Professor Carlson is the author of more than 50 articles on the subjects of debtor-creditor law and legal philosophy. He was editor-in-chief of the Hastings Law Journal and an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

He recently published a revision of Gilmore's classic treatise, now titled Gilmore and Carlson on Secured Lending: Claims in Bankruptcy. Professor Carlson teaches Debtors' and Creditors' Rights, Distressed Real Estate, Hegel's Logic, and Property.

He holds a BA from University of California at Santa Barbara and a JD from Hastings College of Law, University of California.