Professor of Legal Writing

LEGAL WRITING FACULTY POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF LAW

The University of Pittsburgh School of Law invites applications for one or more full-time faculty positions at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor of Legal Writing. The position is part of a system of contracts progressing to presumptively renewable long-term contracts, separate from the University’s tenure stream. 

Pitt Law’s legal writing program develops the legal analytical skills of students and equips them to write and speak clearly and persuasively, in a manner appropriate for different audiences and purposes in law practice. The first-year Legal Analysis & Writing course spans two semesters, typically including “objective” writing assignments in the fall and persuasive writing assignments and oral argument in the spring. The course typically also encompasses related skill sets, including client interviewing and negotiation, among others. While the course covers the basics of legal research and includes open-resource assignments, students are separately required to take a one-credit course on the fundamentals of legal research, taught by library faculty, in the spring semester of their first year.

Legal Writing faculty members typically teach two small sections of first-year Legal Analysis and Writing in the fall and spring (approximately 15-20 students per section), for a total of four credits for each section. They may also teach upper-level writing courses and may have some administrative duties. Legal Writing faculty have the opportunity to shape the future direction of the Legal Writing program and the law school more broadly as a full participant in faculty governance at Pitt Law. 

Minimum requirements for the position include a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school, excellent writing skills, and an outstanding academic record. Experience teaching legal writing and law practice experience are preferred. Candidates should be able to work effectively with a wide variety of students and have an interest in developing legal writing experiences for law students within a community that supports collaboration and innovative teaching. Candidates are encouraged specifically to share their vision and ideas for teaching legal writing amidst the changes and uncertainties that generative AI brings to legal education and practice.

To apply, please provide a letter of interest, CV, and list of three references addressed to Professor Ben Bratman, Chair, Appointments Committee, at law-appointments@pitt.edu. Write “Legal Writing Faculty Application” in the subject line of the email. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

Pittsburgh is ranked among the most livable cities in the country, offering 90 unique neighborhoods, a variety of cultural and recreational activities, and an affordable cost of living. It boasts a vibrant modern economy, driven to a significant extent by Pitt and its neighbor, Carnegie Mellon University. The city is defined by its unique topography, including the three rivers and over 400 bridges. 

The University of Pittsburgh is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO/M/F/Vets/Disabled). Recruitment is subject to approval by the University’s Provost and final budgetary confirmation.

LWI DISCLOSURE FORM --

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. 

Check here XX if the law school posting this job announcement complies with LWI’s non-discrimination policy. 

For each question below, at least one option must be checked, but you may also check all options that apply. However, 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: 

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

2. The title for the position advertised will be: 

XX  Professor of Legal Writing 

XX   Assistant Professor of Legal Writing 

XX   Associate Professor of Legal Writing 

Please use this space to provide additional information about the title for the position:  

Entry level and lateral candidates will be considered                                                                                                                                                       

3.The professor hired: 

              XX will be permitted to vote in faculty meetings. 

          Please use this space to provide additional information about the extent of the professor’s voting rights: 

Eligible to vote on all matters except for selected personnel matters: promotion of tenure-stream faculty and promotion of equivalent or higher ranked appointment-stream (non-tenure) faculty. For example, an associate professor of legal writing would not be eligible to vote for another associate professor of legal writing’s promotion or associate clinical professor’s promotion to full professor but would be eligible to vote on an assistant professor of legal writing’s promotion or assistant clinical professor’s promotion to associate professor, or on any new permanent faculty hire. 

4. The school anticipates paying an annual academic year base salary in the range checked below. (A base salary does not include additional stipends for coaching moot court teams, teaching an overload, teaching in summer school, a scholarship grant, funding for conference travel, other professional development funds, etc.) 

          XX $130,000 - $139,999 

          XX $120,000 – $129,999 

          XX $110,000 - $119,999 

          XX $100,000 - $109,999 

          XX $90,000 - $99,999 

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

XX 36 – 40   

XX 41 – 45 

Please use this space to provide additional information about teaching load, including required or permitted teaching outside of the legal research and writing program: 

Typically, each section has 18-20 students but the number per section sometimes slightly exceeds 20, especially given that LLM students are enrolled in the JD Legal Analysis & Writing. Legal writing professors are permitted and generally encouraged to do other teaching, subject to interest and need, but are not required to do so.