Drinan Scholars Program

Drinan Scholars are selected by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in consultation with the Drinan Scholars Faculty Committee. Hiring is subject to a faculty vote. Selection criteria includes 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. Scholars are expected to maintain full-time residence at Boston College Law School during the academic year.

Drinan Scholars are expected to teach one class per semester, to enable more opportunities for research and publication. The Scholars will be assigned classes that dovetail with their teaching interests. They should have the opportunity to teach seminars and will not be asked to teach first-year classes or other large classes unless they request to do so.

Each Drinan Scholar is assigned a junior and senior faculty mentor who will provide advice and support on teaching, scholarship, and preparation for the teaching market. We offer regular programming to support our Scholars, including a monthly dinner with mentors and other junior faculty; teaching support; opportunities to workshop papers; participation in our junior faculty forum; and other programming designed by the Drinan Scholar Faculty Committee.

The Drinan Scholar Faculty Committee provides advice and support as the Drinan Scholar enters the teaching market, including recommendation letters, phone calls to faculty committees, mock interviews and job talks. The two-year rotation also benefits Drinan Scholars’ chances of success in the legal teaching market by allowing first-year Scholars the opportunity to strengthen their publication record while “shadowing” the second-year Scholar as they navigate the timing and demands of the job market.