"Clinical Assistant Professor, Law - Fall 2026"

The University of Tennessee College of Law is accepting applications for our new Clinical Teaching Fellowship to begin on August 1, 2026 as a Clinical Assistant Professor. This fellowship is funded for 2 years with the potential option of a third year. The position will prepare talented lawyers and aspiring clinicians with more than 2 years of practice experience to become full-time clinical faculty at U.S. law schools. The Clinical Assistant Professor will work alongside and learn from current full-time clinical faculty who teach in the College of Law’s Legal Clinic. The Clinical Assistant Professor will be immersed in all aspects of clinical teaching, from learning clinical pedagogy to supervising law students on their casework. The UT Law Clinical Assistant Professor will also develop a research agenda and begin working on a scholarly article in preparation for entering the law school teaching market.

We seek a Clinical Assistant Professor to work with one of the following Clinics:

(1) The Advocacy Clinic, which provides direct legal services to clients in a range of litigation including civil, juvenile, and criminal cases. A more detailed description can be viewed at https://law.utk.edu/clinics/.

(2) The Transactional Law Clinic, which provides direct legal services to small businesses, nonprofit organizations, community-based associations, entrepreneurs, and artists. A more detailed description can be viewed at https://law.utk.edu/clinics/.

Key Responsibilities

The UT Law Clinical Assistant Professor will directly supervise J.D. students enrolled in either the Advocacy Clinic or Transactional Law Clinic. Initially, the fellow will work with a clinical faculty member to co-supervise second- and third-year law students, ensuring the students provide high-quality client representation and are prepared for graduation and practice. Later in the fellowship, the fellow will supervise students on their own. The fellow will also work with full-time faculty in teaching the clinic’s seminar by preparing class instruction and leading exercises, discussions, and clinical rounds related to the students’ casework. The fellow will also assist with casework during the semester and provide summer case coverage. Finally, the fellow will work with faculty mentors to develop a research plan and to produce an article of publishable quality.

The anticipated salary for this position is $85,000.00.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• J.D. or equivalent degree.
• At least two (2) years of practice experience in relevant areas of law.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interest in clinical teaching.
• Membership in a U.S. state bar and willingness to petition for admission to the Tennessee Bar prior to the start date of the fellowship. Tennessee allows lawyers teaching in a law school clinical program to waive into the bar.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Teaching, training, or supervision of law students or early-career lawyers.
• Experience with relevant civil, criminal, or juvenile matters as preparation for teaching in the Advocacy Clinic or experience with relevant transactional matters as preparation for teaching in the Transactional Law Clinic.
• A commitment to public interest work.

Applications must be submitted through Interfolio. Applicants should submit:

1. a resume,
2. the names and contact information for at least three (3) references, and
3. a letter of interest describing (a) why you are interested in the fellowship; (b) what you can contribute to the clinic in which you are interested; (c) your experience with the area(s) of law in which the clinic practices and with public interest/social justice work; (d) your future professional goals; and (e) anything else you deem relevant.

Deadline: While applications will be considered on a rolling basis, preference will be given to applications received before March 15, 2026. For questions, please contact Director of Clinical Programs Joy Radice at jradice@utk.edu.