Legal

Last Lecture: Kristen Eichensehr on ‘Why Law and Lawyers Matter in a World of Rampant Law Breaking’

Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School•May 5, 2026

Why It Matters

As international norms erode and domestic politics strain constitutional checks, lawyers’ ability to navigate uncertainty and enforce legal limits is vital for preserving democratic governance and market stability.

Key Takeaways

  • •Expect rapid, unpredictable global shocks affecting law and policy
  • •Master adaptive reasoning over static legal doctrines in practice
  • •Pace yourself; balance intense work with recovery and hobbies
  • •Lawyers must fight necessary battles despite political resistance
  • •Legal frameworks remain vital tools to check executive power

Summary

Professor Kristen Eichensehr delivered a “last lecture” to Harvard Law’s class of 2026, warning graduates that law operates amid accelerating geopolitical upheaval and widespread lawbreaking.

She highlighted three themes—expecting the unexpected, pacing oneself, and the essential role of lawyers. Eichensehr cited the post‑9/11 wars, the 2008 financial crisis, COVID‑19, AI disruptions, and the erosion of respect for international law as evidence that legal doctrines can be rapidly overturned.

Notable quotes included Hannah Arendt’s reminder that the past cannot predict the future, and a line from the film “The American President”: “Fight the fights that need fighting.” She also refuted a scholar’s claim that law is irrelevant to presidential use of force, emphasizing constitutional checks like the War Powers Resolution.

The lecture urges new lawyers to cultivate adaptive reasoning, maintain personal resilience, and use legal mechanisms to hold power accountable—skills that will shape both their careers and the broader rule‑of‑law landscape.

Original Description

In her Last Lecture to the Class of 2026, Professor Kristen Eichensehr argued that, in an era of constant flux, lawyers are not just interpreters of the moment but stewards of the law’s power to shape it.
“Expect the unexpected. This isn’t just a good idea for lawyers, it’s a responsibility,” said Eichensehr, an expert in foreign relations and national security law.
Eichensehr’s remarks on April 7 came as part of her Last Lecture to Harvard Law School’s Class of 2026 — a tradition in which cherished faculty members offer words of wisdom and advice to graduating law students.
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