Politics Department : Legal Studies Program Teaching Professor (Initial Review Date Nov. 14, 2025)

Position overview

Position title :

Assistant Teaching Professor, Associate Teaching Professor, or Teaching Professor

of Legal Studies

Salary range :

A reasonable estimate for the academic-year (nine-month basis) annual salary is $95,000-$170,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Percent time : Full-time (100%)

Anticipated start :

July 1, 2026, with the academic year beginning in September 2026. Degree requirements must be met by June 30, 2026 for employment effective July 1, 2026 and beyond.

Application Window

Open date : August 6, 2025

Next review date : Friday, Nov 14, 2025 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date : Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Legal Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for the position of Teaching Professor (open-rank) in Legal Studies. The successful candidate will be a faculty member in the Politics Department and have primary teaching responsibilities in the Legal Studies Program.

The Legal Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate major, administered by the Politics Department, which seeks to integrate the study of law and legal issues through the contributions and insights of the diverse disciplines of the social sciences and humanities. While the specialization is open, we welcome candidates in law and society whose education, professional activities, and teaching combine law and policy from a comparative or international perspective, or with a focus on the United States.

The selected candidate will offer six courses per year across three quarters, including a mix of introductory and upper-division lectures, core courses, electives, and seminars. The teaching professor will also mentor undergraduates in Legal Studies, sustain research or other professional activity, and contribute service to the Legal Studies Program and the wider profession. The teaching professor may have the opportunity to serve on PhD committees in Politics and, if they wish, teach up to two courses for additional compensation during Summer Session.

UC Santa Cruz is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) with a high proportion of first-generation students. We welcome candidates who understand the historical barriers that exist in higher education and who can clearly articulate how their teaching, mentoring, creative / professional activity, and service contribute towards building a just scholarly community.

The Assistant Teaching Professor title confers the rights and responsibilities of membership in the UCSC and UC Academic Senates. Appointees to this title are eligible for promotion to Security of Employment, which is analogous to tenure. The Associate Teaching Professor and Teaching Professor titles confer the rights and responsibilities of membership in the UCSC and UC Academic Senates, and appointees to these titles have Security of Employment which is analogous to tenure.

Legal Studies Program : https : / / legalstudies.ucsc.edu /

Politics Department : https : / / politics.ucsc.edu /

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

(required at the time the application is submitted)

JD / PhD or PhD in legal studies, law, law and society, political science, or a related field in the social sciences or humanities. Equivalent foreign degrees are applicable. For applicants to the Assistant Teaching Professor rank, your application materials must document that your projected date for completing your degree will be on or before June 30, 2026.

• Demonstrated record of teaching that includes a minimum of one year of college-level teaching (three quarters or two semesters) in legal studies, law, law and society, political science, or a related field in the social sciences or humanities.
• Professional and / or scholarly record that includes publications; grants; awards; fellowships; organizing workshops; and / or participation in conferences, workshops, or summer schools.

Your application must document that you meet all basic qualifications at the time of submission. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter

Teaching Statement - Statement of teaching experience, interests, and plans appropriate for the students at UC Santa Cruz . Refer to the teaching statement guidelines and evaluation criteria .

Statement of Professional Activity and / or Scholarly Activity - A statement that summarizes your professional and research / creative activities and plans relevant to the advertised position.

Sample Course Syllabus (1 required)

Sample Course Syllabus (1 of 2 optional) (Optional)

Sample Course Syllabus (2 of 2 optional) (Optional)

Course Evaluations (1 required)

Course Evaluations (1 of 2 optional) (Optional)

Course Evaluations (2 of 2 optional) (Optional)

Reference requirements

Applicants must provide the names and contact information of their references (a minimum of three [3] are required and a maximum of five [5] will be accepted). The hiring unit will request confidential letters

Apply link :

https : / / recruit.ucsc.edu / JPF01985

Help contact : hclausni@ucsc.edu

About UC Santa Cruz

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

APM - 035 : Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at jobaccommodations@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4602.

Notice of Availability : In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), UCSC publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report . This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check . The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz, as outlined in campus policy CAPM 102.530 .

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our institution.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work / life balance.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and / or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

VISIT UC Santa Cruz

Job location

Santa Cruz, CA