Sociolegal Research, the Law School Survey of Student Engagement, and Studying Diversity in Judicial Clerkships

Authors

• Shih-Chun Steven Chien, American Bar Foundation
• Ajay K. Mehrotra, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
• Xiangnong Wang, Knight First Amendment Institute

Document Type

Law Review Article

Publication Date

2020

Keywords

lawyer demographics, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, judicial clerkships, Law School Survey of Student Engagement

Abstract

This article highlights how long-term empirical and interdisciplinary research projects can benefit from use of Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE) data. After identifying and explaining how and why LSSSE data is invaluable for scholars studying legal education and the legal profession, the paper describes how empirical and interdisciplinary, sociolegal research at the American Bar Foundation (ABF) and elsewhere has used LSSSE data. Finally, this paper leverages LSSSE evidence to explore law student career preferences and expectations about judicial clerkships.