Political Science/Legal Studies Lecturer

Apply now Job no:522578
Work type:Faculty Full Time
Location:UMass Amherst
Department: Political Science
Union: MSP
Categories:Faculty, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth’s flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Description

The interdisciplinary Legal Studies Program of the Department of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is accepting applications for a full-time (academic year) non-tenure track lecturer. We welcome applications from scholars whose teaching and research focuses on law and society in the Global South, specifically, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and/or the Middle East. The successful candidate will offer courses that take a regional approach to law and society (e.g., Law and Society in Africa), and/or courses that focus on a substantive area (e.g., gender, sexuality, punishment, Indigenous rights, property law, policing, etc.) with a focus on the Global South.

This is a one-year position, with the expectation of renewal based on programmatic needs, funding, and the candidate’s performance. It is expected to start on September 1, 2024. The teaching load for the position is 3-3, including upper division classes of the successful candidate’s choosing, as well as the potential for joining the Introduction to Legal Studies course rotation. Teaching decisions will be made in consultation with the Director of the Legal Studies Program.

The successful candidate may also participate in the New Directions in Law and Society Conference, to be held on the UMass Amherst Campus on September 27, 2024.

Requirements

Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. in Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology, or other applicable discipline by the appointment start date.

Additional Information

Legal Studies at UMass is the oldest undergraduate liberal arts program for the study of law and society in the country, and the only one in New England at a public university. The Program is housed in the Department of Political Science and maintains its own distinct undergraduate major. The expanding Legal Studies Program is a center for ambitious intellectual activity and research that addresses important questions about the place of law in societies around the world while helping to produce the next generation of social science law and society scholars. The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is the institutional home of the Law and Society Association , the world’s premier interdisciplinary legal studies organization.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following:

• a letter of interest
• curriculum vitae (CV)
• evidence of quality teaching (such as a teaching statement and/or summaries of teaching evaluations)
• names and contact information for three references who are willing to submit letters upon request through the UMass online application system.

Inquiries about the position can be addressed to Rebecca Hamlin, Director of Legal Studies ([email protected] ).  Review of applications will begin April 1, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. 

The University is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members. Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the University’s goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individual’s record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic career and degree.