The Faculty Lounge

Jug Band Music

Jug band music was originated by African Americans in the upper south, notably in Louisville and Memphis, in the early years of the twentieth century. The bands were characterized by the use of homemade or improvised instruments -- including jug, washboard, washtub bass, spoons, and kazoo -- along with guitars, banjos, fiddles, and even horns. There was considerable overlap between jug bands and blues, ragtime, and jazz, with performers such as Ma Rainey, Clarence Williams, and Memphis Minnie performing with both jug bands and more formal instrumentation.

The 1960s saw a revival of jug band music -- by Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band, the Even Dozen Jug Band (featuring John Sebastian), and Dave Van Ronk's Ragtime Jug Sompers -- often presented as a sort of rollicking, good time music that was not entirely faithful to the originals. Rock bands such as the Lovin' Spoonful and Grateful Dead also recorded tracks that were originally performed by Will Shade's Memphis Jug Band and Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers, among others.

Garry Jenkins Named President of Bates College

Bates College has announced that Garry Jenkins will be its next president.  Jenkins  is currently dean at the University of Minnesota Law.  He will assume the Bates Presidency on July 1, 2023.  What a great hire for Bates!

Todd Clark Named Dean of Widener Delaware Law

Widener University Delaware Law School has announced that Todd Clark will be its new dean.  He is currently a professor at St. Thomas University College of Law (FL) where he previously served as senior associate dean of academic affairs.  Clark, who holds a JD from University of Pittsburgh School of Law, will  take over on July 1.

Washington and Lee Law Seeks Visiting Professor

This just in:

Washington & Lee University School of Law invites applications for the position of Visiting Professor of Practice of Legal Writing.  This visiting faculty position will be one of three professors who constitute the Legal Writing Program at W&L Law during the 2023-2024 academic year.  Responsibilities of the position include teaching two sections (approximately 20 students per section) of first-year legal writing each semester while working collaboratively with other faculty in the program.

The Visiting Professor of Practice position is a nine-month, non-tenure track, contractual position with teaching responsibilities beginning in mid-August 2023 and ending in mid-May 2024.  This is a full-time limited term appointment.

Qualifications

In addition to holding a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited school, candidates for the position must have at least two to three years of post-J.D. experience in a position or positions requiring substantial legal writing.  Preference will be given to candidates with prior law school teaching experience. We seek in particular candidates who are enthused about working closely with students in the development of this critical skill.

 

Alena Allen Named Dean of LSU Law

Louisiana State University Law  has announced that Alena Allen will be its new dean.  She is currently deputy director for the AALS and professor of law at the University of Arkansas School of Law.  She was previously interim dean at Arkansas.  Allen, who holds a JD from Yale, will  take over on July 17. What a great hire for LSU!

 

Louisiana State University Law  has announced that Alena Allen will be its new dean.  She is currently deputy director for the AALS and professor of law at the University of Arkansas School of Law.  She was previously interim dean at Arkansas.  Allen, who holds a JD from Yale, will  take over on July 17. What a great hire for LSU!

Hiring Announcement: North Carolina Central University School of Law

From an email message I received today:

ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR - North Carolina Central University School of Law

The North Carolina Central University School of Law (“NCCU Law”) is seeking candidates for three tenure-track faculty positions to start July 1, 2023. Founded in 1939 to provide opportunities for African American students to become lawyers, our mission is to provide an excellent legal education to historically underrepresented students from diverse backgrounds. NCCU Law is located in Durham, North Carolina, a city that is a part of the Research Triangle Region, known for its technology companies and scholarly institutions.

Applicants with a juris doctor from an ABA-accredited law school, a distinguished professional background, and a strong commitment to teaching will be considered. The areas of priority where we need excellent teachers include Contracts, Sales and Secured Transactions, Property, and Decedents’ Estates. Successful applicants will be expected to teach in two or more of these areas. 

Interested applicants should apply either through the AALS Faculty Recruitment Services or by submitting a curriculum vita, cover letter, and list of three references to SOLhiring@nccu.edu. The positions will remain open until filled, but for priority consideration, please submit materials by March 24, 2023. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

More information about NCCU Law is available at http://law.nccu.edu/. You can also contact Committee Chair Lydia Lavelle (llavelle@nccu.edu) if you have questions.

