MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW HIRING ANNOUNCEMENT

Location: East Lansing, MI
Start Date: August 15, 2027

Michigan State University College of Law invites applications from entry-level and lateral candidates for full-time, tenure-track faculty positions with an expected start date of August 15, 2027. We welcome applications from candidates with exceptional educational, teaching, and scholarship credentials across all areas of law, although subject areas of particular interest include Law and Technology, Indian Law, Animal Law, Administrative and Regulatory Law, Bankruptcy Law, Business Law (with a particular emphasis on Corporate Governance), Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, and International Law. We also seek applications from entry-level and lateral applicants to lead our Transactional/Entrepreneurship Clinic; and to serve as The Alan S. Zekelman Professor of International Human Rights Law. Finally, we seek applications from distinguished tenured faculty for The Schaefer Chair in Family Law. The College of Law seeks applicants with a commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarly achievement, in line with MSU College of Law’s recent academic and scholarly trajectory.

Established in 1855, Michigan State University is the nation’s premier land-grant university, offering more than 400 academic programs across diverse disciplines. MSU is known for its commitment to…

  • A highly collegial and productive faculty that is committed to retaining and expanding its community of scholars.
  • Integration with a major research university, including cross-disciplinary collaborations with the Kelley School of Business; Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies; Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering; Ostrom Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis; and the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, among others.
  • Excellent and ambitious JD, LLM, and SJD students with strong entering credentials.
  • A three-course teaching load, small average class sizes, generous support for research conference travel, and
…

I am pleased and proud to report the recent publication of an article I coauthored last year with a former student, Cody Dethlefs, for the Stetson Law Review‘s 2025 symposium on Prosecutorial Discretion & White Collar Crime. The article, The Fraud Remains the Same . . . Or Does It?, explores blockchain frauds, combining my experience with securities regulation considerations and Cody’s with bank regulation. The SSRN abstract is as follows:

Although blockchain technology has proven itself to be useful and has significant potential for expanded usage, certain blockchain applications pose fraud and systemic risks. This article identifies and assesses financial fraud committed in or in connection with blockchain transactions as a form of white-collar crime. In some cases, criminal activity is facilitated—or even originated—by blockchain technology. Yet in other cases, criminal activity is merely hosted on a blockchain. Law enforcement activities relating to blockchain fraud are similarly both conventional and unique.

As the blockchain environment expands, fraudsters will indisputably continue to innovate. It will be incumbent upon enforcement agents to keep pace in an environment complicated by rapid technological advances, privacy and security protections, and cross-border activity. Increasing reliance on blockchains for financing and other…

Friend of the BLPB Paolo Farah reached out to let me know about severl discussion groups, described below, that he is organizing for the 2025 Southeastern Association of Law Schools Conference this summer. If you have interest in participating, please contact Paolo at PDFarah@mail.wvu.edu.

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“Transforming Global Agriculture and Cultivating Tomorrow: Farmers’ Rights, Animal Law, Trade, Sovereignty, Ethics, and Innovation for Sustainable Progress“

This session unites diverse perspectives to explore challenges and opportunities in agriculture. By integrating disciplines like law, trade, ethics, and innovation, the panel addresses critical issues such as protecting farmers’ rights, evolving animal law, the effects of international trade, and food sovereignty’s role in sustainable development. Topics include ethical considerations, technological advancements, and policy frameworks essential for navigating transformation. Panelists will offer insights into fostering global and domestic collaboration to build equitable, sustainable agricultural systems while tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security challenges, driving meaningful progress for a sustainable future.

“Enhancing Experiential Learning in Environmental, Energy, and Sustainability Law and Policy Education“

This discussion group explores innovative ways to integrate real-world experiences into legal education. Bringing together educators, practitioners, and policymakers, it highlights approaches to teaching environmental, energy…

This year’s symposium, titled Navigating the Relationship Between the Administrative State and Emerging Technology, will focus on the evolving regulatory frameworks around emerging technologies like digital assets and artificial intelligence (AI). These technologies are rapidly transforming the way individuals and businesses engage in commerce, interact socially, and innovate. These advancements, however, raise profound questions about the applicability of existing regulatory structures. The symposium will bring together leading experts to discuss how the administrative state can balance the protection of innovation with the mitigation of risks associated with these technologies, while ensuring that laws evolve to meet the challenges of the future.

