Marquette University Law School is thrilled to welcome Professor Jacob Hamburger, whose work tackles some of the most pressing legal questions of our time: Who shapes immigration policy in the United States and how do those decisions impact the lives of noncitizens? Blending legal scholarship with real-world experience, Professor Hamburger examines the ways that state and local governments influence the nation’s immigration system. From courtroom battles over federal policies to workplace protections for undocumented workers, his research brings fresh perspective to the legal structures that govern migration in America.
This fall, Professor Hamburger is teaching Immigration Law. In the spring semester he will teach Civil Procedure and a seminar on Immigration Federalism, offering students the chance to explore foundational legal principles alongside some of today’s most urgent legal questions. “Each subject we teach in law school is incredibly complex—it could take a lifetime to fully master,” he notes. “I see my role in the classroom as offering a starting roadmap. The most rewarding part is seeing students take that map and make it their own—or toss it out entirely as they discover new paths.”
A graduate of Columbia University and the University of Chicago Law School, Professor Hamburger brings both academic rigor and practical experience to the classroom. Before joining academia, he represented low-income immigrant clients at Legal Aid Chicago, an experience that informs his commitment to teaching with real-world relevance. He encourages students to embrace law school as a rare opportunity for intellectual exploration: “Push yourself to ask big questions. Study, read, and think deeply. This may be the last time in your career when you can focus entirely on learning.”
Professor Hamburger was drawn to Marquette Law School in part because of its deep ties to Milwaukee and its commitment to serving the broader legal community. “The Law School’s mission to support both public interest and private practitioners was a huge draw,” he says. “It’s a place where the connection between scholarship, teaching, and community impact is taken seriously.” Milwaukee itself was also a major factor. Having grown up just south of the city in the Chicago suburbs, he was excited to return to the Lake Michigan shoreline. “I’ve been continually impressed by Milwaukee’s unique character and quality of life—it’s a wonderful place to live and work.”
Professor Hamburger’s scholarship has been published or is forthcoming in the Duke Law Journal, the Washington University Law Review, and the Boston College Law Review, and he has written for and been cited in a range of media outlets. His work combines legal insight with a broader understanding of how immigration policy is made—and remade—across all levels of government. We’re thrilled to have him at Marquette.