Confronting the Question of Clinical Faculty Status

This Article examines the status of clinical faculty in American law schools, and the American Bar Association's proposed Rule 405(e), which would impose clinician job security as a requirement of law school accreditation. The authors argue that as clinical education has become an accepted part of American legal education, law schools have been asked to enhance the status of clinicians teaching in their clinical programs. The authors analyze the various security arrangements permitted by Standard 405(e), recommends use of the regular tenure track option, and specifies guidelines to be utilized in decisions to hire and tenure clinicians.