It is often said that the pioneering legal historian F.W. Maitland coined the phrase “the law is a seamless web.” He didn’t actually write that (he was expressing a similar sentiment, but it was about history), but the phrase is famous nonetheless, and for good reason: At its best, the law provides a massively interconnected set of frameworks that are, collectively, fundamental for a society to flourish.
Lawyers, of course, are essential to building and sustaining these often-hidden structures. That’s on full display in this issue of Texas Law Magazine. As you turn the pages, you’ll encounter powerful illustrations of how those networks are created and sustained, and inspiring examples of our graduates leading the way. Energy is a prime example. When you read about the remarkable history of the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law, and the ways in which their thousands of alumni are shaping the future of how energy is found, created, and distributed, you’ll see that impact. So, too, with our exploration of the complications of Web 3.0 and the challenges of mapping a new frontier in the digital domain.
I’m grateful and proud that our extended Texas Law community—especially you holding this magazine in your hands—understands both the responsibility and the opportunity of building the networks upon which all of us depend, and that the whole Texas Law community will continue playing such a key role in the future.
Hook ’em,
BOBBY CHESNEY
Dean, The University of Texas School of Law