Peter T. Hoffman, one of the nation’s leading authorities on trial advocacy, depositions, and evidence, has been named Professor of Law and Director of Legal Skills at Elon University School of Law.
Prior to joining Elon Law, Hoffman held the Newell H. Blakely Chair in Evidence at the University of Houston Law Center from 2003 to 2011. At the Center, he served as Director of the Blakely Advocacy Institute from 2002 to 2009 and Director of Clinical Legal Education from 2005 to 2009. He joined the Center as Neibel Professor of Law in 2002.
Hoffman was a member of the faculty at the University of Nebraska College of Law from 1974 to 2001, where he served as Earl Dunlap Distinguished Professor of Law from 1991 to 2001, Law College Distinguished Professor of Trial Advocacy from 1990 to 1991, and Sherman S. Welpton, Jr. Professor of Trial Advocacy from 1988 to 1990.
He is co-author of the largest-selling book on deposition practice, The Effective Deposition: Techniques and Strategies That Work. His article, “Legal Education and the Changing Face of Practice” is forthcoming in the New York Law School Law Review.
Hoffman serves as a Program Director for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) and is the recipient of the Robert Oliphant Service to NITA Award. He has delivered more than 450 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) presentations to date in 34 states and territories and 14 countries.
From 1994 to 1996, Hoffman served as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Palau. An Academic Member of the International Society of Barristers, Hoffman is former Chair of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Clinical Legal Education and the AALS Committee on Clinical Legal Education. He is a two-time Fulbright Senior Specialist, having taught law and advised on the establishment of trial advocacy programs in Hong Kong and India.
Professor Hoffman received his J.D. degree from the University of Michigan School of Law in 1971, cum laude, and his B.S. from Michigan State University in 1968 with high honors. Following graduation, he practiced in Chicago before entering law teaching full time.
Hoffman served as a visiting professor at Elon Law during the 2008-2009 academic year. He has also taught at the City University of Hong Kong, University of San Diego, Washington University-St. Louis School of Law, University of Hawaii School of Law, University of Michigan School of Law, Chinese University Law School in Hong Kong, and West Bengal National University of Juridical Science in Kolkata, India.