What drew you to the law?
I never considered being a lawyer when I was young, but I began to think about it during college. My first job after college was as a juvenile probation counselor, and I spent a lot of time in court. I realized that I could do so much more to help others if I were a lawyer, and this realization led me to apply to law school. The rest, as they say, is history.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
Of all the things I do, I love teaching the most. I enjoy getting to know my students personally and watching them mature and develop their legal skills over the course of their law school careers. I have many former students who are now close friends.
What do you hope students gain from your courses?
I want my students to have a deep understanding of the subject areas they study and to be able to apply what they’ve learned to real-world situations. I want them to become skillful in reading statutes and legal documents, and I want them to see the interconnectedness of different areas of the law.
What did you do prior to entering academia?
I practiced law with a relatively small firm in my hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. I did quite a bit of work for banks and credit unions, and some insurance defense work. The firm gave me a chance to teach business law at a local college, and I loved it. This led to my career in legal education.
What are you passionate about outside of the law?
I most enjoy spending time with my wife, children and grandchildren. I also love to ride my bicycle. A few years ago, a friend and I rode from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee (440 miles in seven days). We’re planning a similar trip within the next couple of years.
What are your research interests?
My research focuses primarily on Articles 2 (Sales) and 9 (Secured Transactions) of the Uniform Commercial Code. Recently I’ve focused on concurrent movements to encourage developing nations to adopt modern secured transactions laws and to encourage Native American tribes and nations to adopt the Model Tribal Secured Transactions Act.