PORTLAND, Maine (AP) The new dean of the University of Maine School of Law has been formally introduced — via Youtube.

There was no traditional gathering Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic, so Dean Leigh Saufley was introduced to the community through a live-streamed event.

Saufley, the state’s former chief justice, told law students that attorneys are vital to the nation’s democracy, and praised the faculty and staff for making changes to adapt to online learning.