We are thrilled to welcome Michele Korver, Head of Regulatory & Operating Partner at a16z crypto, to deliver the opening keynote. Michele’s wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors will provide invaluable insights into the state of digital asset regulation. The event will conclude with a thought-provoking closing address, offering reflections on the key discussions of the day.

Welcome and Opening Remarks (1:15 PM – 1:25 PM)

The symposium will begin with brief welcoming remarks, setting the stage for an afternoon of in-depth discussions and exploring the complexities surrounding the intersection of technology, law, and…

The rapid development of technology in the last decade has affected all levels of society. Corporate governance has not been immune to these changes. In the future, Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) fiduciaries may be technologically capable of serving as independent corporate directors. This could be an effective way to address the challenge of the absence of truly independent directors in the traditional governance framework. Artificial fiduciaries could also

…

A law firm recently reached out to me to conduct a CLE on Mental Health Challenges in the Age of AI. It was an interesting request. I’ve spoken about AI issues on panels, as a keynote speaker, and in the classroom, and I wrote about it for Tennessee Journal of Business Law. I also conduct workshops and CLEs on mental health in the profession. But I’ve never been asked to combine the topics. 

Before I discussed issues related to anxiety about job disruption and how cognitive overload affects the brain, I spent time talking about the various tools that are out there and how much our profession will transform in the very near future.

If you’re like many lawyers I know, you think that AI is more hype than substance. So I’ll share the information I shared with the law firm.

According to a  2024 Bloomberg survey on AI and the legal profession, 69% of Bloomberg survey respondents believe generative AI can be used ethically in legal practice. But they harbor “extreme” or “moderate” concerns about deep fakes (e.g., human impersonations, hallucinations and accuracy of AI-generated text,  privacy, algorithmic bias, IP, and of course, job displacement.

Those are all legitimate…

AALS Section on Agency, Partnerships, LLCs, and Unincorporated Associations

Calls for Papers

The AALS Section on Agency, Partnerships, LLCs, and Unincorporated Associations is pleased to announce two calls for papers, one for a panel presentation and one for a works-in progress session geared to workshopping the research and writing of junior faculty.

Panel Presentation:

Up to three paper presenters will be selected for the section’s principal panel to be held during the AALS 2025 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA. The program is entitled Technology’s Intersection with Agency, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations. Co-Sponsored by the Sections on Technology, Law and Legal Education and Transactional Law and Skills, the session is designed to explore research and teaching involving the interactions of principal/agent relationships, partnerships, and unincorporated business associations with artificial intelligence, blockchains, cybersecurity, and other technological developments.

Works-in-Progress Session:

The section seeks paper proposals from junior scholars for a works-in-progress program.  Submissions for this session may relate to any topic within the scope of the law governing agency, partnerships, LLCs, or unincorporated associations.

Submission Information: 

To respond to either or both calls for papers, please submit a substantial abstract (five or more pages) or draft of an unpublished paper to…

Mississippi College School of Law invites applications from entry-level candidates for multiple tenure-track faculty positions expected to begin in July 2025. Our search will focus primarily on candidates with an interest in teaching one or more of the following subject areas: Real Property, Intellectual Property, Sports/Entertainment Law, and Cyber Law/Law & Technology.

We seek candidates with a distinguished academic background (having earned a J.D. and/or Ph.D.), a commitment to excellence in teaching, and a demonstrated commitment to scholarly research and publication. We particularly encourage applications from candidates who will enrich the diversity of our faculty. We will consider candidates listed in the AALS-distributed FAR, as well as those who apply directly.

Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a scholarly research agenda, the names and contact information of three references, and teaching evaluations (if available). Applications should submitted using the following link: https://www.mc.edu/offices/human-resources/employment?rID[32]=389.