TRIBUTE TO LARRY RIBSTEIN

A law school job talk for an entry-level candidate is an opportunity for the presenter to put his or her ideas before a faculty in the best possible light. The author's own first job talk, though, given at George Mason University more years ago than he'd like to admit, was attended by the thoroughly exceptional Larry Ribstein and so did not unfold in the usual way. Ribstein was more than his intellect. He was also a generous colleague and a good teacher. He would not sugarcoat a criticism but neither would he just criticize. He always sought to match a negative assessment with an offer of how to salvage and move on to better pursuits. And Ribstein did more than merely point in the right direction. He tirelessly helped others attain excellence.