The Law School Survey of Study Engagement (LSSSE) has been awarded a grant to conduct a multi-year research project aimed at understanding and addressing the challenges and experiences faced by law school faculty and staff. This initiative will allow LSSSE to create and administer two new surveys to generate national data that delve deeply into the dynamics of the law school environment.
LSSSE’s Survey on the Engagement of Law Faculty and Staff (SELFS) is made possible by a generous grant from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The SELFS Study aims to provide valuable insights into various aspects of contemporary legal education by assessing the perceptions and experiences of law school faculty and staff. Because it will be administered alongside the core LSSSE student survey, SELFS will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the law school climate.
By participating in the SELFS Study, participating schools will have access to school-specific data to inform and enhance efforts to foster an inclusive climate for faculty and staff. Researchers will be able to analyze national aggregate data to identify trends and best practices in legal education.
Key areas of focus for the SELFS Study include:
- Perceptions of contemporary issues in legal education;
- Experiences with diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging;
- Opportunities and experiences with professional development;
- Teaching methods, curricular decisions, and pedagogical approaches; and
- Engagement-related behaviors and interactions with students.
Recognizing the pivotal roles that law school staff and faculty play in shaping the educational experience and policies of law schools, the SELFS Study aims to systematically measure their opinions and perceptions. The research findings will also inform strategies and interventions to support the well-being and resilience of faculty and staff in legal education.
“This research will address a significant gap in our understanding of the experiences and engagement of law school faculty and staff,” said LSSSE Director, Meera E. Deo. “By investigating various facets of contemporary legal education, including faculty-student interactions, teaching methodologies, and support systems, we hope to provide valuable insights for enhancing the overall quality of legal education.”
The grant will facilitate rigorous data collection and analysis, enabling researchers to gain deeper insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by law school faculty and staff. Ultimately, the findings of the SELFS study are expected to inform policy decisions, institutional practices, and initiatives aimed at fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment within law schools.
Administering LSSSE and SELFS Surveys
LSSSE handles all aspects of survey administration, including invitations, reminder messages, delivery of the online survey, and compilation of data. This ensures comparability across institutions. We analyze your results and deliver a customized data report to you in July.
Timeline
Fall Semester 2024: Register and Plan
Register for LSSSE and SELFS – Registration Closes February 17th, 2025
Upload population file, customize recruitment materials and schedule
Plan promotional and recruitment strategy
Spring Semester 2025: Both LSSSE And SELFS Surveys Launch
Implement promotional campaign
Survey administration begins (Late February – Early March)
Monitor administration progress
Late Spring Semester 2025: Surveys Close Friday, April 25th
Summer 2025: Data and Reports Released
Cost
For the first two years of the SELFS Study, LSSSE will cover the costs associated with participating in the SELFS Study. Enrollment is limited to 20 schools. Participating schools must participate in LSSSE and are responsible for covering the LSSSE participation fees.
LSSSE participation fees depend upon the size of your law student population:
Enrollment/Cost
Fewer than 500 / $4,750
500 – 900 / $5,800
More than 900 / $7,100
The participation fee also includes hundreds of pages of reports, user workshops, data analysis tools, webinars and consultations with LSSSE staff about your results.
Deliverables
The primary deliverables will be custom reports detailing results of the faculty and staff surveys. These reports will employ applied research principles and methods to provide participating schools tangible, actionable information, including explanation and illustration of significant, useful findings from the project, and as may be appropriate, recommendations.