Academic

Leiter on What Tenure-Track Offerees Need to Know

By Lawrence Solum

Brian Leiter has good advice in his post entitled What do you need to find out now that you've gotten a tenure-track offer?.  I might add one or two additional questions that you might ask:

• In addition to the written tenure standards, it is appropriate to ask about the decision-making process.  Is the law-school faculty and dean's decision effectively the "final word" on tenure or does university-wide body engage in something like "hard look" review of tenure recommendations by departments and colleges.  What is the track record of the law school on tenure?  Has anyone been turned down (either at the law school or university level) in the last five years?
• What support does the law school offer for the development of the national reputation of junior scholars?  Does the law school participate in junior workshop exchange programs?  Will you be offered the opportunity to organize a conference or speaker series?
• Does the law school have a formal mentoring program?  Is there a faculty member in your field who would be an appropriate mentor?

Leiter suggests a somewhat cautious approach to issues concerning employment opportunities for the signficant other of the recipient of an offer.  I don't disagree, but many law schools will prefer that this issue be raised as early as possible--because adequate employment opportunties for the partner or spouse of a new tenure-track faculty member is likely to play an important role in retention.

Most law schools offer candidates with offers a "second visit"--which will usually include an opportunity to socialize informally with faculty members, check out things like real estate and schools, and so forth.  This is a wonderful opportunity for offerees to gather information about what could well be a lifelong decision.  Plan this visit carefully!

Good luck to all the readers of LTB who are on the job market.  Sometime in January or early February, I will begin to collect information for the Entry Level Hiring Report!

Full post as published by Legal Theory Blog on November 30, 2009 (boomark / email).