Although he has not served continuously on the faculty since 1962, Vorenberg's major activities have always been connected with law. During Watergate, he was associate special prosecutor and consultant to Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox '34, Loeb University Professor. "He was invaluable as a constant close adviser," Cox says. "He struck a very good balance of establishing principled positions and using good common sense," he adds.

Besides advising Cox, Vorenberg during Watergate established the staff of approximately 100 people who worked in the special prosecutor's office and who remained after Cox's resignation.

At the Law School, Vorenberg has displayed a genuine interest in improving the quality of teaching. He is a member of the Michaelman Committee for Curricular Reform and as associate dean of the Law School had responsibility for curricular development.

"He has meshed the needs of the students with the wants of the professors," Sander notes. "You have to cajole and coax people to do things the school needs, and he has done that very well."

As a professor, Vorenberg has received good reviews. "He is genuinely interested in what students have to say, but it takes a long time to convince him of anything." Karen Falkenstein, a third-year Law student, says.

The ride-along program, now in its tenth year, still receives much praise. "The program is great because it gives the students some insight into the police side of things, where the whole process begins." Tony G. Paolillo, commander of the Cambridge Police, explains.

Still, some students complain that he takes a conventional attitude toward student-faculty relations. Vorenberg says that he has problems with students' making decisions on the appointment of faculty members, but adds that "students are a constituency that should be heard."

Vorenberg remains similarly cryptic about his plans for the Law School after he takes over as dean July 1. In keeping with his penchant for carefully thinking things out, he says only that "it is too soon to tell" what changes, if any, he'll make. "I will take the next four months to talk to people and consider ideas."