Paul Caron Named Dean Of Pepperdine Law School

Press Release, Paul L. Caron Announced as Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean of the School of Law:

Paul L. Caron has been named the Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean of the Pepperdine School of Law. Caron, currently associate dean for research and faculty development and professor of law, will formally begin his responsibilities as dean on June 1, 2017.

“Since his first days as a distinguished visiting scholar through his selection as a tenured professor and now his candid and strategic participation in this search process, I have admired Professor Caron for his keen intellect, generous outreach to others, and his sterling reputation within the national legal community,” says Pepperdine president Andrew K. Benton. “It will be a privilege to work side-by-side with him to advance the Pepperdine School of Law, an entity we both hold in high esteem. He will be, I believe, a remarkable law dean.”

Caron came to the School of Law in 2010 as the D & L Straus Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law. He joined the School of Law tenured faculty in 2013 as professor of law and assumed the role of associate dean for research and faculty development in 2015. Previously Caron served as the associate dean of faculty and the Charles Hartsock Professor of Law at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

“Paul Caron is a highly regarded scholar and wonderful mentor to our law school students,” says Pepperdine provost Rick R. Marrs. “He has a comprehensive knowledge of legal education in our country and a compelling vision for the place of our law school in that landscape. I eagerly anticipate working with him as he helps us achieve our goal to move the law school toward national prominence, providing our students with the highest educational experience and empowering them to become leaders in their communities.”

A widely respected expert in tax law, Caron has written over 50 books and scholarly articles and is the publisher and editor of Tax Prof Blog, the most popular tax blog on the Internet. He is also the owner and publisher of the Law Professor Blogs Network of more than 50 blogs in other areas of law edited by law professors around the country. He was named the third most influential person in legal education by the National Jurist in 2016 and has been listed as one of the 100 most influential people in tax and accounting every year since 2006 by Accounting Today.

"I am honored to be chosen as the next dean of this great law school at this important point in its history, following in the footsteps of Deanell Tacha, Ken Starr, Richard Lynn, and Ron Phillips," shares Caron. "I look forward to building on their work to advance Pepperdine's unique position in legal education by combining academic and research excellence with a deep-rooted commitment to our Christian mission that welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds."

Caron received his LLM from Boston University, JD from Cornell Law School, and AB from Georgetown University. He and his wife, Courtney, reside in Malibu. 

Pepperdine is grateful to Dean Deanell Tacha for six years of remarkable leadership at the School of Law. The University also wishes to thank the search committee and all in the University community who participated in the search process.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Paul L. Caron as dean of the School of Law.