Aspiring Law Professors Committee

Mission Statement

The mission of the Aspiring Law Professors Workshop Committee is to broaden access to the legal academy. The workshop includes candid conversations about hiring norms and barriers to teaching law. It also encourages those from all backgrounds to enhance their application materials and overcome barriers. Its programming covers everything from crafting an ideal research agenda to navigating self-promotion. All Aspiring programming is open to anyone attending SEALS.

Committee Members

Jack Harrison (N. Kentucky) (Co-Chair) harrisonj4@nku.edu
Nicholas Kahn-Fogel (Penn State) (Co-Chair) nak5441@psu.edu
Meghan Boone (Wake Forest)
Emilio Longoria (South Texas)
Latisha Nixon-Jones (Jacksonville)
Tracy Norton (Louisiana State)
Brian Owsley (N. Texas)
Anne Scardulla (N. Carolina)
Karen Sneddon (Mercer)
Nancy Sonpaa (Texas Tech)
Daiquiri Steele (Alabama)
Ryan Stoa (Louisiana State)
Lisa Tucker (Drexel)

Annual Reports

2025 Annual Report

The Aspiring Workshop has become another core feature and success story of SEALS programming since its creation several years ago. The Aspiring Workshop complements the Prospective Law Teachers Workshop, but unlike Prospective Law Teachers, Aspiring is open to all. Over the years, the Aspiring Workshop content has grown to almost ten sessions offered across the SEALS program.

2025 marks the fourth year following the transition of programming from the Deputy Executive Director to a new Aspiring Committee, chaired by Jack Harrison (N. Kentucky) and Nicholas Kahn-Fogel (Penn State Dickinson Law).

Beginning last year, the Committee instituted a process whereby those registering for SEALS could identify their specific interest in the Aspiring Workshop. The Committee was able to determine that approximately 50 registering for SEALS expressed specific interest in the Aspiring Workshop. The Committee is hopeful that this information, as it is gathered each year, will enable us to identify who is attending the Aspiring Workshop programming, so that we might better shape it in the future to meet specific needs.

The Committee has continued with the essential design of the Workshop, with programming that complements the Prospective Law Teachers Workshop. We have continued working more closely with the Prospective Law Teachers Workshop to avoid overlap and to better coordinate the programs. Session topics range from beating the hiring odds to interview demonstrations and from creating your scholarly agenda to branding your professional identity.

This year, the Committee has met its mission, refined session content, and secured a variety of speakers to continue the tradition. We remain thankful to all faculty participants. The Committee seeks to broaden access to the legal academy, demystify the hiring process, and show the variety of pathways to becoming a law professor. SEALS remains grateful for positive reviews from attendees of the Aspiring Workshop—many who land ideal positions in the academy and appreciate the workshop and mentorship.

2024 Annual Report

2024 marks the third year following the transition of programming from the Deputy Executive Director to a new Aspiring Committee, chaired by Jack Harrison (N. Kentucky) and Nicholas Kahn-Fogel (Penn State Dickinson Law).

One important change that the Committee instituted this year is instituting a process for those registering for SEALS to identify their specific interest in the Aspiring Workshop. We are hopeful that the information that is gathered will assist us in identifying who is attending our programming, so that we might better shape it in the future to meet specific needs.

The Committee has continued with the essential design of the Workshop, with programming that complements the Prospective Law Teachers Workshop. This past year we have continued working more closely with the Prospective Law Teachers Workshop to avoid overlap and to better coordinate the programs. Sessions range from beating the hiring odds to interview demonstrations and from creating your scholarly agenda to branding your professional identity.

2023 Annual Report

The Aspiring Workshop has become another core feature and success story of SEALS programming since its creation several years ago. This is the second year following the transition of programming from the Deputy Executive Director to a new Aspiring Committee, chaired by Jack Harrison (N. Kentucky) and Nicholas Kahn-Fogel (Penn State Dickinson Law). In the last year, the co-chairs have worked to expand the committee, adding two new members: Daiquiri Steele (Alabama) and Emilio Longoria (South Texas).

The Committee has continued with the essential design of the Workshop, with programming that complements the Prospective Law Teachers Workshop. This past year we have been working more closely with the Prospective Law Teachers Workshop to avoid overlap and to better coordinate the programs. The main distinction is that Aspiring is open to all. The Aspiring Workshop content includes ten sessions across the SEALS program. Sessions range from beating the hiring odds to interview demonstrations and from creating your scholarly agenda to branding your professional identity. We are attempting some innovative changes to our current programming, such as employing a speed mentoring format for one of the sessions.

2022 Annual Report

The Aspiring Workshop has become another core feature and success story of SEALS programming since its creation several years ago. This year, the Deputy Executive Director transitioned programming to a new Aspiring Committee, chaired by Jack Harrison (N. Kentucky) and Nicholas Kahn-Fogel (U. Arkansas at Little Rock). The Committee has continued with the essential design of the Workshop, with programming that complements the Prospective Law Teachers Workshop. The main distinction is that Aspiring is open to all. The Aspiring Workshop content includes ten sessions across the SEALS program. Sessions range from beating the hiring odds to interview demonstrations and from creating your scholarly agenda to branding your professional identity. This year, the Committee has met its mission, refined session content, and secured a variety of speakers to continue the tradition. We remain thankful to all faculty participants. The Committee seeks to broaden access to the legal academy, demystify the hiring process, and show the variety of pathways. SEALS remains grateful for positive reviews from attendees of the Aspiring Workshop—many who land ideal positions in the academy and appreciate the workshop and mentorship.

2021 Annual Report

The Vice Chair of Programming and Deputy Executive Director created the Aspiring Law Teachers Workshop programming since its inception a few years ago. This programming complements the Prospective Law Teachers Workshop, but unlike Prospective Law Teachers, Aspiring is open to all. The Aspiring Workshop content has grown to almost ten sessions offered across the SEALS program. These sessions range from mapping academic opportunities to interview demonstrations and from crafting your scholarly agenda to stewarding your social media reputation. This year, I created a mission for the Committee, crafted the content of the sessions, and secured all speakers. The interest and success of this content has led to a need to create a committee, which I am working to complete this year. I am mentoring potential committee members for a smooth transition. I am grateful to all the faculty who have volunteered time, mentorship, and insights to all attendees. This Committee will aid in ensuring that we broaden access to the legal academy, demystify the hiring process, and show the diversity of experiences. SEALS is also thrilled beyond measure to hear positive reviews from attendees of the Aspiring Workshop—many secured their dream jobs in the academy and credited the workshop sessions and relationships developed as invaluable.