John Dwyer finishes answering his last bit of e-mail and gets up from his oversized desk, leaving a neat stack of papers to be attended to later. Taking a quick last glance at his pristine office, he proceeds to lock the door.

Walking down the corridor at U.C. Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, Dwyer, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall, almost needs to slouch under some of the doorways. Entering the student cafe, he orders a latté and slips easily into a seat, cradling his drink.