Ally Ben Templin
J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law
B.A., Grinnell College
Professor Ally Templin joined Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2003. She is the co-author of Contracts: A Modern Coursebook (with David Spratt), which has the distinction of having the highest professor satisfaction among leading contracts casebooks. She also develops study aids for contracts, including PracticePerfect Contracts and Law in a Flash: Contracts. Her scholarly research currently focuses on optimizing law school pedagogy to better serve today’s generation of law students.
Professor Templin was a visiting professor at Mercer University School of Law (2019-2020) and the University of North Dakota School of Law (2020-2021) and a visiting scholar at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo, Japan (Nov. 2010). She also taught for several years in summer abroad programs in Hangzhou, China, and Nice, France.
Before attending law school, Professor Templin had a 15-year career in magazine publishing, primarily as an editor for print and electronic media in the computer industry.
Previously known as Ben Templin, she publicly came out as transgender in 2021.
Pronouns: She/They
Courses Taught: Contracts, Business Associations, Remedies, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law.
BOOKS
Contracts: A Modern Coursebook. Aspen Publishing Co. (1st ed., February 2017, 2nd ed., February 2019; 3rd ed. with David Spratt, February 2023).
STUDENT STUDY GUIDES
Practice Perfect – Contracts. Co-creator of a series of interactive videos (audio-only) to aid students in the study of Contracts. Wolters Kluwer (Fall 2022).
Law in a Flash—Contracts. Edited 500 flashcards for student study guide. Wolters Kluwer (June, 2020).
Connected Quizzing (LawClassFeedback – Contracts). Co-author of 100 multiple-choice problems with answers. Available in digital form. Wolters Kluwer (September 2017, 2019).
LawNerds: Six-Step Guide to Succeeding in Law School. Available at www.lawnerds.com, (1999, 2018).
LAW REVIEW ARTICLES
(Articles are available on SSRN at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=348985)
Integrating Spaced Repetition and Required Metacognitive Self-Assessment in a Contracts Course, Thomas Jefferson School of Law Research Paper No. 3902814, Available https://ssrn.com/abstract=3902814. Work in progress.
Social Security Reform: The Politics of the Payroll Tax, 32 Quinnipiac Law Review 1 (2013).
Chinese Reverse Mergers, Accounting Regimes, and the Rule of Law in China, 34 Thomas Jefferson Law Review 119 (2011).
Social Security Reform: Sovereign Wealth Funds as a Model for Increasing Trust Fund Returns, 35 Fordham International Law Journal 98 (2011).
Social Security Reform: Should the Retirement Age Be Increased?, 89 Oregon Law Review 1179 (2011).
The Government Shareholder: Regulating Public Ownership of Private Enterprise, 62 Administrative Law Review 1127 (December 2010).
The Marriage Contract in Fine Art, 30 Northern Illinois University Law Review 45 (2009).
The Public Trust in Private Hands: Social Security and the Politics of Government Investment, 96 Kentucky Law Journal 369(2008).
Comment on Neil Buchanan’s Social Security and Government Deficits: Why Should We Worry?, 92 Cornell Law Review 291 (2007).
Full Funding: The Future of Social Security, 52Journal of Law & Politics 395 (2006).
Expensing isn't the Only Option: Alternatives to the FASB's stock option expensing proposal, 30 Journal of Corporation Law 357 (2005).
PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS
Pedagogical Issues in the Contracts Course, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 15th International Conference on Contracts (February 21, 2020).
Integrating Metacognitive Self-Assessment in a Contracts Course, 14th International Conference on Contracts, Tulane Law School, New Orleans, LA (March 8, 2019).
The Future of Casebooks, 12th International Conference on Contracts, Southwestern Law School, San Antonio, TX (February 24, 2017).
The New Pedagogy: Here’s the ball. Let’s play catch. 11th International Conference on Contracts, St. Mary's University School of Law, San Antonio, TX (February 26, 2016).
Intellectual Property Infringement in China: Recent Case Studies, Organization for Asian Studies, Waseda University, Public Seminars for Exploring Various Issues in Asia, Tokyo, Japan (July 17, 2012).
Social Security Reform, The Osher Institute, University of California, San Diego, CA (April 17, 2012).
Public & Government Contracts, Panel Moderator, 7th International Contracts Conference, San Diego, CA (March 3, 2012).
Comparative Corporate Disclosure Standards for International Stock, Law & Economics Workshop, Waseda University Organization of Asian Studies, Tokyo, Japan (November 24, 2011).
U.S. Capital Market Response to Rule of Law Problems in China’s Accounting Regime, 10th International Conference of the Japan Economic Policy Association,Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya, Japan (November 20, 2011).
Sovereign Wealth Funds, Government Investment & Financing Social Welfare Programs, Special Conference of the Brazilian Control Bank, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, CA (November 8, 2011).
Political Economy and the Rule of Law, 2011 International Conference on Chinese Rule of Law, Zhejiang University Guanghua Law School/Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Hangzhou, China (May 27, 2011).
Social Security Reform, 9th International Conference of the Japan Economic Policy Association,Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan (November 28, 2010).
Visiting Scholar, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Tokyo, Japan (November 2010).
The Political Economy of Government Investment, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies,colloquium talk, Tokyo, Japan (December 2, 2009).
Government Investment & State Entrepreneurism, 8th International Conference of the Japan Economic Policy Association,Tokyo, Japan (November 28, 2009).
State Entrepreneurism, Canadian Law & Economics Association Meeting, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (October 3-4, 2009).
The Marriage Contract in Fine Art, Twelfth Annual Conference for the Association of the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities, Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA (April 3-4, 2009).
Creating a United Sates Sovereign Wealth Fund, 7th International Conference of the Japan Economic Policy Association,Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan (December 6-7, 2008).
Session Chair (Moderator): Comparative System Analysis Session. 7th International Conference of the Japan Economic Policy Association,Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan (December 6-7, 2008).
Legal Writing Institute Writer’s Workshop, participant. (July 6-7, 2008).
The Marriage Contract in Fine Art, Fourth International Contracts Conference, McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, CA (February 8, 2008).
The Public Trust in Private Hands: Social Security and the Politics of Government Investment, 6th International Conference of the Japan Economic Policy Association,Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan (December 9, 2007).
Session Chair (Moderator): Law & Economics Session.6th International Conference of the Japan Economic Policy Association,Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan (December 9, 2007).
Technology in the Contracts Classroom: Ideas, Tools, and Questions, Third International Contracts Conference, South Texas College of Law, Houston, TX (February 24, 2007).
Teaching Contracts: Pedagogy of PowerPoint, Association of American Law Schools Poster Presentation, AALS Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (January 3-6, 2007).
Legal Research and the Google Generation, Legal Writing Institute, Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta, GA (June 9, 2006). Joint presentation with Professor Linda Keller.
PowerPoint Pedagogy, Spring Contracts Conference, Texas Wesleyan School of Law, Fort Worth, TX (February 24, 2006).
Session Chair (Moderator): Innovative Methods for Teaching Research, Writing, and Effective Communication Skills to ESL and EFL Students, Global Legal Studies Conference, John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL (May 6-7, 2005).
The Amistad Case, Law & Opera Salon, San Diego, CA (March 15, 2004).