Legal Writing Faculty (Teaching Professor Track)

The University of Colorado Law School invites applications from entry-level and lateral candidates for a full-time legal writing faculty member to begin at the start of the 2024-25 academic year. The initial appointment is for a one-year contract. If review at the end of the first year results in retention, subsequent contracts will be for three years.

We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ people, veterans, and others whose background, experience, and viewpoints would contribute to the diversity of our faculty.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

We are an engaged, diverse, and inclusive community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who help one another succeed. Our selective admissions process keeps our student body small, enabling our faculty, staff, alumni, and community to invest deeply in each student’s success, while preserving space for innovative faculty research. Because we take our responsibility to educate and train future lawyers very seriously, our curriculum, research centers, and experiential learning opportunities are designed to prepare students for success in today’s changing legal environment. Our law school, located in one of the happiest, healthiest corners of the country, offers all members of our community top-quality engagement with the legal academy paired with top-quality of life.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The legal writing faculty includes seven full-time legal writing professionals. This position requires the faculty member to teach Legal Writing I during the fall semester and Legal Writing II during the spring semester to approximately thirty first-year law students. The faculty member will also be required to teach one upper-level writing course for 2-3 credits. Small sections allow the faculty members to guide their students' development of skills in legal analysis and writing through close feedback on frequent written work and individual conferences with students. Legal writing faculty members prepare lectures and discussions for classes each week, design writing projects, grade and critique several writing assignments each semester, and meet with students individually several times during the semester.

The workload for this position is 80% Teaching / 20% Service:

• Teaching (80%): Faculty members are expected to teach an annual workload of three courses or 6-7 credits per academic year and to provide instruction and student advising as assigned by the Dean or their delegate. Classroom instruction responsibilities include holding class for the entire period for which the class is scheduled (including the final examination period) and evaluating students' work and assigning grades consistent with the policies of the Law School and University. Ongoing curriculum development and planning is also an important component of teaching.
• Service (20%): Faculty members are expected to engage in service to the institution. University service involves membership in departmental, college-level and university committees, attending departmental meetings, student recruitment, processing routine paperwork such as filling out reports, answering email, and participating in surveys as appropriate.

What We Can Offer

The salary for this position is $75,000 - $100,000 per Academic Year. Onboarding assistance is available within School of Law guidelines.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be innovative. Be engaged. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• We seek candidates with great potential for, and/or records of, engaged legal writing teaching, and that have strong analytical, writing, and research skills. At least two years of legal practice or two years of experience teaching legal writing (or related subjects) is required. Candidates must hold a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school or equivalent degree in a related field.

What We Would Like You to Have

• A distinguished academic record.
• Demonstrated experience teaching law students.
• The demonstrated ability to work and develop curricula collaboratively with doctrinal faculty members. Colorado Law is considering proposals to integrate legal writing courses with other courses throughout the law school curriculum.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Cover Letter that specifically addresses the job requirements and outlines your qualifications.
2. Current resume/CV.
3. Diversity & Inclusion Statement (describing how your teaching and service would contribute to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at Colorado Law School. This may include any relevant experience related to how your background “affected [your] life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise”).
4. Teaching Statement (describing your approach to legal education).
5. Writing Sample(s).

Should your candidacy advance, you may be asked to provide a list of references who may be contacted for letters of recommendation.

For full consideration, candidates should apply by September 30, 2023, although we recommend that you submit your materials as soon as possible.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

For questions, please contact Professor Megan Hall, Chair, Legal Writing Appointments Sub-Committee, at megan.hall@colorado.edu.