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Statement on Academic Freedom and Free Expression

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Duke Law School’s commitment to academic freedom and free expression is reflected in our mission statement:

The mission of Duke Law School is to advance knowledge and the rule of law through open, rigorous, and collaborative education and scholarly inquiry, and to help build and sustain a dynamic legal profession that embodies commitment to equal justice, ethical leadership, diversity of perspective and experience, public service, and the highest standards of client representation.

To pursue this mission, the Law School fully supports the right of academic freedom, which derives from and must be exercised consistently with an individual’s academic roles and responsibilities. At the Law School, that freedom includes the rights to conduct research, publish scholarship, teach assigned courses and make decisions about class materials and pedagogy, select cases and projects and represent clients in clinical settings, participate in law school governance, curate library collections and provide information services, and engage in law-related public service and pro bono representation.

An environment where free expression flourishes is also critical to the Law School’s mission. To “advance knowledge and the rule of law,” lawyers must be able to articulate, understand, and sometimes defend multiple perspectives—including those that may inspire strong disagreement. Creating an environment where free expression can flourish sometimes requires imposing limitations on the time, place, and manner of expression so that the research, teaching, and service missions of the School are not disrupted.

Duke Law School is part of Duke University, and its commitment to academic freedom and free expression is implemented through multiple university policies listed below.

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