Lecturer

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The University of Texas School of Law seeks to hire a legal-writing teacher for the 2023–2024 school year.  The person hired will teach two sections of Legal Analysis and Communication in the fall and two sections of Persuasive Writing and Advocacy in the spring.  Each section will have approximately 17 to 22 students.

The successful applicant will join the faculty of the David J. Beck Center for Legal Research, Writing, and Appellate Advocacy.  Job duties will include teaching classes, holding student conferences, training and supervising teaching assistants, creating writing problems, commenting on student papers, judging oral arguments, collaborating with the Beck Center on joint projects, and engaging in other forms of service to the Law School and University. The Beck Center faculty meet regularly to discuss issues relevant to teaching legal writing and will provide support and guidance for this position.

Applicants should have strong academic credentials, including a J.D. from an accredited law school, and proven expertise in legal writing.  Law-practice experience, which may include a judicial clerkship, is expected.  Experience teaching or working with students is valuable.

The position is at the University status of Lecturer, with a nine-month full-time appointment (September–May) that will pay $90,000+ (depending on experience), plus insurance and retirement benefits through the University’s generous benefits package.  The position is non-tenure track, with an initial one-year appointment followed by three-year rolling, presumptively renewable appointments. While renewal of the position is not guaranteed, long-term job security is the practice and the expectation. The position cannot lead to a tenure-track appointment.

The ideal candidate will be available to begin in August 2023, but we will consider applicants who cannot begin until later. To apply, submit a cover letter, résumé, law-school transcript, and writing sample by visiting https://account.interfolio.com/login?apply=123746

Applications will be reviewed as received, with priority consideration given to applications received by Wednesday, May 10, 2023.  After applications are reviewed, some applicants will be asked to critique a mock student paper.  Selection of candidates to interview will be based on the application and mock critique. 

Applications from members of groups underrepresented in the legal profession are encouraged.The University of Texas at Austin complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression, religion, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, genetic information, military service, or any other legally protected basis in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

The law school posting this job announcement complies with LWI’s non-discrimination policy.

1. The position advertised:

___ is a tenure-track appointment.

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

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

___ has an upper-limit on the number of years a teacher may be appointed.

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

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

The initial appointment is for one academic year.  The successful candidate will be eligible for three-year, rolling contracts after the initial appointment.

2. The professor hired:

_x__ will be permitted to vote in faculty meetings.

___ will not be permitted to vote in faculty meetings.

The position is eligible for University voting rights, with exceptions, after two or more years of academic service.

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 $140,000

___ $130,000 - $139,999

___ $120,000 – $129,999

___ $110,000 - $119,999

___ $100,000 - $109,999

_x__ $90,000 - $99,999

___ $80,000 - $89,999

___ $70,000 - $79,999

___ $60,000 - $69,999

___ less than $60,000

___ this is a part-time appointment paying less than $40,000

___ this is an adjunct appointment paying less than $10,000

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

____ 30 or fewer

____ 31 - 35

__x__ 36 – 40

__x__ 41 - 45

____ 46 - 50

____ 51 - 55

____ 56 - 60

____ more than 60

Enrollment varies.  This spring, the writing lecturers had an average of 37 students each.