"We've been selecting professors interested in scholarship," says Clark, "and making sure the faculty has the resources they need--like support over the summer and leaves of absence."

But such a goal requires capital support, and the Law School, currently in the midst of a $150 million drive, is having trouble persuading some alumni to contribute for an increase in faculty research.

"They never did have a faculty perspective--they are more concerned with teaching and the educational experience," says Clark. "There needs to be a greater emphasis on published research and its contribution to society's understanding about the law."

Clark says some donors indicate specific uses for their contributions, which somewhat limits his ability to direct Law School resources into faculty research.

"People want to give money for different types of program research," Clark says. "Donors look at social needs...We need them to look at what's right for good and important work."

Clark says that specific research support amounts to less than 5 percent of the school's budget, which leaves the funding for faculty research "open-ended."

Although some students have argued that the renewed emphasis on faculty research may detract from the faculty's focus on students, professors say teaching is not in jeopardy.

"The more productive the faculty, the better," Tribe says. "The best kinds of teaching are informed by scholarship. I see no tension between the two. Clark has long been not only a good teacher but highly interested in the subject of education and pedagogy," he says.

Clark's emphasis on faculty research is currently centered on the school's international legal studies programs. And his plans to bolster area studies centers have been bolstered with the faculty's recent vote to offer a tenured post to a top Chinese law expert, William Alford.

Alford, who accepted the offer, will head the school's East Asian Legal Studies Center, which has been without the direction of a faculty member for some time.

Clark says Alford's decision to accept the job was an "essential element in my decision not to terminate the program." In fact, he has mandated that every international studies center have a tenured professor at its helm to direct scholarship the programs generate.

"I am particularly not interested in having area programs without such an intellectual leader," says Clark. "And not programs run by just staff. I don't want those programs unless they result in world-class scholarship, with someone who makes it their main commitment."