Paula J. Manning

Professor Paula J. Manning is a Professor of Law and Associate Dean of Student Learning & Assessment at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She joined the institution in 2021 and is a nationally recognized expert in academic success, legal pedagogy, and integrating professional skills into law school curricula. Her work emphasizes experiential learning, positive psychology, and reducing stereotype threat in legal education. She co-authored Expert Learning for Law Students and authored the Torts: A Context and Practice Casebook.

Professor Manning’s research focuses on enhancing law student well-being, feedback interventions, and pedagogical strategies. She has held leadership roles in organizations such as the Association of Academic Support Educators (AASE) and the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). In 2021, she received the AALS Academic Support Section Legacy in Leadership Award for her contributions to academic support.

Her teaching spans Torts, Civil Procedure, and Critical Legal Skills. She has delivered over 30 invited presentations on topics including feedback design, millennial learners, and bar exam preparation strategies. Her work bridges theory and practice, advocating for curricula that foster both legal expertise and student resilience.

• Leadership Roles: President of AASE; Executive Board Member of AALS Academic Support Section; Board Member of the Institute for Law Teaching and Learning.
• Key Contributions: Pioneered the integration of positive psychology into law school environments; developed frameworks for autonomy-supportive feedback and growth mindset cultivation.
• Labs/Teams: Oversees Detroit Mercy Law’s academic support programs and collaborates with institutions to improve bar exam outcomes through pedagogical innovation.