Tulane Law Celebrates the Resilient and Remarkable Class of 2025
Tulane Law School celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2025 on a warm spring afternoon marked by joy, pride, and deep reflection.
The ceremony opened with the Crescent City Brass Quintet performing the national anthem, setting the tone for a day that honored both tradition and transformation. Dean Marcilynn Burke, presiding over her first Tulane Law graduation, welcomed the crowd of graduates, families, friends, and faculty with a message of gratitude and inspiration.
“Today is a celebration of your perseverance, your growth, and your remarkable achievements,” Dean Burke said. “You’ve undergone a profound transformation—not only gaining mastery in legal doctrine and analytical skills, but also internalizing the values and responsibilities of this noble profession.”
The Class of 2025 navigated their legal education through some of the most volatile years in recent history. From Supreme Court decisions and global conflicts to the rise of generative AI in the legal field, this cohort met challenge after challenge with grit and excellence. Their accomplishments are as diverse as they are impressive: national writing awards, moot court victories, published scholarship, and a record-breaking number of pro bono hours—including one graduate who logged over 1,000 hours of service.
Eighteen graduates are heading to prestigious federal clerkships, while others begin their careers across the U.S. and beyond, including in Alaska, Panama, and major legal markets like New York, D.C., and Texas.
Dean Burke reminded graduates of their purpose: “Law is not just a career—but a calling. One that can safeguard rights, uphold dignity, and advance justice.”
This year’s keynote speaker, the Honorable Sarah Vance (L’78), delivered an inspiring message about the vital role lawyers play in preserving justice and community. She reminded our graduates that their Tulane education has prepared them well and made it certain that “you will do the right thing, the courageous thing, and you will do it with civility, respect and grace.”
Class President Sabrina Mallavarapu, a first-generation American and dedicated student leader, spoke on behalf of her peers. Her journey to law school captured the spirit and determination of her class. Sabrina reminded the Class of 2025 that despite challenges, “we move forward— as lawyers, advocates, and leaders. Not just to practice law, but to shape it. Not just to enter the profession, but to leave it better than we found it. The future is ours to color.”
The ceremony concluded as it began, with celebration, community, and a nod to the city that shaped these graduates’ legal journeys. Beneath parasols adorned with blue and green streamers, graduates embraced their loved ones, posed for photos, and looked toward the next chapter.
View the gallery of photos here.
