Thursday, February 25, 2021

Drinan Scholars at BC Law

Robert F. Drinan, SJ (LC)
[We have the following announcement, about a fellowship program named after an adored colleague of mine at Georgetown Law, who was earlier dean of Boston College Law (and a US Congressman), Robert F. Drinan, SJ.  DRE]

Boston College Law School - Drinan Scholars Program: Visiting Assistant Professor

Boston College Law School seeks applicants for the Drinan Scholars Program. The Program provides research opportunities, faculty mentoring, and career development for promising legal scholars and teachers. The Drinan Scholars Program combines law teaching with scholarly research and writing.  The Program is designed to support the training of future law professors who will enhance the diversity of the legal academy, and therefore seeks applicants with backgrounds underrepresented on law faculties. The Program additionally seeks to further BC Law's commitment to studying the causes of and solutions to structural racism.

The Drinan Scholars Program provides aspiring legal academics with an opportunity to develop their scholarship and teaching, and ultimately seek long-term academic positions. BC Law is known for its strong focus on law teaching, research excellence, and a collaborative atmosphere. Boston College is a major research university located near Boston, a city with a rich academic culture including 5 law schools and 35 colleges and universities.

The Drinan Scholars Program concentrates on aspects of academic life most likely to be helpful in preparing for a faculty career in legal education. The Drinan Scholar will teach law courses, with teaching assignments designed to dovetail with the scholar's research and teaching interests.  The teaching load will allow ample opportunities for research and publication of major works of scholarship. In addition, the scholar will be assigned a primary senior faculty and junior faculty mentor to provide advice and support on teaching, scholarship, and preparation for the legal academic teaching market. Drinan Scholars participate fully in the life of BC Law, including but not limited to attendance at faculty workshops, opportunities to workshop papers and present at BC Law's Junior Faculty Forum, and access to teaching support through Boston College's Center for Teaching Excellence

The Drinan Scholars Program does not have a specific subject matter focus, but we are especially interested in receiving applications from scholars who seek to conduct research and writing on issues related to race and the law. Selection criteria include the potential for excellence in legal teaching and scholarship, contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the degree to which the applicant's research proposal aligns with institutional resources and opportunities.  

Drinan Scholar appointments are for two years with support for participating in the law hiring market during the second year. Scholars will be appointed at the rank of Visiting Assistant Professor of Law. The salary for the 2021-22 Academic Year will be competitive with well-regarded law fellowship and VAP programs. In addition, Drinan Scholars will be provided with research support including research, travel funds and the opportunity to hire law student research assistants. Scholars will be expected to be in full-time residence at BC Law during the academic year.

More.