"Assistant Professor of Law (Tenure Track)"

Assistant Professor of Law (Tenure Track)

Willamette University School of Law invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position beginning in the fall of 2026. The School of Law is located in Salem, Oregon, steps away from the Oregon State Capitol and a short distance from the Portland metro area, the mountains, and the coast.

The primary responsibility of the faculty member will be to instruct students in courses regarding legal doctrine in areas as assigned, incorporating where possible experiential components into that instruction. The faculty member will also be expected to make progress toward promotion and tenure through the successful development and placement of legal scholarship. We have a particular interest in faculty teaching and conducting scholarship in Environment Law, Energy and Sustainability, Intellectual Property (patent/copyright), Torts, ADR, and Labor & Employment and Civil Rights.

Essential Duties:

• Teach 10-13 credits of substantive courses (generally two classes per semester) in areas of law as determined at the time of hire and in subsequent coordination with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Law. Teaching includes developing syllabi that comply with School of Law expectations, identifying materials for courses, providing classroom instruction, offering formative assessments with timely feedback, and offering and timely submitting final assessments and grades in courses in a manner consistent with learning objectives.
• Design and offer courses that include substantial experiential components which offer students the opportunity to learn skills specific to the practice of law.
• Work closely with students inside and outside of the classroom, while maintaining professionalism and appropriate demeanor that encourages learning and student professional development.
• Work with staff in order to address issues of student support and concern connected with classroom instruction.
• Serve on law school and university committees.
• Participate in student, faculty, and schoolwide activities (such as colloquia, workshops, lectures, and occasional other meetings).
• Pursue an intellectually rich, creative, and intensive program of academic scholarship that informs the faculty's classroom teaching, scholarly reputation, and the reputation of the School of Law.
• Other duties as assigned in cooperation with the administration of the School of Law.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Law degree required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• A genuine enthusiasm for legal scholarship and participation in the academic life of the School of Law.
• A genuine enthusiasm for student success, and an ability to be empathetic towards students with academic challenges.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality on sensitive issues.
• Ability to work independently as well as establish and maintain harmonious relations with staff, faculty, students and professionals in the community regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, ethnicity, job status, or other background.
• Competence in the use of computer for word processing and electronic communication.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior published scholarship in the candidate's area of interest.
• Teaching experience in an ABA-accredited law school.
• Prior experience as a licensed attorney in the practice of law, including being licensed in the Oregon State Bar and/or having the ability to waive into the Oregon State Bar under reciprocity rules.

Applications should be received by November 1, 2025 for full consideration. If you have questions about the position, please contact Aaron Simowitz, Chair, at asimowitz@willamette.edu.