Former Attorneys General Grewal and Miyares Return to William & Mary Law School for Scalia-Ginsburg Collegiality Speaker Series

William & Mary Law School welcomed two distinguished alumni and former attorneys general,  Gurbir Grewal ’99 and Jason Miyares ’05,  to campus on March 30 for the sixth installment of the Scalia-Ginsburg Collegiality Speaker Series.

The event, attended by students, faculty and community members, focused on professional dialogue in the legal field and the importance of maintaining collegial relationships across differing viewpoints.

The speaker series, launched by the Institute of Bill of Rights Law (IBRL) in 2022, is named in honor of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose well-known personal friendship endured despite sharp judicial disagreements.

Grewal served as the 61st attorney general of New Jersey from 2018-21. He was the first Sikh American attorney general in U.S. history and the second South Asian American to serve as a state attorney general. Most recently, Grewal served as director of the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and in 2025 he became a partner in Milbank LLP’s New York office.

Miyares served as the 48th attorney general of Virginia from 2022-26. He previously worked as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Virginia Beach and represented the 82nd District in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2016-22. The son of a Cuban immigrant, Miyares was the first Hispanic American elected statewide in Virginia and the first to serve as attorney general of the Commonwealth.

During the discussion, Grewal and Miyares reflected on their legal careers and addressed challenges facing the justice system, emphasizing the role of professionalism, mutual respect and constructive engagement.

The conversation was moderated by Allison Orr Larsen, Taylor Reveley Research Professor and Alfred Wilson & Mary I.W. Lee Professor of Law and Director of the IBRL and Alan Meese, Ball Professor of Law and Director of the Center for the Study of Law & Markets. The event is part of the law school’s ongoing effort to foster civil discourse and expose students to diverse experiences within the legal profession.

In her introduction, Larsen said the goal of this year’s event was to give concrete meaning to values frequently discussed in law school, particularly civility and collegiality. The discussion, she noted, aimed to show how students can be zealous advocates for their clients while still treating opposing counsel with respect.

Miyares emphasized the importance of establishing open lines of communication, particularly with those with whom one disagrees. He said that “90 percent of life’s problems can be traced to miscommunication” and stressed the importance of accepting constructive criticism rather than working in an echo chamber.

Grewal urged the audience to respect those on the other side and said that collegiality must become a habit. He encouraged lawyers to listen and reflect before reacting, adding that seeking input from the most junior person in the room can promote inclusivity and respect for a wider range of perspectives.

Both speakers expressed concern about how sharp disagreements can escalate into violence—and how such violence is sometimes celebrated—citing public reactions to the shooting death of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. Miyares challenged students to become “voices of light” and to treat those with whom they disagree with respect and civility.

Larsen asked what students could begin doing now to develop habits that had served both speakers well throughout their careers.

Miyares recommended seeking mentorship from those with greater experience, describing it as an opportunity to gain “the wisdom of those who came before.” He added, “If you ask someone for their wisdom, they will feel invested in you entirely.”

For Grewal, that advice also meant practicing civility in everyday interactions during law school. “It’s a small world, and the legal world is very small—even smaller regionally,” he said. “The people you’re sitting with will become prosecutors, law firm adversaries, regulators. You’re going to cross paths again, so think about that as you navigate law school and beyond.”

The packed event concluded with a robust question-and-answer session, during which students engaged directly with the panelists.

“IBRL’s Scalia-Ginsburg events have been some of my favorite to attend while at William & Mary,” said Caroline Decker ’26, student division IBRL President. “They are a great reminder for students about the importance of collegiality and respect in the practice of law.” 

About the Scalia-Ginsburg Collegiality Speaker Series
Since 2022, the Scalia-Ginsburg Collegiality Speaker Series has brought jurists, public officials and legal practitioners to William & Mary Law School each year to model respectful exchange and reinforce the school’s commitment to ethical leadership.

Previous participants include: Judges Adalberto Jordan and Kevin Newsom of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (April 20, 2022); Will Baude of University of Chicago Law School and Dan Epps of Washington University School of Law (September 22, 2022); Marin K. Levy of Duke University Law School and Kannon K. Shanmugam of Paul|Weiss (April 19, 2023); Judges Patricia A. Millett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Jeffrey S. Sutton, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (October 8, 2024); and Former U.S. Solicitors General Paul Clement and Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. (February 27, 2025).