Hiring Announcement: University of Tennessee College of Law

From an email message that I received today:

THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF LAW invites applications from candidates to teach in our legal writing program beginning at the start of the 2023-24 academic year. Lecturers in the legal writing program will teach two sections of Legal Process I (predictive analysis, 3 credit hours) in the fall semester and two sections of Legal Process II (persuasive analysis, 3 credit hours) in the spring semester.  

All positions require a J.D. or equivalent law degree. The College is seeking candidates with a passion for teaching legal writing and analysis in a way that connects deeply to law practice. Successful applicants should have an impressive academic background and a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and service. Significant professional experience is also desirable.  

Legal writing faculty are hired at the rank of Lecturer and are eligible for promotion and long-term contracts, pursuant to the University’s promotion guidelines for non-tenure track faculty members. Lecturers participate in all aspects of law school life, advise student organizations, serve on committees, and vote on all matters except for issues relating to the hiring, tenure, promotion, and retention of tenure-track faculty. Lecturers are also eligible to receive professional development funding to support their teaching and service goals. 

Applications must be submitted through this link. Applicants should submit a letter of interest, a CV, and the names and contact information for three references. While applications will be considered on a rolling basis, applicants should submit their materials no later than ­­­­­April 1, 2023, for best consideration. For questions, please contact Professor Lucy Jewel, chair of the search committee. 

University of Missouri (Columbia) Law Seeks Dean

This just in:

The University of Missouri seeks an innovative and collaborative leader to serve as Dean of its School of Law. Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Dean serves as the school’s chief executive and academic officer, and will work closely with the school’s faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader university leadership to advance academic, financial, and strategic initiatives. This position offers an opportunity to play a defining role in shaping the future of law education at Mizzou.

MU is the flagship university of the four-campus University of Missouri System and one of only 34 public U.S. universities with membership by invitation in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). It is the state’s land-grant university and one of the most comprehensive universities in the United States. MU’s broad undergraduate programs and its graduate, professional and research programs attract an annual enrollment of more than 30,000 students. MU is centrally located in Columbia, Missouri, a place consistently ranked as one of America’s most livable cities.

 

Hiring Announcement: University of Memphis School of Law (Visitors)

From an email message that I received today:

The University of Memphis School of Law invites applications for one or more visiting professor positions for the 2023-2024 academic year.  We have particular interest in applicants who teach Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, and Legislation, but welcome applications from visitors with a broad range of teaching interests.  Both one semester and full academic year visits may be possible.   All courses will be in-person courses. 

Applicants should have an outstanding academic record, excellent communications skills, and both a desire and an ability to work collegially in a collaborative environment. Applicants must have a J.D.  Teaching experience is preferred.

Memphis Law has a strong interest in hiring visiting professors who will contribute to creating a broadly diverse campus community.  While the University of Memphis does not treat race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation as dispositive in hiring decisions, the University of Memphis has a strong institutional commitment to hiring persons who will add to its diversity. The University of Memphis is an EEO/AA employer.

Applicants should send the following materials to me at jodi.wilson@memphis.edu: a letter of interest, a resume or CV, a list of three references, and, if available, recent teaching evaluations.  Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled.

Hiring Announcement: University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law (Dean)

From an email message I received today:

The University of the District of Columbia (UDC), founded in 1855, and its David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC Law) invite nominations and applications for the Dean of the School of Law. UDC Law carries the distinction of being the only public law school in the nation's capital and supports the university’s designation as an urban, public, land-grant, and historically black college or university (HBCU). The Dean reports directly to the Provost and Chief Academic Officer.

UDC comprises the undergraduate flagship, the embedded UDC Community College, and the David A. Clarke School of Law, one of only six accredited HBCU law schools in the nation. Recognized broadly for work in clinical settings on behalf of the public interest, UDC Law boasts the largest clinical requirement of any U.S. law school. U.S. News & World Report ranks UDC Law fifth in the nation for its clinical program. UDC Law offers the J.D.

