PERSONAL STATEMENT
BY
JAMES J. MOYLAN
I can honestly say that I never thought about teaching until my Junior Year in Law School at the University of Denver - College of Law.
I was focusing on what type of law I wanted to practice upon graduation. I began my analysis with the process of elimination. I knew I did not want to practice: Tax Law, or Property/Real Estate Law, Estate Planning - (Wills and Trusts), Labor Law, etc.
I then began to think about: "What courses did I like? What was I good at? Which courses seemed logical? Well, I liked the Corporations Law class. My Father spent practically his entire career at IBM. I absorbed a lot about the corporate organization and how it operates by just being my Father's son. But Corporate Law seemed pretty broad. I really need to narrow it down and find a specialization. Wait a minute - corporations offer and sell stock! There must be some laws regulating the offer, sale and trading of stocks.
A Ha! There are several Federal Securities Laws that regulate transactions in securities. Unfortunately, the University of Denver - College of Law, had never offered a course in the Securities Laws, Federal or State (Colorado.)
Then, a miracle happened. A D.U. Law graduate of several years prior went to work for the U.S. Securities Commission in Washington, D.C. He was returning to Denver to start a law practice. To establish himself in town, he offered to teach a class in Securities Regulation as an Adjunct Professor for the Summer Quarter at D.U. Law School in 1971. I immediately signed up for the class.
Within 3 classes, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I went to the Professor and told him so. His response was: "You 'ace' the course and I will write a letter of introduction for you to my superiors at the Division of Trading and Markets. It will get you in the door, but then you are on your own."
Needless to say, I threw myself into studying for the class and was obsessed with studying Securities Law that Summer. Happily, I did: "ace" the course and the Professor kept his word. I made the pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., (like so many other Law Students of that era), and, fast forward, I was offered a position as a Trial Attorney in the Division of Enforcement, (the new name for the Division of Trading and Markets), at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, ("SEC"), in Washington, D.C.
After my three-year stint with the SEC, we moved to Chicago, where I became Assistant General Counsel at the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Inc.
Impressed with what my Adjunct Professor did at the D.U. Law School, I wanted to emulate him, and also "give back." I began calling Law Schools in the Chicago area offering my services as an Adjunct Professor in Securities Regulation.
I was hired by IIT Chicago-Kent, College of Law in the Evening Division for the Fall Semester in 1976. I taught Securities Regulation at Chicago-Kent every Fall Semester, (except 2 Semesters during that time when there was a Visiting Professor who taught the Class), until 2002.
I absolutely loved teaching as an Adjunct Professor. The reviews from my students were always "top drawer."
Thereafter, I developed a course in Securities Litigation.
Fast forward to my move to Colorado. I now teach Securities Regulation and Securities Litigation from time to time, at my Alma Mater, the University of Denver - College of Law, as an Adjunct Professor.
I have also taught almost every course offered in the Para-Legal Program at Colorado Mountain College, including, but not limited to: Contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure, Business Organizations, etc.
I also teach various subjects, solo or as a panel participant, for various Continuing Legal Education Programs, in person and "virtually."
Again, I love to teach, whether it be in a class-room, or one-on-one in a tutoring environment. I am energized through my interactions with my students and have developed many strong, long-lasting friendships and relationships with many students over the years.
Respectfully submitted,
James J. Moylan