Professor of Legal Writing
Capital University Law School is hiring a full-time Professor of Legal Writing to begin in August 2024. A successful candidate will teach in the Legal Research and Writing program each semester, including at least one section of the legal research and writing course for first-year law students. The legal research and writing course for first-year law students is a two semester, four-credit course that introduces students to the fundamentals of legal reasoning, legal research, legal writing, and oral advocacy. Day students enroll for 2 credit hours in both the fall and spring semesters, and evening students enroll for 2 credit hours in the spring and 2 credit hours in the summer. The legal writing faculty works collaboratively as a team to continually improve and deliver the program to best meet the needs of students.
Following the first-year course, students further develop their legal reasoning, research, writing, and oral advocacy skills in upper-level courses. A successful candidate will also teach upper-level courses as part of their course load, possibly including:
Legal Drafting Practicum (two credits): The law school offers several drafting practicums that give students the opportunity to develop their legal reasoning, research, and writing skills in their choice of practice area. The curriculum in each practicum integrates theory with practice and exposes students to the types of documents frequently prepared in that practice area. All drafting practicums include instruction on the Multistate Performance Test portion of the Bar exam. Students must complete a legal drafting practicum in their last year of law school.
Appellate Advocacy (two credits): This course introduces students to appellate practice. Students develop written and oral advocacy skills through writing an appellate brief and preparing oral arguments.
The position is a full-time non-tenure-track faculty position. Under the Law School’s personnel procedures, a full-time non-tenure-track faculty member such as a legal writing professor is initially considered for reappointment on a yearly basis. A legal writing professor is first eligible to be considered for a long-term renewable contract in the faculty member’s fourth year of full-time teaching at Capital. Legal writing faculty members participate fully in faculty governance, including serving on Law School and University committees and having full voting rights on all matters (including hiring) at faculty meetings except for reappointment, tenure, and promotion of tenure-track faculty.
Legal writing faculty are expected to work full time at the law school. Candidates must be available to teach both day and evening-division students, as needed.
Legal writing faculty work collaboratively as a team, but develop their own course materials, including lesson plans, supplementary readings, in-class exercises, and more complex research and writing assignments. Materials and assignments must comply with the program’s overall policies and guidelines. Legal writing faculty provide extensive critique of their students’ research and writing projects and meet with students in individual conferences outside of class time. They also hold weekly office hours to address general questions and concerns.
Applicants must have a J.D. degree and strong academic credentials, as well as at least three years of law practice experience. Applicants also must have strong interpersonal skills and be able to work both independently and collegially as part of a team.
Capital University is committed to increasing the diversity of the Capital community and curriculum. This commitment includes Capital’s dedication to the development of faculty and staff who are committed to inclusive practices in teaching, learning, working and all other campus and community interactions. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are particularly encouraged to apply.
Capital University Law School is located in downtown Columbus, Ohio, a vibrant city full of cultural and intellectual opportunities. Following its long-established mission of providing broad access to high quality legal education, the Law School has a student body rich in diversity, including students from a wide range of backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, ages, and religions, as well as many first-generation students.
Capital University offers a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, retirement, family education benefits, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance and free parking.
Application Process: Interested candidates should submit: 1) a curriculum vitae, including names and email addresses of three references, and 2) a letter of interest.
Please apply at: https://capital.applicantpro.com/jobs/
Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.
Preference will be given to applications submitted by May 28, 2024.
For more information on Capital University Law School, visit our website at www.law.capital.edu
Capital University is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive campus community. Capital University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion, sex, gender, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by the law.