SELFS Study

The Law School Survey of Study Engagement (LSSSE) has been awarded a grant to conduct a multi-year research project aimed at understanding and addressing the challenges and experiences faced by law school faculty and staff. This initiative will allow LSSSE to create and administer two new surveys to generate national data that delve deeply into the dynamics of the law school environment.

LSSSE’s Survey on the Engagement of Law Faculty and Staff (SELFS) is made possible by a generous grant from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The SELFS Study aims to provide valuable insights into various aspects of contemporary legal education by assessing the perceptions and experiences of law school faculty and staff.  Because it will be administered alongside the core LSSSE student survey, SELFS will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the law school climate.

By participating in the SELFS Study, participating schools will have access to school-specific data to inform and enhance efforts to foster an inclusive climate for faculty and staff. Researchers will be able to analyze national aggregate data to identify trends and best practices in legal education.

Key areas of focus for the SELFS Study include:

• Perceptions of contemporary issues in legal education;
• Opportunities and experiences with professional development;
• Teaching methods, curricular decisions, and pedagogical approaches; and
• Engagement-related behaviors and interactions with students.

Recognizing the pivotal roles that law school staff and faculty play in shaping the educational experience and policies of law schools, the SELFS Study aims to systematically measure their opinions and perceptions. The research findings will also inform strategies and interventions to support the well-being and resilience of faculty and staff in legal education.

“This research will address a significant gap in our understanding of the experiences and engagement of law school faculty and staff,” said LSSSE Director, Meera E. Deo. “By investigating various facets of contemporary legal education, including faculty-student interactions, teaching methodologies, and support systems, we hope to provide valuable insights for enhancing the overall quality of legal education.”

The grant will facilitate rigorous data collection and analysis, enabling researchers to gain deeper insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by law school faculty and staff. Ultimately, the findings of the SELFS study are expected to inform policy decisions, institutional practices, and initiatives aimed at fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment within law schools.