An exceptional, dynamic student body at UDC Law undertakes study in a full-time day division and a part-time evening division. Respecting the unique history of UDC Law, the incoming Dean will have the opportunity to build upon its mission ". . .to provide a well-rounded theoretical and practical legal education that will enable students to be effective and ethical advocates; to recruit and enroll students from communities underrepresented at the bar; and to serve the public interest." The UDC Law student is secure with the foundation of an accessible and affordable learning experience.

UDC Law is committed to excellence and will expect the same in the successful candidate. The School seeks energetic, dynamic leadership characterized by innovation and dedication. The successful candidate will demonstrate the requirements, characteristics, and expectations that follow:

• Promote student support, well-being, and accommodation needs with an equal view to day and evening divisions;
• Frame, advance, and implement a vision for UDC Law to achieve its goals and mission;
• Lead accreditation standards and compliance in an environment that fosters academic success;
• Understand and commit to the vision for clinical and experiential education in a law school curriculum;
• Demonstrate sound decision-making abilities with management, budget, and legal education skills;
• Carry knowledge of a wide range of academic trends, legal disciplines, and sectors of law school operations, including library and communication needs;
• Be dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service, and advance strategic planning as a means of innovative program development;
• Advance enrollment management with bold, innovative outlooks to support growth, retention, access, and post-graduation opportunities;
• Elevate UDC Law's profile as a voice in the community and engagements across the university with partnerships among industry, government, legal, and other external constituents;
• Support alumni relations and encourage a culture of philanthropy, identifying sources for successful fundraising;
• Be a strong advocate of UDC Law while supporting university-wide policies and colleague Deans;
• Provide supervisory stability and ability to hire talented professionals to join UDC Law's cadre of outstanding faculty and staff; and
• Demonstrate strong, approachable interpersonal practices as an active listener with excellent written and spoken communication skills.

The preferred candidate should have previous, successful administrative experience in a law school. Further, there must be a demonstrated commitment to student and faculty diversity principles. An earned Juris Doctor and eligibility for appointment as a tenured professor of law is preferred.

Hiring Announcement: Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law (Indianapolis) (VISITORS)

From an email message I received today:

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (Indianapolis) seeks one or more entry-level or experienced applicants interested in serving as a full-time, temporary faculty member for the 2023-24 academic year. Both one semester and full academic year visits may be possible. Subject matter needs include civil procedure, evidence, torts, and constitutional law. We expect successful candidates to be teaching in person.

As part of IUPUI, Indiana’s premier urban research institution, the law school is committed to being a welcoming community that reflects and enacts the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion that inform academic excellence. We seek candidates who will not only enhance our representational diversity but whose research, teaching, and community-engagement efforts contribute to diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning and working environments for our students, staff, and faculty. IUPUI and the McKinney School of Law condemn racism in all its forms. The law school is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution with a strong commitment to inclusion: https://mckinneylaw.iu.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/committment.html. For more information about the school, please visit http://mckinneylaw.iu.edu/. We encourage applications from persons of color, women, persons with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and members of other groups that are under-represented on university faculties.

Interested candidates should submit a CV and cover letter to Max Huffman at huffmmax@iu.edu. Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should provide adequate notice. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Taboo Trades Podcast: The Political Economy of Organ Transplantation with Hagai Boas

Today’s guest is the Israeli sociologist, Hagai Boas, a four-time organ transplant recipient and the author of The Political Economy of Organ Transplantation. Hagai is the second transplant recipient on the podcast (Sally Satel has received two kidney transplants), but I’ve never met anyone before who has been transplanted *four* times, or who has purchased an organ on the black market, as Hagai did with his third transplant. Boas is the director of the Science, Technology, and Society unit at Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. He is also a senior lecturer in the Department of Politics and Government at Ben-Gurion University. 

This segment of the interview was very powerful:

"Hagai Boas: It was very difficult then and it is still now. And I knew that I'm doing something which is wrong. I'm still thinking that it is wrong. There is no way that I want to rationalize that in any way. It was awful, it was abusive in a way. It was difficult, and I had no choice but to do it. And I'm not covering or laundering it in any way. I bought an organ. This is the invisible scar, let's say, that’s been accompanying me since then."

 

My brief review of the book is here