Kerry Abrams
James B. Duke and Benjamin N. Duke Dean and Distinguished Professor of Law
Kerry Abrams is the 15th dean of Duke Law School and a nationally recognized scholar of immigration, citizenship, and family law. Before becoming dean in 2018, she spent thirteen years on the UVA Law faculty and served as vice provost for faculty affairs. She graduated with distinction from Stanford Law School and earned her B.A. with highest honors from Swarthmore College. Her scholarship on family-based migration and the legal regulation of immigrant families has been widely influential in shaping academic and policy debates.
Teaching Style
Dean Abrams is a thoughtful and rigorous teacher who draws on her deep expertise in immigration and family law to create rich classroom discussions. She uses the Socratic method to help students see the connections between immigration law, family law, and constitutional principles. She is known for asking layered questions that push students to think about how legal categories shape people's lives and identities.
Cold Call Tips
- 1Understand the statutory framework of U.S. immigration law, including the INA's family preference categories
- 2Be prepared to discuss how family law concepts intersect with immigration enforcement
- 3Think about the constitutional dimensions of family rights and how they apply to immigrant families
- 4Review the historical evolution of immigration restrictions and their legal justifications
Areas of Expertise
Education
- J.D., Stanford Law School
- B.A., Swarthmore College
Notable Publications
- The Rights of Marriage: Obergefell, Din, and the Future of Constitutional Family Law
Research Interests
More Professors at Duke University School of Law
Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Corporate Crime, Civil Rights
Constitutional Law, Second Amendment, First Amendment, Property
Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, Remedies
International Trade Law, International Law, Anti-Corruption Law
Constitutional Law, Constitutional History, First Amendment