Assistant Professor (Teaching)

Wayne State University Law School invites applications for an Assistant Professor (Teaching) to teach jointly in our J.D. Legal Research & Writing Program and our Non-J.D. Programs (including our MSL and LL.M. programs).  The position entails teaching a combination of first-year J.D. Legal Research & Writing at the Law School and research/writing courses in our Non-J.D. Programs. Applicants must have a J.D. degree and a strong academic record. Ideal candidates should have demonstrated excellence in legal writing; one year of court clerkship, practice experience, and/or experience teaching legal writing; and a passion for teaching future legal advocates.

Wayne State University is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity, and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities and prepares students for success in a diverse, global society. WSU encourages applications from women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups. WSU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

Candidates should send a cover letter, CV, writing sample, a list of references, and any other relevant materials to Professor Sarah Abramowicz, Teaching Faculty Committee Chair, at sabramowicz@wayne.edu.

Legal Research & Writing Faculty Teaching Position

Job Posting Disclosure Form for the LRWPROF-L Listserv

The completed form must appear within the body of an E-mail posting about a posting, and the completed form must be included within the text of any file attachment. 

Check here [X] if the law school posting this job announcement complies with LWI’s nondiscrimination policy.   

That policy provides: “The Legal Writing Institute is committed to a policy against discrimination and in favor of equal opportunity for all of its members regardless of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.” 

At least one option must be checked for each of the remaining four items below; but all options for any item may not be checked to avoid giving a specific answer, or in an effort to avoid specifying a legitimate range.  Space is provided for additional textual explanations after each item.   

1. The position advertised:

__   a.   is a tenure-track appointment.

X.   b.   may lead to successive long-term contracts of five or more years. 

 __   c.   may lead only to successive short-term contracts of one to four years. 

  __   d.  has an upper limit on the number of years a teacher may be appointed.

  __   e.  is part of a fellowship program for one or two years. 

  __   f.   is a part-time appointment, or a year-to-year adjunct appointment. 

Additional information about job security or terms of employment, any applicable  term limits, and whether the position complies with ABA Standard 405(c):  

2. The professor hired:

  X   a.   will be permitted to vote in faculty meetings.

__    b.   will not be permitted to vote in faculty meetings.

Additional information about the extent of the professor’s voting rights:

The professor will not be allowed to vote on promotion and tenure matters or on the hiring of tenure track candidates.

3. The school anticipates paying an annual academic year base salary in the range checked below.  (A base salary does not include stipends for coaching moot court teams, teaching other courses, or teaching in summer school; a base salary does not include conference travel or other professional development funds.)

___ over $120,000 

___ $110,000 - $119,999 

___ $100,000 - $109,999

___ $90,000 - $99,999 

___ $80,000 - $89,999 

  X    $70,000 - $79,999

  X    $60,000 - $69,999

___ $50,000 - $59,999 

___ less than $50,000 

___ this is a part-time appointment paying less than $30,000

___this is an adjunct appointment paying less than $10,000 

Additional information about base salary or other compensation:

Salary is not anticipated to exceed $70,000

4. The number of students enrolled in each semester of the courses taught by the legal research & writing professor will be:

   X   a.   30 or fewer

 __   b.   31 - 35 

__   c.   36 - 40

 __   d.   41 - 45 

 __   e.   46 - 50

 __   f.    51 - 55 

 __   g.   56 - 60

 __   h.   more than 60

Additional information about teaching load, including required or permitted teaching outside of the legal research and writing program:

This is an estimate. The teaching load for teaching LRW within the J.D. program will be less than 30 students. The teaching load for teaching courses in the non-J.D. programs will vary depending on the courses taught. 

Note:  The Legal Writing Institute recommends that this disclosure form accompany all E-mail postings of teaching opportunities for legal research & writing professors sent to subscribers of the LRWPROF-L  listserv.  This form is not required for notices of academic support positions, for notices for writing specialists, or for other academic teaching opportunities, unless those positions require the teacher to teach courses required of a legal research & writing professor at the law school (however, we strongly encourage the optional use of the form for such appointments).