Get to know our new faculty: Professor Douglas N. Boyle, Jr.

What brought you to Richmond Law?
Law teaching is something I have wanted to do since I entered law school. I’ve met and worked with many great alumni from Richmond Law during my years of transactional practice, and I went to undergrad here. The subject matter of the position that I’ve taken (business transactions) and, more importantly, the school seemed like the perfect fit for me.

Describe your career path to this point. What drew you specifically to go into teaching and legal scholarship?
I practiced for 15 years in large law firms, in-house, and as a solo practitioner, but as I mentioned above, I had never lost the desire to become a professor. I had great experiences both here at UR and in law school: I love the energy of an academic environment and the time and focus that it affords to think hard and more fully understand whatever it is that draws one’s interest.

How do you approach teaching law students — what is your philosophy in the classroom?
I try to approach the class as an opportunity to help students explore the material from many different angles. My best teachers, at every level of school, were clear in their explanations but, more importantly, were good at pushing students to test the edges of the material in a way that led to a deeper understanding.

What advice would you give to current Richmond Law students for the coming year?
Get to know your fellow students and your professors, and stay in touch with them over the years. You’ll build lasting and rewarding friendships and professional relationships if you do. That’s easy advice to give but harder to follow when you’re stressed about juggling classes, job searching, and choosing a career path, but putting in the effort to build meaningful relationships is always worthwhile.

What’s something surprising about you that your colleagues or students might not know?
I love playing music (mostly guitar). I’ve also lived at least one year in every Commonwealth state in the U.S., but Virginia is, hands-down, my favorite.