Chelsi Hayden

Associate Clinical Professor of Law and Director of Legal Research and Writing Program

Chelsi Hayden headshot

Biography

Professor Chelsi Hayden joined the law faculty in 2017. She is directing and teaching in the Legal Research and Writing program and teaching advanced legal writing courses. Her research focuses on Evidence, Legal Methods, Legal Writing, and Learning Theories. In addition, she often writes for the Kansas bar.

Prior to coming to Nebraska Law, Professor Hayden was a Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Kansas, where she taught predominately litigation focused classes—Evidence, Lawyering Skills, Advanced Legal Writing, and legal-skills simulation workshops.  

In addition to her academic pursuits, Professor Hayden served, or continues to serve, on the Federal Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel, the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity, the Kansas Land Trust, the Kansans Advancing Women Political Action Committee, and the Willow Domestic Violence Center. Professor Hayden continues with representation in court, most often in an amicus curia.

Before entering academia, Professor Hayden served as chambers counsel to Judge Carlos Murguia of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas and was an associate in business litigation for Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Kansas City, Missouri. She has extensive experience in civil and criminal law, litigating in both state and federal courts.

Professor Hayden received bachelors of art degrees in Sociology and Criminology from the University of Kansas. She graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Courses

  • Legal Research and Writing Law 513/G-514/G
    The emphasis of this course is on the development of legal research and writing skills; writing is the lawyer’s most commonly used skill, and effective writing rests on effective research. Communicating like a lawyer, however, means not only communicating professionally but also conducting oneself ethically. In addition to providing sustained and intensive instruction on legal research and writing, this course introduces students to many facets of professionalism and to the skills necessary to make ethical and professional choices.

Articles
  • 3 Kansas Law and Practice: Lawyer’s Guide to Kansas Evidence  (5th ed. 2017-18 Supplement), publication pending

  • Effectively Mentoring New Attorneys: Connecting Law School Experiences to Law Practice,  86(APR) Journal of the Kansas Bar Association 19 (Apr. 2017)

  • 3 Kansas Law and Practice: Lawyer’s Guide to Kansas Evidence  (5th ed. 2016-17 Supplement)

  • Knowing Your Audience In An Ever-Changing Social Media World,  85(JAN) Journal of the Kansas Bar Association 10 (Jan. 2016)

  • This Year's Resolution: Instilling Faith in the American Justice System,  84(JAN) Journal of the Kansas Bar Association 12 (Jan. 2015)

  • Lawyer Speak: Plain English,  83(APR) Journal of the Kansas Bar Association (Apr. 2014)

  • Give Your Writing (The Right) Personality,  82(APR) Journal of the Kansas Bar Association 14 (Apr. 2013)

  • Keep Your Briefs Brief,  81(JUN) Journal of the Kansas Bar Association 12 (Jun. 2012)

Presentations
  • Moment of Opportunity: Using skills and experiential learning pedagogy to enhance the curriculum and the status of your legal writing program, Central States Legal Writing Conference, panel presentation, September 2015

  • LRW: It's more than the memo, University of Michigan Law School Legal Writing Institute one-day workshop, panel presentation, December 2013

  • Conservation Easement Enforcement & Case Law Developments, Conservation Easements: Protecting Landowners’ Interests C.L.E., October 2013

  • Incorporating Lawyering Skills in the LRW Classroom, Central States Legal Writing Conference, September 2013

  • Lessons from Simulation Courses: Providing Effective Feedback in Real Time, co-presenter, Central States Legal Writing Conference, September 2013

  • Getting the Most out of the Re-Write: Using Class Time To Digest Feedback, Association of Legal Writing Directors Innovative Teaching Workshop, June 2013

  • Conservation Easements, Return to Green Hall C.L.E., May 2013

  • Summary Judgment: More than you ever wanted to know, Kansas Bar Association Annual Meeting, June 2007

Other
  • Date: Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Education

  • J.D., The University of Kansas School of Law (2001)
  • B.A. in Sociology and Criminology, The University of Kansas (1998)

Areas of Expertise