Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant Programs

The information below is intended as a quick reference for students and faculty. If you have questions about the TA program, please contact Prof. Sarah Schendel [email protected]. If you have questions about the RA program, please contact Prof. John Infranca [email protected].

TEACHING ASSISTANTS (TAs)

Teaching Assistants support faculty in the delivery of courses, including helping students engage with course material, leading review sessions, and providing feedback under faculty supervision.

• Eligibility

  • Must be in good academic standing.
  • Prior enrollment in (and strong performance in) the course is usually required.
  • Faculty may set additional requirements.
  • A student may serve as a TA for no more than one course per semester.
  
  

  Credits and Time Commitment

  • TAs may earn pay, or 2 ungraded course credits for their work.
  • To earn 2 credits, students must work approximately 90 hours over the semester (about 7 hours per week).
  • Students are eligible to receive TA credits once per course.
  • Students may not earn more than 2 ungraded credits per semester or more than 16 ungraded credits total toward their degree (see Academic Rules & Regulations). Ungraded credits include participation in a Journal, or Externship, so please read the Rules & Regulations carefully. Because of these limits, students already receiving ungraded credit (e.g., for journal work) may be ineligible for additional ungraded credits as a TA. Credit paperwork is available through the Office of Academic Services: Teaching Assistant Registration Form.
  
  

  Responsibilities

  • Leading review sessions or study groups.
  • Assisting with in-class activities.
  • Holding office hours.
  • Supporting faculty with course materials.
  
  

  Application Process

  • Faculty select their own TAs. Students interested in TA opportunities should speak directly with faculty or contact Prof. Schendel, [email protected]

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS (RAs)

Purpose: Research Assistants work with faculty members on academic research projects, gaining skills in legal research, writing, and analysis. Student RAs may be asked by faculty to research case law and secondary literature; prepare bibliographies; write research memoranda; perform cite-checking and Blue-booking tasks; and proofread or edit manuscripts.

• Student Eligibility

  • Students generally may not serve as paid RAs if they are otherwise paid by Suffolk (e.g., through a SPILG award or a full-time federal work-study job).
  • Must be in good academic standing.
  • Faculty receive RA funding and hire RAs for only one semester at a time. However, depending on funding availability a faculty member may hire an RA for multiple semesters.
  • Student RAs are not permitted to work more than 10 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. When classes are not in session RAs may work up to 28 hours per week. However, in most cases the number of hours worked by an RA is limited by available funding.
  • If the student is employed in another position (for example, as a TA), university policy allows students to work up to 20 hours a week between up to 2 positions.
  • A Research Assistant generally may not also serve as a Teaching Assistant for the same professor in the same semester.
  
  

  Working for Credit

  • Students may serve as RAs for course credit instead of pay.
  • Credit paperwork is available through the Office of Academic Services: Research Assistant ‐ JD Registration Form.
  • Serving as a Summer RA for credit is only available if the student is enrolled in summer classes. However, students may work for pay as a Summer RA if they are not enrolled in classes.
  • Students may not volunteer as an RA; RA work must be for pay or for credit.
  
  

  Application Process

  • Faculty select their RAs directly. Students interested in RA positions are encouraged to reach out to faculty in their areas of interest.
  • Faculty also occasionally advertise RA positions through the monitors located throughout the law school. Details regarding how to apply for these positions are provided in these announcements.