UW Law School’s annual teaching awards demonstrate the value we place on excellent teaching. Our faculty engage and inspire UW Law students through thoughtful pedagogy, and we are proud to honor them for this important work.

Classroom Teacher of the Year Award

The Classroom Teacher of the Year is determined annually by a poll of our most recent graduating class, and current second and third-year law students.

To be eligible, faculty must have taught in the last calendar year; have not received the award in the past four years; and be a regular, tenure-track faculty member, a clinical professor, a legal research and writing instructor, or academic staff member who teaches in a classroom setting.

Clinical Teacher of the Year

Every year, the Law School requests nominations for Clinical Teacher of the Year from its most recent graduating class, and second and third-year students. A committee, named by the dean, relies heavily on these nominations to make its selection.

To be eligible for this award, a nominee must be a member of the clinical faculty; have taught in an experiential setting (in-house clinics, externship projects with a classroom component, and simulation courses) in the last calendar year; and may not have received the award in the last four years. 

Adjunct Teacher of the Year

The University of Wisconsin Law School’s adjunct faculty are highly successful practicing lawyers and judges who bring their specialized knowledge and experience to the classroom.

The Law School recognizes the important role of the adjunct faculty and encourages excellence in classroom teaching through the Warren H. Stolper Adjunct of the Year Award. The award is named in honor of Attorney Warren H. Stolper, who taught at the Law School for 40 years as an adjunct professor. A Law School committee selects the recipients of the award.