Rhode Center Legal Scholar Fellowship

About the Rhode Center

The Rhode Center on the Legal Profession is a leading research institution dedicated to studying the legal profession, legal institutions, and the lawyers who shape them. The Center brings together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and students to produce rigorous, impactful research with real-world relevance. The Center seeks to improve the civil justice system by expanding access to courts, increasing transparency in legal processes, and promoting integrity and accountability in litigation.

The Role

The Rhode Center Legal Scholar Fellowship provides an exceptional opportunity for lawyers who are interested in exploring the intersection of legal practice and legal scholarship. Past Fellows have produced cutting-edge scholarship on topics like litigation transparency, mass litigation governance, the market for contingency fees, and new methods of helping pro se litigants achieve fair case outcomes. This Fellowship is designed for lawyers transitioning from practice, the judiciary, government, or public interest work into an academic setting, as well as for J.D./Ph.D.s seeking to deepen and expand their scholarly portfolios before entering the teaching market.

The Fellow’s responsibilities will center on producing original, publishable scholarship with other Rhode Center staff and affiliates and supporting the Center’s research agenda across its core focus areas. The Fellow will also play an important role in mentoring and supervising the Center’s student fellows. The Fellow will work closely with the Center’s Faculty Co-Directors (Nora Freeman Engstrom and David Freeman Engstrom) and receive dedicated mentorship in developing their own research agenda. The Fellow will report directly to the Center’s Executive Director (Malka Herman).

Location & Work Agreement Expectations

This position is primarily on-site at Stanford Law School. While not a formal requirement, residence in the local area or a willingness to relocate is strongly preferred with a hybrid work agreement of at least 3 days of work on campus.

This is a one-year fixed-term position.

Core Responsibilities

• Research: Produce and publish original scholarship on issues engaging the legal profession, civil justice, or the Center’s core focus areas; write and edit proposals, peer-reviewed publications, and other program materials under the general direction of the Faculty Co-Directors.
• Collect and analyze data and research on the operation and effectiveness of the civil justice system; formulate recommendations to achieve the goals of the Center’s research agenda.
• Manage and coordinate small teams of researchers on academic and public-facing work. This may include evaluating academic programs, making recommendations that impact policies and programs, and coordinating and implementing changes aligned with the Center’s mission.
• Lead the Center’s student fellows program. Coordinate with and mentor Rhode student fellows, providing guidance on research projects, offering substantive feedback on written work, and supporting their professional development.
• Represent the Center as a subject matter expert and develop communications for internal and external constituencies.
• Lead, organize and participate in outreach activities such as research workshops and conferences that bring together judges, practitioners, policymakers, and scholars.
• Assist with the development of research grants, including identifying new funding opportunities, writing portions of grant applications, and summarizing data for grant support.
• Participate in the intellectual life of Stanford Law School, with the possibility of teaching or co-teaching a course or seminar in the Fellow’s area of expertise.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience:

J.D. or Ph.D required. Other academic credentials (LL.M., S.J.D.) are welcome but not required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization.
• Ability to oversee and provide basic direction to staff.
• Close attention to detail.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with and mentor others.
• An interest in developing a scholarly research agenda.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following materials electronically:

• Cover letter describing interest in the position, relevant experience, and how the candidate’s background aligns with the Rhode Center’s mission. Applicants should indicate their earliest available start date and whether they are able to relocate in their cover letter.
• Curriculum vitae or resume.
• Sample of legal writing (e.g., brief, legal memo, or academic writing)
• Names and contact information for at least three professional references.

Review of applications will take place on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to submit materials as early as possible within the application window.

We recognize that no single candidate will possess every qualification listed above, and we encourage individuals with relevant experience and a strong interest in the Center’s work to apply.