Clinical Assistant Professor- Legal Practice, Law School

Clinical Assistant Professor
- Legal Practice, Law School

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Founded in 1859, Michigan Law School is one of the world's leading institutions of legal education and enjoys a reputation for academic excellence. Michigan is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the nation, and enjoys international renown for its intellectual rigor, stunning physical surroundings, preeminent faculty scholarship, and a community noted for collegiality and warmth. Michigan Law has an exceptional and cooperative community of talented and interesting students.

Our commitment s to collegiality, to constructive and challenging debate, and to enabling our students to pursue a wide range of options explain why the Law School has long been committed to diversity along many dimensions. Our graduates serve with distinction in the private, public, non-profit, and academic sectors, in large numbers in every major market in the nation, as well as internationally.

The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is considered among the best places in the United States to live and work.

The University of Michigan Law School seeks applicants for the position of Clinical Assistant Professor of Law to teach in our Legal Practice Program, beginning in the  academic year. We hope to hire multiple people.

Legal Practice is a first-year, five-credit, two-semester series of courses. The courses integrate legal analysis, research, writing, advocacy, and other aspects of the practice of law. Legal Practice faculty typically teach two sections, with each section meeting twice a week. Each section usually has 20-22 students. Faculty members generally have a similar number and scope of assignments but have flexibility in designing the details of the course.

Upper-class students assist faculty teaching the Legal Practice course. Legal Practice faculty may also be able to teach other courses at the Law School depending on coverage, interest, and curricular needs, including upper-level legal writing and other skills courses, but they are not required to do so.

In the fall semester, Legal Practice professors introduce students to basic lawyering skills including how to read, analyze, and synthesize cases, and how to use cases to predict the likely outcome of disputes. Professors also teach students basic research and citation skills. Finally, professors teach students how to draft predictive memos analyzing legal issues of increasing complexity. Professors review and provide extensive written feedback regarding students' work and meet individually with students to review their progress.
In the winter semester, professors typically teach the same students, continuing to develop the research, analysis, and writing skills introduced during the fall semester. In addition, students learn how to frame persuasive arguments in a brief, and oral argument. As in the fall, professors review and provide written feedback regarding students' work, and meet with students to discuss their progress. Professors also attend their students' oral arguments and introduce their students to additional legal skills, such as contract drafting and negotiation.
We are particularly interested in candidates with teaching experience in legal research and writing and welcome applicants at all career stages to apply.

A J.D. is required. Applicants must also have strong academic credentials, extensive legal research and writing experience, and excellent written and oral communication skills. The ideal candidate will have at least three years of legal experience following graduation from law school as well as prior teaching experience, but we encourage applications from all qualified individuals who are committed to legal teaching.

We welcome candidates with experience engaging with generative artificial intelligence tools in teaching, practicing law, scholarship, and/or related professional settings. Candidates should be able to articulate a thoughtful approach to integrating AI-related skills, ethical considerations, and professional applications into legal education.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

This position is a 12-month, full-time contractual appointment that can lead to a long-term clinical contract. Legal Practice faculty have governance rights that closely parallel tenure and tenure-track faculty. The salary range for this position is $105,000-$139,000. Compensation…