Chris Schmidt Joins Knudson School of Law as Assistant Professor
Schmidt will teach a variety of practice-oriented courses including Discovery Practice, Employment Discrimination, State and Local Government and Civil Procedure. As an educator, he is excited to draw upon his experiences both in private practice and the classroom.
Prior to joining the Knudson School of Law, Schmidt spent seven years as a litigator at Baylor Evnen Wolfe & Tannehill, LLP in Lincoln, Nebraska, having previously served as a judicial law clerk for Chief Judge William J. Riley on the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
As a partner, Schmidt represented clients at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal court. His practice focused on employment law and claims involving political subdivisions and government officials. Schmidt has also represented clients in civil matters.
Though he built his career in the courtroom, the classroom was Schmidt’s first calling. He earned his undergraduate degree in secondary education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, after which he spent a year as a substitute teacher—an experience he reflects on to this day as both beneficial and rewarding.
A serendipitous detour led Schmidt to attend the University of Nebraska College of Law, where he learned from professors who brought practice into the classroom. He became invested in scholarship as editor-in-chief of the Nebraska Law Review and served as president of a student organization dedicated to educating school-age students about the law.
As a scholar, Schmidt focuses on the tension that arises in applying longstanding employment-law principles to rapidly changing workplaces and employment relationships. He has previously written on diverse topics, ranging from labor law to the misuse of civil-shoplifting statutes to non-resident income taxation.
Before moving to Vermillion, Schmidt was a lifelong Nebraskan. He and his wife spend much of their time trying to keep up with their two active young children, and he spends his rare moments of rest enjoying a good book or a classic movie.
“I’ve enjoyed meeting the people that make the Knudson School of Law what it is,” said Schmidt. “Lawyers have a responsibility to serve and lead—to be a positive force in the community at-large. In only a few months I can tell the community here is special, which is a testament to the school. I look forward to being part of that community.”
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