Dr. Robert Lawless

Professor

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Biography

Robert M. Lawless is the Max L. Rowe Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Illinois Program on Law, Behavior, and Social Science at the University of Illinois College of Law. He is a nationally recognized expert in bankruptcy law, consumer finance, and empirical legal studies. His research primarily focuses on financial distress and business consumer bankruptcy, intersecting the fields of law and social science. He has played a pivotal role in discussions around bankruptcy reform, co-authoring the upcoming book 'Debt’s Grip: Risk and Consumer Bankruptcy,' which aims to document the financial precarity faced by bankruptcy filers through empirical data and personal narratives. Lawless is also known for his extensive work in legal education and scholarship, having published textbooks in secured transactions and empirical methods of law. He actively contributes to the blog 'Credit Slips,' addressing issues related to credit and finance. His leadership roles in legal organizations include service to the National Bankruptcy Conference and the American College of Bankruptcy. He has been influential in policy discussions, having testified before the U.S. Senate on consumer protection and bankruptcy reforms. Lawless earned his undergraduate degree in accounting and his law degree from the University of Illinois, where he also served as the editor-in-chief of the University of Illinois Law Review. Before joining Illinois, he taught at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Missouri, and held visiting professorships at Washington University in St. Louis and Ohio State University.

Research Interests

Experience

Max L. Rowe Professor of Law

2010-01-01 — Present

University of Illinois College of Law • Champaign, IL

Professor specialized in bankruptcy law and consumer finance, leading research on the intersections of law and social sciences.

Associate Professor of Law

2005-01-01 — 2010-12-31

University of Missouri •

Taught courses in law with a focus on empirical methods.

Visiting Professor of Law

2008-01-01 — 2008-12-31

Washington University in St. Louis •

Engaged in research and teaching.

Visiting Professor of Law

2007-01-01 — 2007-12-31

Ohio State University •

Taught courses in bankruptcy law.

Law Clerk

1995-01-01 — 1997-12-31

U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit • Washington, D.C.

Clerked for Judge Harlington Wood, Jr.

Awards

#

Annual Service Award

2019-01-01

Courses

Empirical Methods of Law JSD Seminar Secured Transactions

Requirements for University of Illinois

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:17
Reading
Required:19
Writing
Required:21
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:103
GRE General
Prerequisites
Mathematical background Linear Algebra Calculus
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

GRE is optional for admission to all graduate programs in Statistics. Full status admission requires higher language scores than limited status.