Meet the Team
Thomas J. McSweeney, Director of Residential LL.M. Programs
Professor of Law
Thomas McSweeney earned his B.A. from William & Mary, where he was a James Monroe Scholar. He continued his studies at Cornell University, where he earned a J.D. and a Ph.D. in medieval history. After completing his Ph.D., Professor McSweeney worked for two years as a visiting assistant professor at Cornell Law School, teaching property and legal history. During his time at Cornell, he won three awards for his teaching. In 2018, he received a Plumeri Award for Faculty Excellence from William & Mary. In 2019, the graduating class at William & Mary Law School presented him with the Walter Williams L. Award for Excellence in Teaching and in 2021 the first-year class presented him with the 1L Professor of the Year Award.
Professor McSweeney's research focuses on the early history of the common law. He is particularly interested in the ways the judges and lawyers of the thirteenth century taught and learned the law. His book, Priests of the Law: Roman Law and the Making of the Common Law's First Professionals (Oxford University Press 2019), which was awarded an honorable mention for the Selden Society's David Yale Prize for an "outstanding contribution to the history of the law of England and Wales," examines the ways in which thirteenth-century justices modelled their practices on those of the jurists of Roman law to make the case that the English common law was part of a pan-European legal culture. Read his full bio here.
Amy King, Associate Dean for Online and Executive Education
Dean Amy King joined the Law School Administration in June 2021. Her portfolio of responsibilities includes identifying, developing, and implementing online and executive programs. She brings years of experience in developing and implementing online programs, and supporting remote faculty and students. Read more about Amy King's experience.
Brenda Stone, Assistant Director of International Programs
Brenda Stone has been providing student services to Master of Laws (LL.M.) students and visiting law scholars since 2016. She manages program information to support prospective student application, and to mentor admitted students and scholars during their transition to the U.S. and law school. As a former Director of Student Affairs for a large university, she possesses extensive experience in academic advising, community programming, and housing management. Having lived abroad for several years, she recognizes and relates to challenges associated with living in a foreign non-English speaking country.