Duke Law School

What happens when a painting sold for hundreds is later worth millions?

Professor Deborah DeMott explores “sleepers” in the art market, works that are misattributed when sold, then later rediscovered as far more valuable. She examines how courts evaluate the responsibilities of auction houses and art dealers when sellers regret letting a work go too soon.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3PRS2vL

Congratulations to the Duke Law JD Class of 2026 graduates who earned the Public Interest and Public Service (PIPS) Certificate.

Through pro bono service, internships, and experiential learning, these students demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and advocacy.

This year’s graduates were recognized during a special commencement celebration with friends and family. Congratulations to Avery Allen JD ‘26, Elizabeth Chon JD ‘26, Una Cooper JD ‘26, Cristiana Farnsworth JD/LLM ‘26, Lucy Friedland JD ‘26, Brendan Genaw JD ‘26, Dakyung Ham JD ‘26, Zoe Holtzman JD ‘26, Nina Jeffries JD ‘26, Caitlyn Leary JD/MPP ‘26, Jack Lineberry JD ‘26, Holly Merrill JD ‘26, Molly Pines JD ‘26, Levi Schulman JD ‘26, Jaylin Small JD ‘26, Max Tinter JD ‘26, and Nicholas Welch JD/LLM ‘26.

Congratulations Duke Law Class of 2026!

Tomorrow, the Duke Law Class of 2026 takes the stage at Cameron Indoor Stadium. From 1L orientation to graduation day, this community has accomplished so much and we can’t wait to celebrate with our graduates and their families.

Congratulations to Christian Ross JD ’26, Emma Cline JD ’26, and Molly Pines JD ’26 of Duke Law’s Appellate Litigation Clinic on their recent win in Nichols v. Bumgarner.

Arguing before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the team secured a reversal that allows their client’s civil rights claims to move forward and strengthens protections for pro se plaintiffs.

Congratulations to the 2026 Duke Law Alumni Award recipients. From public service and global practice to teaching, volunteer leadership, and lasting impact on the Law School, this year’s honorees reflect the extraordinary achievements of the Duke Law community.

This year’s award recipients are:

Charles S. Murphy Award for Achievement in Civic Service – Jamila Hodge JD ‘01
A. Kenneth Pye Award for Excellence in Education – Professor Thomas Metzloff
Charles S. Rhyne Award for Professional Achievement – Prentiss Feagles JD ‘76
International Alumni Award – Jieni Gu JD ‘06
Young Alumni Award – Brianna McRae JD ‘16
Outstanding Volunteer Service Award – Anne Harper JD/LLM ‘91
Dean’s Achievement Award – James D. Smith JD ‘86 (posthumously)

Read more about each winner and their achievements: https://law.duke.edu/alumni/engage/alumniawards/winners

Congratulations to Paige Kupas JD ‘27, alumna Anna Kathryn Kilby JD ’25, and Director of Pro Bono Programs D.J. Dore on completing the Boston Marathon!

Duke Law students picked up a 64-47 win over UNC Law students in a friendly basketball game in Chapel Hill. It was a great night of competition and an opportunity to connect outside of the classroom before finals.

Congratulations to Duke Law’s 2026 Pro Bono All Stars! This year’s honorees, Avery Allen JD ’26, Neven Vrbetic LLM ’26, Caitlyn Leary JD/MPP ’26, Kacey Buercklin LLM ’26, Sened Teklay LLM ’26, Max Tinter JD ’26, Emily Bass JD ’26, Maame Adu JD/LLM ’26, Yuxi He LLM ’26, and Seimi Chu JD ’26, completed more than 3,400 hours of pro bono work, supporting communities across a wide range of legal needs.

We are proud to recognize their commitment to public service at Duke Law and beyond.