Poly(γ-stearyl-α,L-glutamate) were characterized by conventional static light scattering and gel permeation chromatography with light scattering to elucidate the solution properties of the polymer. Polarizing light microscopy revealed three distinct phases of the polymer in solution: 1. the isotropic phase, in which the molecules are randomly oriented and no liquid crystals are present; 2. the biphasic region, where both liquid crystalline and the isotropic phases occur in equilibrium; and 3. the liquid crystalline phase, which is cholesteric due to the monomer chirality.