Home / Education / Law Profs Fear Speaking Out on Campus
Law Profs Fear Speaking Out on Campus
10 Jun
Summary
- Most law faculty support free speech ideals.
- Half feel unable to express opinions freely.
- Fear of reactions restricts faculty expression.
A survey of nearly 2,000 U.S. law faculty members indicates a strong endorsement of free speech principles. However, a significant portion of these educators report difficulties in enacting these principles within their academic settings.
According to the report released on Tuesday, 56% of surveyed faculty members stated they sometimes feel unable to express their opinions. This apprehension stems from potential negative reactions from students, peers, or university administration.
This finding is notably higher than a similar 2024 survey of general U.S. university faculty, where only 27% of respondents expressed similar concerns about voicing their opinions. The current survey included responses from 1,959 faculty members across 192 American Bar Association-accredited law schools.
