Profile

Jessica Williams Schnelker

Visiting Assistant Professor of Law

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Lawrence W. Inlow Hall, Room 345
530 W. New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3225

Phone: (317) 278-3857
E-Mail: jschnelk@iu.edu

Bio

Education

J.D., Notre Dame Law School, cum laude
B.A., Purdue University, With Highest Distinction (Phi Beta Kappa)

Courses

Torts, Civil Procedure, Professional Responsibility, Behavioral Analysis of the Law

Bio

Professor Schnelker teaches Torts, Civil Procedure, Behavioral Analysis of the Law, and Professional Responsibility at IU McKinney School of Law. Prior to becoming a Visiting Assistant Professor at IU McKinney, Professor Schnelker spent over 10 years as a trial lawyer and amassed extensive experience representing businesses, schools, and public entities in a variety of state and federal litigation, including Section 1983, Title IX, catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and employment matters. She now actively uses this experience to enhance her teaching and scholarship, studying how legal rules influence litigants' behavior and decision making.

Publications

Law Review and Journal Articles

• De-Weaponizing Prison Transfers, 73.3 UCLA L. REV. (forthcoming June 2026).
• The Evolving State of Personal Jurisdiction in Indiana, 14 IND. CIVIL LITIGATION REV. 105 (2017) (with Kevin C. Schiferl).
• Cars of the Future: Product Liability Implications and Solutions, 12 IND. CIVIL LITIGATION REV. 103 (2015) (with Robert B. Thornburg).

Presentations

• To GPT or Not to GPT: Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Training Tomorrow’s Practitioners, Panelist at IU McKinney School of Law Ethics Presentation (October 17, 2024).
• Best of Both Words, Presenter at 2024 Online & Hybrid Learning Pedagogy Conference: Toward Defining Best Practices in Legal Education at University of Denver Sturm College of Law (September 27, 2024).
• Protecting Confidential Client Documents, Jessica Williams Schnelker, Presenter at DRI PRODUCT LIABILITY CONFERENCE in Austin, TX (February 8, 2019).
• Practical Advice for Handling the Discovery of Other Similar Incidents in Product Liability Actions, Jessica Williams Schnelker, Presenter at DEFENSE TRIAL COUNSEL OF INDIANA 22ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND MEETING (November 19, 2015).