Daniel A. Austin

Professor Austin teaches bankruptcy and commercial law. He has written articles on consumer and business bankruptcy, as well as two books, Graduating with Debt: Student Loans Under the Bankruptcy Code and Reaffirmation Agreements in Consumer Bankruptcy Cases. In addition, he served as a contributing editor to Norton’s Bankruptcy Law and Practice (third edition), and as a contributing author to Newberg on Class Action (third edition).

Professor Austin’s research interests include pensions and retiree healthcare in business bankruptcy, constitutional and jurisdictional issues in bankruptcy law, and the metrics and impact of debt and personal bankruptcy. In addition to his legal background, Professor Austin holds a PhD in political science, a subject he has taught at the college level.

Prior to joining the law faculty in 2009, Professor Austin worked for 16 years as a bankruptcy and commercial law attorney, representing a range of clients from individuals to Fortune 500 corporations. From his years in legal practice, Professor Austin has reached the conclusion that the legal profession must do more to make legal services more affordable and transparent to clients. Professor Austin strives to instill this philosophy in his teaching.