Job Description
The Fowler School of Law at Chapman University invites applications for one or more tenure-track faculty positions, to commence in August 2027. The appointment will be made at either the Assistant or Associate Professor rank, commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Chapman University is a nationally ranked, R2 Carnegie Classified, private institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. Chapman’s campuses are home to nearly 10,000 students representing 50 states, three territories, and 78 countries. The 11 schools and colleges of Chapman, including the Fowler School of Law, offer 65 bachelors, 53 masters, and six doctoral programs, along with nearly 60 minors and 17 accelerated and bridge programs. Classes are taught by the more than 1,100 dedicated faculty members who are leaders in their fields, including a Nobel Prize recipient, MacArthur Fellows, National Medal of Science honorees, and Emmy, Grammy, and Academy Award winners.
Chapman University's Dale E. Fowler School of Law is an ABA-accredited, private law school located on the main campus in Orange, California, 35 miles south of Los Angeles.
The law school's high-caliber faculty includes three former U.S. Supreme Court clerks, a Nobel Prize winner, a former five-term U.S. congressman, and a former general counsel for a major Hollywood studio. The Fowler School of Law emphasizes personalized legal education. We are a strong academic community with connections to local, regional, national, and international lawyers' associations, a very high bar passage rate, a great record of students' employment after graduation, a low student-to-faculty ratio, curricular offerings with breadth and depth across multiple areas of specialty, and interscholastic moot court, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution teams ranked among the top of national law schools. Students especially value close connection with their professors, a vibrant and engaged co-curricular environment, and a technologically modern facility (including an electronically cutting-edge trial courtroom) located in easy walking distance to the coffee shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions of Old Towne Orange and Orange County, California. Responsibilities:
- Engage in scholarly research, leading to publications in high-quality journals.
- Teach a range of courses that reflect the specialty interests of the candidate and the needs of the law school.
- Actively contribute as an integral member of the Fowler School of Law faculty by engaging in department and university service as expected of an Assistant or Associate Professor.
- Plan, develop, and deliver high-quality courses.
- Offer regular office hours to provide students with opportunities for one-on-one consultations, academic advising, and clarification of course materials.
- Contribute to the overall mission of the institution by attending faculty and student meetings and supporting campus-wide initiatives and events.
- Serve on academic committees and task forces within the institution, contributing to discussions and decisions related to academic policies, curriculum development, and trends in the law.
Tenure-track faculty members are evaluated on their scholarship, teaching, and service.
Qualifications
Qualified candidates in any area of academic specialization will be considered. Candidates with research and teaching interests in Torts, Civil Procedure, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Employment Law, and Property are especially welcome — but candidates outside those fields are very much encouraged as well. Entry-level candidates should demonstrate potential for strong teaching and scholarship.
Candidates must have outstanding academic credentials, including:
- J.D. from an accredited law school or an equivalent degree (such as a Ph.D. in a related field).
- A record of scholarly achievement or the potential thereof. While previous publications in academic journals are not required, the candidate must have high desire and likelihood to be a productive scholar.
- A record of effective teaching or the potential thereof.
For appointment as Associate, a candidate should have published at least two academic articles of high merit in a law journal or equivalent outlet and demonstrated experience as a teacher, though these are not absolute requirements and equivalent experience can be considered.
Application Instructions
Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following electronically:
- Letter of application
- Curriculum Vitae
- Reprints of publications or other examples of scholarly work (no more than three)
- Representative sampling of teaching evaluations or statement of teaching philosophy/experience for those without teaching experience
- A list of 3 professional or academic references (references will not be contacted until a candidate is a finalist for the position and the candidate is notified in advance).
Inquiries can be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Professor Tom Campbell at tcampbell@chapman.edu Please use "Tenure-Track Faculty Vacancy" as the email subject line. All inquiries and applications are confidential as allowed by state and federal law.
Application reviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Salary is $140,000-$165,000 and will be commensurate with appointment rank, experience, and internal equity. This position is contingent on final budget approval. Successful completion of a background check is required for the final candidate.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
