Assistant Professor (Law)
Description
Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School is a dynamic, small public law school embedded in an R1 institution that provides its students with an optimal mix of theoretical and experiential educational opportunities in a student-centered environment to prepare them for a changing legal profession in a global environment. SIU Simmons Law School seeks to fill a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin on August 1, 2027.
The Law School welcomes candidates of any subject-matter background or research interest. Preference will be given to candidates whose teaching or research interests include one or more of the following areas: constitutional law, technology and artificial intelligence in law, legislative and administrative law, legal writing, tax and transactional law, business law, trusts and estates, evidence, family law, professional responsibility and ethics, and experiential learning courses. Other courses are dependent on the needs of the institution and the candidate's expertise.
This position is represented by SIU Carbondale Faculty Association/IEA-NEA. For more information regarding salary and other details please visit: https://laborrelations.siu.edu/labor-contracts.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.
Examples of Duties
The duties and responsibilities of these positions include, but are not limited to, the following functions, which are not listed in any particular order of significance:
- Articulating and implementing course learning objectives, providing classroom instruction, implementing the Law School's required assessments, and providing timely feedback on assignments.
- Coordinating with other faculty members, including those who teach Lawyering Skills and Academic Support to actively help students succeed in law school and pass the bar exam.
- Engaging in indirect teaching (outside the regular classroom), which includes but is not limited to engaging with students individually to provide academic counseling on progress towards course learning objectives and assisting students with co-curricular activities such as law journal, moot court, and mock trial.
- Regularly producing rigorous scholarship sufficient to meet the Law School's tenure and promotion standards.
- Engaging in faculty governance by service on committees as assigned by the dean and providing other service to the Law School and other constituencies such as the University, the legal academy, the legal profession, and the local community.
- Maintaining professionalism and an appropriate demeanor that encourages learning and maintaining harmonious relations with staff, faculty, students and professionals in the community regardless of their race, color, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), religion, national origin or ethnicity, disability, economic status, job status, or other background.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must possess a Juris Doctor, LLM, or SJD degree from an ABA-accredited law school, held for at least three years at the time of appointment, and must be admitted to a state bar (active or inactive status). Applicants must also have an outstanding law school academic record, excellent oral and written communication skills, and a genuine enthusiasm for student success.
Preferred Qualifications: Five years of professional experience, teaching experience, and a record of publication.
Required Documents: Submit a letter of application, CV, please include proof of admission to a state bar (active or inactive), and three references.
Contact: Angela Upchurch, aupchurch@siu.du
University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). These benefits include: Health Insurance plans (HMOs, OAPs, QCHP and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts, MCAP and DCAP, and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.
Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois.
Other benefits available to eligible employees include: Generous paid time-off, 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans, and Employee Assistance Program.
SIUC also provides extensive tuition benefits for its employees and their families such as: tuition waiver/application fee waiver for the employee and their dependents, a Legacy tuition rate for children of SIU Alumni, and Civil Service Employee Counsel (CSEC) Education Assistance Program (EAP).
For more information please visit: https://hr.siu.edu/benefits/


