Description:
About Willamette University:Willamette University, founded in 1842, is a nationally-renowned private university enrolling 2800 students across five colleges. Our historic campus, adjacent to the Oregon State Capitol, hosts a distinguished undergraduate liberal arts college in Salem, Oregon. Our downtown Portland campus is home to the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). We offer a wide range of professional graduate programs, including Oregon's top-ranked MBA program, the Northwest's oldest law school, as well as MA/MFA programs at PNCA and master's degrees in data science and computer science.
Willamette University provides a high-value and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our Benefits Summary (https://willamette.edu/offices/hr/benefits/index.html) includes options for health, dental, life insurance, retirement, substantial paid time off, tuition and more. If you need assistance applying for a job or have any questions on recruitment at Willamette, please contact our HR Department (http://willamette.edu/offices/hr/), hr@willamette.edu or call us at 503-370-6210.
Position Summary:
Willamette University School of Law invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position beginning in the fall of 2026. The School of Law is located in Salem, Oregon, steps away from the Oregon State Capitol and a short distance from the Portland metro area, the mountains, and the coast.
The primary responsibility of the faculty member will be to instruct students in courses regarding legal doctrine in areas as assigned, incorporating where possible experiential components into that instruction. The faculty member will also be expected to make progress toward promotion and tenure through the successful development and placement of legal scholarship. We have a particular interest in faculty teaching and conducting scholarship in Environment Law, Energy and Sustainability, Intellectual Property (patent/copyright), Torts, ADR, and Labor & Employment and Civil Rights.
Essential Duties:
The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following functions, which are not listed in any particular order of significance:
- Teach 10-13 credits of substantive courses (generally two classes per semester) in areas of law as determined at the time of hire and in subsequent coordination with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Law. Teaching includes developing syllabi that comply with School of Law expectations, identifying materials for courses, providing classroom instruction, offering formative assessments with timely feedback, and offering and timely submitting final assessments and grades in courses in a manner consistent with learning objectives.
- Design and offer courses that include substantial experiential components which offer students the opportunity to learn skills specific to the practice of law.
- Work closely with students inside and outside of the classroom, while maintaining professionalism and appropriate demeanor that encourages learning and student professional development.
- Work with staff in order to address issues of student support and concern connected with classroom instruction.
- Serve on law school and university committees.
- Participate in student, faculty, and schoolwide activities (such as colloquia, workshops, lectures, and occasional other meetings).
- Pursue an intellectually rich, creative, and intensive program of academic scholarship that informs the faculty's classroom teaching, scholarly reputation, and the reputation of the School of Law
- Other duties as assigned in cooperation with the administration of the School of Law.
Minimum Qualifications:
Any combination of education, training or experience that provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential functions of the position.
- Law degree required.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- A genuine enthusiasm for legal scholarship and participation in the academic life of the School of Law.
- A genuine enthusiasm for student success, and an ability to be empathetic towards students with academic challenges.
- Excellent organizational and planning skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality on sensitive issues.
- Ability to work independently as well as establish and maintain harmonious relations with staff, faculty, students and professionals in the community regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, ethnicity, job status, or other background.
- Competence in the use of computer for word processing and electronic communication.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior published scholarship in the candidate's area of interest.
- Teaching experience in an ABA-accredited law school.
- Prior experience as a licensed attorney in the practice of law, including being licensed in the Oregon State Bar and/or having the ability to waive into the Oregon State Bar under reciprocity rules.
Willamette Community
Willamette University believes that education is better when it happens in a community that reflects the wide range of perspectives, background, and experiences that our students interact with and enter into after graduation. Believing that diversity contributes to academic excellence and to rich and rewarding communities, Willamette is committed to recruiting and retaining candidates who demonstrate potential for growth and success as a teacher and scholar on an inclusive and diverse campus.
Salary is commensurate with experience
You will need to upload the following documents as part of your application materials in the "My Experience" section labeled “Resume:”
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Research agenda, writing sample, and at least three references
Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications should be received by November 1, 2025 for full consideration. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
If you have questions about the position, please contact Aaron Simowitz, Chair, at asimowitz@willamette.edu.
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Background Check Requirement:
All University positions require that candidates submit to a criminal conviction record check prior to hire. Conviction does not automatically preclude candidates from being hired. Nature of conviction will be considered relative to the duties of the position.
Reasonable Accommodations Statement:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Instructions for Applicants:
Please read the following carefully before beginning the online application process. To be considered for employment at Willamette University, please complete our online employment application. Your application and all required attachments -- listed at the bottom of the page -- must be submitted for each individual job post that you are interested in applying. Once you submit your application you will not be able to edit your application.