Headshot of Christopher Corts

Christopher Corts

Professor of Law, Legal Practice
Curriculum Vitae

  • Profile

    Professor Christopher Corts researches, teaches, speaks, and writes at the intersection of abstract legal theory and the rigors of everyday legal practice. Prior to joining the Richmond Law faculty, he practiced law as a member of the Appellate Practice and Trial Support Group at Carlton Fields in Miami. He holds a juris doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law, and a master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. He holds membership in both the Actors’ Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild—American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. 


    Professor Corts’ academic interests include: law’s theoretical relationship to force, coercion, and violence; professional identity formation; mindful/contemplative lawyering; and happy lawyers. 


    You can follow him on Twitter @profcorts, where he explores happiness, motivation, and meaning in professional life.

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    • Presentations

      Panelist, "ABA Standard 303 Revisions—Bias, Cross-Cultural Competency, and Racism," SEALS Conference 2022, Southeastern Association of Law Schools (August 2022)

      Panelist, "ABA Standard 303 Revisions—Well-Being," SEALS Conference 2022, Southeastern Association of Law Schools (July 2022)

      Presenter, "The Inner Game of Lawyering: Using Principles from Galway's "Inner Game of Tennis" to Coach Lawyers and Law Students for Elite Performance Under Stress," XXXVIIth International Congress on Law and Mental Health, International Academy of Law and Mental Health (July 2022)

      Presenter, "Know Your Audience: Professional Identity Formation & Context-Building in the 1L Legal Writing Classroom," Workshop on Professional Identity Formation, Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions (May 2022)

      Panelist, "The Future of Law is Human...and Humane," Lawyer 2030, University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law (April 2020)

      Presenter, "The Ineffable Spirit?: Meaning, Purpose, and the Elusive Pursuit of Spiritual Wellbeing in Professional Life," The 36th International Congress for Law and Mental Health, The International Academy of Law and Mental Health (July 2019)

      Presenter, "Being a Lawyer: Professional Identity Formation in the 1L Legal Analysis and Writing Course," 19th Annual Rocky Mountain Legal Writing Conference, Rocky Mountain Legal Writing Conference (March 2019)

      Panelist, "Giving Voice to Values and the Formation of the Lawyer's Professional Identity," Ethics in Action: Giving Voice to Values in the Law, Charles A. Widger School of Law, Villanova University (March 2019)

      Presentations Prior to 2019

    • Bar Admissions

      Florida

      United States Courts of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit

      United States District Courts, Southern District of Florida

      United States District Courts, Middle District of Florida

      The Supreme Court of the United States

    • Professional Experience

      Professor of Law, Legal Practice (2019 - present)
      University of Richmond School of Law, Richmond, VA

      Associate Professor of Legal Writing (2016 - 2019)
      University of Richmond School of Law, Richmond, VA

      Assistant Professor of Legal Writing (2013 - 2016)
      University of Richmond School of Law, Richmond, VA

      Associate (2011 - 2013)
      Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, Miami, FL

      Intern (2010 - 2010)
      Federal Public Defender's Office, Charlottesville, VA

      Summer Associate (2010 - 2010)
      Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, Miami, FL

      Civil Division Extern (2009 - 2009)
      United States Attorney's Officew, Phoenix, AZ

  • Publications
    Journal Articles

    A Lawyer Sits (The Practice), 19 Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest 413 (2016).

    Blog Posts

    How to Make PIF Assessments More Accurate, Bias-Resistant, and Motivational for All Students, The Holloran Center Professional Identity Implementation Blog (The Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions) (October 2023).

    Know Yourself, Learn Your Audience: Professional Identity Formation and Audience-Awareness in the 1L Legal Writing Classroom, Holloran Center Professional Identity Implementation Blog (The Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions) (April 2023).

    Seeking Wisdom in the Counsel of Many, Holloran Center Professional Identity Implementation Blog (The Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions) (February 2023).

    Better Conversations? Let's Talk About It. (Part 2), Holloran Center Professional Identity Implementation Blog (The Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions) (October 2022).

    Better Conversations? Let's Talk About It. (Part 1), Holloran Center Professional Identity Implementation Blog (Holloran Center for Ethics in the Professions) (August 2022).

    Magazines/Trade Publications

    Confused Readers Crave Containers and Context, 72 Virginia Lawyer 62 (The Virginia Bar) (December 2023).

    Lawyers Writing Wrongs, 70 Virginia Lawyer 62 (The Virginia Bar) (December 2021).