William D. Henderson

William D. Henderson is the Stephen F. Burns Professor of Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, where he joined the faculty in 2003. His research focuses on the empirical analysis of the legal profession, legal market dynamics, and legal education reform. Henderson holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Case Western Reserve University and a J.D. with honors from the University of Chicago, where he served as comment editor of the University of Chicago Law Review.

Henderson's research has appeared in leading legal journals including the Stanford Law Review, Michigan Law Review, and Texas Law Review. He also regularly publishes in The American Lawyer, ABA Journal, and National Law Journal, with his observations frequently quoted in major media outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. His work bridges academic scholarship and practical industry insights, making him a prominent voice in legal profession discourse.

Henderson has received significant recognition including the 2006 Leon H. Wallace Teaching Award and being named one of the National Law Journal's 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America. In 2015 and 2016, he was named the Most Influential Person in Legal Education by The National Jurist magazine. His research has secured substantial funding including a $1.2 million grant from the Searle Freedom Trust and multiple grants from the Law School Admissions Council.

As an innovator, Henderson co-founded the Institute for the Future of Law Practice (IFLP) in 2018, serves as founder and editor of Legal Evolution, and previously co-founded Lawyer Metrics (acquired by AccessLex Institute in 2015). In 2018, he was commissioned by the State Bar of California to write a legal market landscape report that has influenced regulatory discussions across jurisdictions.

• Research Focus: Legal profession economics, legal market transformation, law firm innovation, legal education reform
• Leadership: Stephen F. Burns Professor of Law, Co-founder of IFLP, Founder of Legal Evolution
• Education: B.A. Case Western Reserve University (1997), J.D. University of Chicago (2001)