John Schunk joined the Santa Clara Law faculty in 1996. He served as the acting director of Santa Clara’s Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing program and as the faculty advisor to its Honors Moot Court Board from 2001-2004.

Prior to beginning his teaching career, Schunk served as a panel attorney for the Sixth District Appellate Program from 1991-2000, accepting appointments to represent indigent criminal defendants before California’s Sixth District Court of Appeal. In 1991, Schunk opened his own law practice in Santa Clara County. He practiced trial and appellate litigation, including civil and criminal appeals and writs, wrongful termination claims, real property issues, and soil and groundwater cost-recovery actions. After graduating from law school, Schunk joined Ball, Hunt, Hart, Brown & Baerwitz (now known as Carlsmith Ball) in Southern California as an associate attorney in its litigation department, where his practice focused on business and real property litigation.