Scott is an oft-cited teacher and scholar in the fields of contracts, commercial law, and bankruptcy.
He has co-authored five books on contracts and commercial transactions, is the author of more than three dozen scholarly articles.
He also spearheaded the most ambitious building project in the School's history, a $30-million renovation of the David A. Harrison III Law Grounds, completed in 1997, followed by a $7-million law student-faculty meeting and dining center, completed in 2002 and named "Scott Commons."
In 2004, Robert Scott was recognized by the University of Virginia with its highest honor, the Thomas Jefferson Award for his "integrity and honor, bold and skillful leadership, unfailing civility, and uncompromising excellence, qualities that have distinguished Mr. Scott's tenure as dean and his thirty-five years of teaching and scholarship."
In 2007 Scott co-published an article with Alan Schwartz in the Harvard Law Review.