A new survey from the Association of American Law Schools finds the tenure of law school deans continues to shrink, with the average dean now serving fewer than five years at a single institution. The report attributes instability to financial pressures, shrinking or contested authority, work-life balance concerns, and pressures tied to bar passage outcomes. The AALS survey—based on responses from more than 200 law deans and interviews—found that 66% of deans cited financial pressures as a major stressor, while 40% cited work-life balance and 31% cited bar passage outcomes. It also reported that deans from underrepresented groups face shorter average tenures. Law school leadership churn can affect faculty governance, curriculum planning, and institutional strategy—especially at institutions still navigating enrollment uncertainty and budget constraints.