Akhil Reed Amar
Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science
Akhil Reed Amar is Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, where he has taught since 1985. He is one of the most cited legal scholars in America, with more than 40 Supreme Court cases referencing his work. A graduate of Yale College (summa cum laude) and Yale Law School, he clerked for then-Judge Stephen Breyer before joining the faculty at age 26. He is the only active Yale professor to have won the University's triple crown: the Sterling Chair, the DeVane Medal for teaching, and the Lamar Award for alumni service.
Teaching Style
Professor Amar is known for his dynamic, lecture-driven style that weaves together constitutional text, history, and structure into compelling narratives. He frequently cold-calls students to test their understanding of constitutional provisions and expects close reading of primary sources. His classes are intellectually demanding but deeply engaging, with Amar often challenging conventional wisdom about the Constitution.
Cold Call Tips
- 1Read the constitutional text itself carefully before each class -- Amar emphasizes textual analysis above all
- 2Be prepared to discuss the historical context behind each constitutional provision, including Founding-era debates
- 3Know the major Supreme Court cases but also be ready to critique them using structural and textual arguments
- 4Listen to his podcast 'Amarica's Constitution' to understand his analytical framework
Areas of Expertise
Education
- B.A., Yale University (summa cum laude)
- J.D., Yale Law School
Notable Publications
- America's Constitution: A Biography
- The Bill of Rights: Creation and Reconstruction
- The Constitution Today
Research Interests
More Professors at Yale Law School
International Law, Human Rights, National Security Law, Transnational Litigation
Constitutional Law, Election Law, Federalism
Legislation and Statutory Interpretation, Constitutional Law, Family Law, Sexuality, Gender, and the Law
Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Policing and Public Policy
Contracts, Legal Ethics, Distributive Justice
Contracts, Antitrust, Property, Law and Economics