Benjamin David Pyle

Biography

Benjamin Pyle teaches and writes in empirical legal studies, employment law, and criminal law, with a particular focus on how the law influences employment prospects and post-conviction opportunities for people with criminal records.

He has published work in law reviews and peer-reviewed journals, including the Notre Dame Law Review and the International Review of Law and Economics. His research has won several prizes, including The University of Chicago’s Donald M. Ephraim Prize in Law and Economics and The John E. Parker Memorial Prize in Labor Economics and Human Resources.

In addition to theoretical and methodological contributions, Professor Pyle’s scholarly contributions have been relevant to legal practice. His work has been cited by advocates, judicial opinions, and policy makers. His work has been featured in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers journal, the Champion Magazine, as part of its Getting Scholarship Into the Courtroom Project. Professor Pyle’s work has been supported by grants from the Vital Projects Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the University of Michigan.

Professor Pyle has been active in providing research for the Criminal Justice Administrative Record System (CJARS) at the University of Michigan, a data infrastructure project revolutionizing research and statistical reporting on the US criminal justice system. He has also worked with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on federal employment of people with criminal records and “Ban-the-Box” policies and provided analysis and consulting for employment law cases to support expert witnesses. Professor Pyle has also worked with the National Employment Law Project on projects to improve the design and implementation of unemployment insurance systems. He has also worked with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Washtenaw County, Michigan Prosecutor’s office to improve local prosecutor data transparency.

Professor Pyle earned his JD from the University of Michigan, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and Order of the Coif. He will join Boston University School of Law with a Master’s degree and PhD in economics from the University of Michigan. In addition, he earned a BA, Magna Cum Laude, in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) and Mathematics from Claremont McKenna College.