New Faculty
Prosecutor’s instincts, educator’s dedication
Before she ever stood at a teaching lectern, Tamika Moses stood before juries. As a federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia and the Eastern District of North Carolina, she spent years arguing the government’s case in high-stakes criminal proceedings. Today, as a new member of the Richmond Law faculty, she channels that legal experience into a different kind of advocacy: helping students find their footing in the law.
Moses’ path to academia was not a straight line as the COVID-19 pandemic prompted her to reassess her career transition.
“Every student can be successful in the classroom when they are given the appropriate tools.”
“Teaching was often at the top of my list of potential careers as I reflected on the law professors and mentors that guided me along my career path,” Moses says. In 2020, she taught her first course at North Carolina Central University School of Law. “I fell in love with the classroom,” she says. She became a fulltime professor the following year.
Moses’ teaching philosophy stems from her conviction that no student is beyond reach. “I believe that every student can be successful in the classroom when they are given the appropriate tools,” she says. To that end, she adapts her instruction to support multiple learning styles, drawing on polling questions, courtroom simulations, trial clips, and games like Hearsay Madness. “I like to keep things interesting!”
The shift from prosecutor to scholar also opened new avenues for her voice. As a federal prosecutor, she notes, “I often reserved my words for the courtroom.” Now, through legal scholarship, she can engage publicly with what she considers “some of the most pressing issues that impact criminal prosecutions today.”
To students learning to navigate today’s legal landscape, Moses’ counsel is direct: Think critically, know your ethical obligations, and care for yourself. “Lawyers uphold key pillars of democracy,” she says. She reminds them that “they are often given the power to impact various liberty interests,” and to be mindful of how they choose to wield that power.
Moses brings the same dedication to teaching that she once brought to the courtroom, saying, “I am excited to join this fantastic community of teacher-scholars, staff, and students.”