"Adjunct Instructor, Asylum and Refugee Law, College of Law"

Job Overview

The University of Cincinnati College of Law, an ABA-accredited law school, seeks lawyers and judges to teach an Asylum and Refugee Law course to students on a part-time basis during Spring 2026. This course will provide students with the fundamentals of Asylum and Refugee Law in the United States, the policies underlying Asylum and Refugee Law, and the federal agencies that implement and enforce those policies. The course will trace the history and development of the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1967 Protocol, and the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980. Students will become familiar with the key actors in the Asylum and Refugee Law arena, including the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the U.S. Congress, the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, and the federal courts. Students will gain an understanding of the refugee definition as interpreted in the U.S.

The course will address the limits of Refugee Law and will assess the current asylum system from both a practitioner’s and a policy perspective – contextualizing Asylum law within the need for international and domestic policymakers alike to meet obligations under international conventions while maintaining national security, including addressing the challenges of terrorism and transnational crime.

The law school’s adjunct faculty, drawn from the region’s most distinguished jurists and practitioners, offers a wealth of practical experience and special expertise to our students. The law school uses adjuncts to enrich the curriculum with specialized courses, unique perspectives, and more choices than we might otherwise offer. With adjunct faculty, students can experience different pedagogical approaches and gain access to leading practitioners and judges. Adjunct faculty are also valuable in teaching about newly emerging or rapidly changing areas of law. Adjunct professors are part-time, non-tenure/tenure track employees who teach specific courses during specific semesters as agreed. The College is currently seeking applicants to teach Asylum and Refugee Law.

Essential Functions

• Prepare for your course, which includes preparing the syllabus, selecting any unique teaching materials, selecting books for student purchase, preparing course materials and assessments/exams, and devising lesson plans. Syllabi include course descriptions, learning objectives, assessment/exam dates, teaching and exam policies, required and recommended materials, assignments, and College/University policies.
• Provide a classroom environment conducive to learning.
• Teach the assigned course(s) using pedagogical and other teaching methods fairly and effectively.
• Track student attendance and refer students to the Administration if required for attendance and/or performance issues.
• When appropriate, use the institution’s learning management platforms (Canvas) to post assignments, syllabi and other reference materials, and to communicate with students.
• Read submitted student work and assessments/exams and provide written comments to students in a timely manner to provide feedback on performance.
• Establish and meet with students during “office hours” to provide individualized direction and assessment of progress.
• To ensure the proper number of teaching hours is completed, work with Administration to schedule make-up classes for any cancelled classes.
• Grade all mid-term and final exam papers/exams, and other assessments as appropriate and in accordance with the College’s rules and submit those grades per timelines established by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
• Review student-completed course evaluations to analyze student perceptions of your teaching and to provide insight into possible teaching improvements.
• Adhere to all University and College of Law policies.
• Complete all employment documentation and any required trainings.

Minimum Requirements

• Hold the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school or the equivalent.
• Five years post-J.D. work experience in legal practice or a related field, though exceptions will be made for an applicant with fewer years of experience when that person co-teaches with someone who has the minimum experience.
• Communicate effectively.
• Maintain professional composure and demeanor at all times.
• Promote vision, mission, and core values of the College.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Prior teaching experience is desirable, but not essential. Applicants, however, must demonstrate evidence of teaching potential.
• Face-to-face instruction is the default mode of teaching, though the College will approve distance learning instruction under conditions outlined in its Distance Learning Policy.

Application Information

Applicants should submit a cv, a list of course(s) and/or area(s) of teaching interest, and a cover letter. This posting is not a guarantee of an open position. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a continual basis. Kimberly D. Bailey, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, baile2kr@uc.ucmail.edu

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. Highlights include: Comprehensive Tuition Remission, Robust Retirement Plans, Real Work-Life Balance, and Additional Benefits. For more details, visit the UC Benefits page.