School of Law has been a leader in legal education since its founding in 1842. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our community, in our outstanding student body, in our research, and in the legacy and successes of our alumni.

Bloomington is a welcoming and stimulating college town, with world-class music, sports, food and natural escape. The Law School makes up part of a world-class Big 10 research campus and boasts unbeatable research facilities, resources, and support.

An education at the Maurer School of Law expands our students’ community and networks. Each year nearly 60 percent of our students come from outside of Indiana and many come from outside the U.S. More than 30 percent of the 2022 entering class comes from underrepresented backgrounds and many of our students are the first in their families to attend law school. We are committed to constantly working with all of our students to ensure their success so that they can continue the legacy of this great school.

The faculty of the Maurer School of Law is committed to providing a world-class legal education and bringing their pioneering research to bear in their classrooms. Our expertise is frequently recognized and sought-after, including in the areas of law and technology, international and comparative law, intellectual property, cybersecurity, environmental, and criminal law, as well as tax, business law, and public interest law.

Our alumni have served in leadership roles in the full variety of professional settings. Their roles in the world’s leading law firms, in the judiciary, in business settings, and in governmental and non-governmental organizations have advanced their clients’ interests and have benefitted society at large. Our graduates’ careers serve as clear reminders of the importance of legal education and provide examples of the impressive contributions of the Maurer School of Law to the state, the country, and the world.

Our graduates have included the first African American to serve on any state supreme court, the first Japanese-American admitted to the bar in the US, the first woman chief justice of Wisconsin, and the first woman chief justice of Indiana. Our alumni include US Supreme Court Justice Sherman Minton, US Representative Lee Hamilton, and US Senator Birch Bayh.

Our collegial community fosters an environment in which our students learn about the roles law plays in structuring society. From day-to-day transactions to the most controversial topics of the moment, our remarkable students come together to learn from our faculty and from one another in order to become effective legal advocates that can contribute positively to a civil society. The conversations, debates, and collaborations that take place here build essential lawyering and leadership skills, and they form the basis for lifelong friendships.

We look forward to welcoming you to Bloomington and thank you for your interest in the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

Christiana Ochoa
Dean
Professor of Law
Class of 1950 Herman B Wells Endowed Professor