Academic Policies Guide

Teaching Assistants

Teaching assistants are student assistants for first-year courses (including Lawyering) and for upper-level courses.  Faculty participation is voluntary.  Teaching assistant assistants work closely with faculty and receive academic credit.

Requirements 

  • Graduate students are not eligible to be teaching assistants.
  • With the exception of teaching assistants for the Lawyering program, a teaching assistant must attend every class and thus a student may not register for a class that conflicts with one in which they will serve as a teaching assistant. THERE ARE NO OTHER EXCEPTIONS.
  • The Lawyering program will provide conflict guidelines for students who will serve as teaching assistants in that program.
  • In addition to attending class, teaching assistants will conduct several review sessions per semester. During these sessions, they usually review questions and provide model answers to problems that have been prepared under the supervision of the professor.
  • Teaching assistants are also available to answer the questions of individual students or to meet with small groups of students during designated “office hours.” In addition, they provide an alternative or supplement to the professor.

Selection 

  • All teaching assistants are chosen directly by faculty members.
  • Individual faculty members are responsible for publicizing any available teaching assistant positions for their course(s).
  • In order for a student to be registered for Teaching Assistant credits, the professor for whom the student will be a teaching assistant will complete a Google form for the Office of Records and Registration which asks for the student’s NetID.
  • Once the form has been submitted, both professor and student will be notified as to any further steps that may be required for registration.

Credits 

  • Teaching assistants may count a maximum of four (4) TA credits towards their JD.
  • In a course of three (3) or more credits, students may earn two credits.
  • In a course of two (2) credits, students may earn one credit.
  • In a course of one (1) credit, students may earn one-half credit.