Assistant Professor - Civil Rights - School of Law

Anticipated start date: July 1, 2027

About the role

Berkeley Law is one of the nation's great centers for legal education, exploring and pushing new intellectual boundaries while tackling urgent, real-world issues. The law school is known for its vibrant and engaged community of students and scholars committed to providing leadership and making a difference on problems of local, national, and global import. Currently ranked among the top law schools in the country, Berkeley Law has ambitious development goals as it looks to continue producing leaders in law, government, and society.

This position will advance the work of the Civil Rights Endowment, established to honor the life and legacy of Judge Thelton Henderson, whose career was dedicated to public service and the advancement of equal justice under the law. We welcome applications from scholars whose research focuses on Civil Rights, including but not limited to the study of identity and discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, religion, and disability, in domains that include voting rights, policing and prisons, and freedom of speech and expression.

Berkeley Law strives to educate responsible, effective, and forward-thinking advocates who serve the public through legal practice, public policy, academic scholarship, and related fields. The school addresses pressing societal challenges by leveraging its strengths in teaching and research to improve law, policy, and public institutions. At the heart of Berkeley Law's public mission is a commitment to access, affordability, and empowering students from all backgrounds to pursue impactful careers.

Responsibilities

• Advance rigorous legal scholarship and intellectual inquiry, particularly in civil rights.
• Teach and mentor students from diverse disciplinary, educational, and experiential backgrounds, including at least one first-year (1L) required course.
• Prepare students in legal theory, doctrine, and practice while engaging broader political, social, and economic contexts.
• Contribute to the Law School's public mission through excellence in scholarship, teaching, mentorship, and service.
• Address significant legal and societal challenges through research, teaching, and public engagement.
• Foster an equitable, inclusive, and interdisciplinary learning environment.
• Engage in service activities that support the civil rights community and align with the School's public mission.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application):

• Hold a J.D. or equivalent international degree by date of application, or
• Hold a Ph.D. or equivalent international degree.

Preferred qualifications:

• Ability to teach at least one first-year (1L) required course.
• Demonstrated ability to teach and mentor students from diverse backgrounds.
• Commitment to fostering an equitable, inclusive, and interdisciplinary learning environment.
• Demonstrated potential to contribute to the Law School's public mission through:
  • Advancing rigorous legal scholarship and intellectual inquiry.
  • Preparing students in legal theory, doctrine, and practice while engaging broader contexts.
  • Addressing significant legal and societal challenges through research, teaching, and public engagement.
• Experience or plans regarding public service involving civil rights or related issues.
• Alignment of prior and proposed academic, professional, and/or public service activities with the School's public mission, including efforts to remove barriers and support increased participation in the civil rights community by individuals from all backgrounds.

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae (most recently updated).
• Statement of Research, Teaching, and Service, including:
  • Discussion of scholarship, particularly work relating to civil rights (accomplishments and future plans).
  • Teaching experiences or plans, especially regarding civil rights subjects, and general approach to teaching and mentoring.
  • How your teaching aligns with the public mission, including working with diverse students and fostering an equitable and inclusive learning environment.
  • Service experience and/or plans, particularly public service involving civil rights or related issues, and alignment with the School's public mission.
• Job Talk Paper or Recent Publication (published or unpublished sample of scholarship).
• Authorization to Release Information Form (required if selected as a finalist).
• Three references (contact information only; references will be contacted only for candidates under consideration by the full faculty).

Pay

The current salary range for this position is $203,900 – $333,600 (9-month academic year salary). Off-scale salary and other components of pay, which may yield compensation higher than this range, may be offered to meet competitive conditions.

Additional Information

Berkeley Law is committed to addressing the family needs of faculty, including dual career couples and single parents. We welcome candidates who have had non-traditional career paths or who have taken time off for family reasons, or who have achieved excellence in careers outside academia. For more information on potential relocation or career needs of accompanying partners and spouses, visit New Senate Faculty | Office for Faculty Equity & Welfare.