Richard Brooks, Brant Hellwig LLM ’00, and Daniel Hemel have been named this year’s recipients of the NYU Law Teaching Award, which recognizes faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to student learning and engagement.
Each year, NYU Law solicits nominations from students and faculty for the award based on criteria that include extraordinary commitment to teaching, inclusive pedagogical approaches, student engagement in critical thinking, mentorship, curriculum development, and length of service. These awards represent the highest recognition of teaching excellence at NYU Law.
Brooks, who is Emilie M. Bullowa Professor of Law, was praised by students for creating a “safe, inclusive, and student-centered learning space” where intellectual curiosity thrives. Students particularly noted his ability to explain complex legal theories in accessible ways while challenging them to “engage critically, think independently, and develop a more sophisticated legal mindset.” They also credited Brooks with helping them discover their passion for law: Brooks’s class was “the class that made me realize I loved learning the law,” one student wrote.
Hellwig, who is professor of tax law and directs NYU Law’s Graduate Tax Program, earned recognition for his dedication to bringing real-world applications into the classroom. Students highlighted his willingness to adapt curriculum based on their interests, including developing entirely new classes to address student requests. His commitment has also extended beyond scheduled courses, including supervising summer directed writing projects and taking on additional classes to offer a wider range of opportunities for students. According to one nominator, “the fact that he has said yes so often shows his extraordinary commitment to teaching and learning.”
Hemel, professor of law, was recognized for generating “considerable interest and enthusiasm in the tax field”—an area of study that many of his students said they hadn’t previously considered pursuing. His courses consistently reach maximum enrollment capacity, with numbers “virtually unheard of” for specialized legal topics. Colleagues praised Hemel as “widely loved by our students” and “a core member of our 1L curriculum,” noting his lively, engaging teaching style that challenges while entertaining students. Many first-year students report that Hemel was their favorite teacher of the year.
“It is my honor to recognize my extraordinary colleagues—Rick, Brant, and Daniel—for the tremendous service they provide to our students and our institution,” says Dean Troy McKenzie ’00. “Their innovative approaches, student-centered teaching philosophies, and dedication exemplify NYU Law’s commitment to excellence in legal education.”
Posted May 12, 2025