David Partlett
Dean School of Law Email: david.partlett@emory.edu

Dr. Partlett, has served as vice president, dean and professor of law Washington and Lee University School of Law since 2000. A native of Australia, he earned his LL.B. degree from the University of Sydney School of Law in 1970, an LL.M. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1974, and an S.J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982.

Prior to his tenure at W&L, Dr. Partlett was a visiting associate professor of law at Vanderbilt University during the 1987-88 academic year and subsequently joined the faculty full time. At Vanderbilt he served as a senior fellow in the Institute for Public Policy Studies, and as acting dean of Vanderbilt University Law School in 1996-97.

From 1974-75, Dr. Partlett served as a senior legal officer for the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department in Canberra, Australia, where he was responsible for policy advice on the Racial Discrimination Act and other related human rights legislation. He then served as principal law reform officer for the Australian Law Reform Commission before joining the faculty of the Australian National University in 1978. He was a member of the faculty there through 1987 and served as associate dean from 1982-85.

He is a member of the American Law Institute, the curriculum committee of the American Bar Association, American Society of Law and Medicine and Selden Society. He has taught courses on torts, judicial remedies and professional liability and authored books on torts, defamation and free speech, child mental health and medical malpractice.