The University of Tennessee College of Law seeks visitor(s) for Spring 2008. Tennessee needs visitors to teach tax, wills & trusts, and family law in the Spring 2008 semester. For more information, or to apply, contact Doug Blaze, Art Stolnitz and E.E. Overton Distinguished Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
— Mae C. Quinn
So, instead of conducting a national search for regular faculty appointments, Tenneesse is outsourcing tax, wills & trusts, and family law?
Hmmm….
And an irregular faculty appointment helps historically excluded people in exactly what ways??
Color me hopelessly cynical.
Brat, I think you misunderstand the nature of this kind of visiting appointment. Tennessee isn’t “outsourcing” anything. My guess is that they know that key Tennessee faculty will be unable to teach certain courses next spring (maybe due to sabbaticals, maybe due to maternity or medical leave, etc.) but they want to make sure the core courses like tax, wills & trusts, and family law are covered by competent, experienced teachers. So, they are trying to bring in visitors from other law schools for a semester. This is not “irregular” in the least, and it benefits all Tennessee students by insuring that core courses are taught every semester. Some law schools will decline to hire visitors to save money, and simply not offer courses if the faculty members who regularly teach them are unavailable. Tennessee is trying to do the right thing here, in my view.