Professor Shih-Chun “Steven” Chien teaches and writes in the areas of criminal law, criminal procedure, professional responsibility, evidence, comparative law, and empirical legal studies. His interdisciplinary research -- grounded in doctrinal, comparative, and empirical methods -- examines prosecutorial and police discretion, police interrogation practices, Miranda warnings, prosecutor socialization, and institutional reforms in law enforcement. He publishes in both English and Mandarin, offering sociological and historical perspectives on the legal profession and criminal justice systems. 

Before joining Boyd Law, Professor Chien served as Assistant Professor of Law at Cleveland State University College of Law (2022–2025) and as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. He was also a Research Social Scientist at the American Bar Foundation in Chicago, where he led empirical research on the legal profession. His major project, Portrait Project 2.0: Asian Americans in the Legal Profession, investigates how self-selection and structural bias shape professional outcomes for Asian American lawyers.

Professor Chien has collaborated with justice system stakeholders across jurisdictions. He has advised prosecutors' offices on post-conviction review, asset forfeiture, and data-informed prosecution strategies. As a fellow with Fair and Just Prosecution, he focused on wrongful convictions and Conviction Integrity Units. He has also worked with Taiwan’s Academy for the Judiciary, designing courses on the U.S. criminal justice system, and served on San Francisco’s Street Violence Response Team. His work bridges empirical inquiry and real-world reform to promote fairness and accountability in criminal justice.