Just Do It!: Five Reasons to Engage in Scholarship Even If It’s Not in Your Job Description Brenda L. Tofte & Kimberly Y.W. HolstSandra Day O’Connor College of LawArizona State UniversityWestern Regional Conference, August 2015

Don’t Run Away! Just Do It…

We do not want you to run away from scholarship and engagement with the broader academic community!

Weighing the pros and cons

There are many reasons NOT to engage in scholarship if your contract does not require it

Cons

1.Takes focus from other required duties

2.Not paid for it3.Possibly discouraged by

“other” faculty4.No promotion, bonus,

advancement5.Negative implications if it

takes away from teaching6.“Poser” or “not real”

scholarship7.Takes away from time with

friends and family8.I don’t want to write!

Now that we’ve talked you out of it…

The 5 reasons why you should do this anyway

Reason 1: Colleagues

1. Develop reputation and recognition as a scholar

2. Which leads to respect…for you, for your LRW colleagues, and the discipline of LRW

3. Branching out into multi-disciplinary or doctrinal scholarship may have the advantage of RAs or other support

Reason 2: Funding

1. You cannot ask for support for work you are not doing—you have to at least start to

2. The same goes for getting invited to faculty workshops, etc.

3. Again, attracting funding to your school makes you a hero

Reason 3: Community

1. This is a good way to become engaged with the LRW community

2. Conferences—start small and branch out (attend, present, travel)

3. Send an email to someone whose comments you respect on the listserv or whose problem you used from the Idea Bank—reach out to one individual

4. You may be able to “attend” a workshops remotely, if necessary

Reason 4: Job Market

1.Playing the long game

2.Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and engagement

Reason 5: RESPECT

Publishing and presenting will most likely get noticed by other doctrinal faculty—or at least others in the field of LRW

Others writing in the area will engage you in the conversation

“walking the walk”—showing other faculty that you are just as capable of doing the “same” work

Getting It Done

By starting small (and/or writing during your breaks) you do not need to take time away from your students and class prep

It IS hard to take time away from loved ones for scholarship

Much has been written on this topic The usual tips apply: get up early, write an hour a day,

etc. If you start small, and if you are truly engaged in what

you are writing, you will find the time. Remember, legal writing IS a discipline, so be

disciplined. Do not be afraid to co-author

Conclusion

Do not be afraid to try Embrace the freedom of

not being required to publish or present You have absolute freedom Writing could lead to

funding for more writing or projects

People will notice if you are doing something “different.” Scholarship will help put

you on an equal footing with doctrinal colleagues