Nadav Shoked
Professor of Law
Nadav Shoked is a property law and local government scholar who joined Northwestern Law in 2012. He holds an LL.B. summa cum laude from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he was ranked first in his class, and earned his LL.M. and S.J.D. from Harvard Law School as a Fulbright Scholar. His scholarship focuses on the law and theory of property, the institutional design of local governments, and American legal history. He has written influential histories of special districts and school districts.
Teaching Style
Professor Shoked brings historical depth and theoretical rigor to his Property and Local Government courses. He uses the Socratic method to push students to question foundational assumptions about property rights and local governance structures. His classes are known for their intellectual ambition, often connecting current property law doctrines to their historical origins and theoretical justifications. He challenges students to think critically about seemingly settled concepts like adverse possession and municipal authority.
Cold Call Tips
- 1Understand the historical evolution of the property doctrines you are studying, not just the current rules
- 2Be prepared to discuss the theoretical justifications for different property rules
- 3For Local Government Law, know the basic structures of municipalities, special districts, and school districts
- 4Think about how property law serves public interests, not just private ownership rights
Areas of Expertise
Education
- S.J.D., Harvard Law School
- LL.M., Harvard Law School
- LL.B., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, summa cum laude
Notable Publications
- Property Law's Search for a Public (Washington University Law Review)
- Who Needs Adverse Possession? (Fordham Law Review)