The Illinois Academic Fellowship Program helps new legal academics
obtain tenure-stream faculty positions at U.S. law schools. In recent years,
our fellows have obtained tenure-stream positions at the University of
California-Irvine, Indiana University-Bloomington, the University of Arizona,
the University of Alabama, McGeorge School of Law, the University of Nebraska,
Cardozo School of Law, and other institutions.
Fellows spend one or two years in residence at the College of Law researching
and writing under the close mentorship of Illinois faculty, teaching one course
per semester, and fully participating in the College’s famously rich
intellectual environment. Fellows are treated like tenure-stream faculty
although with a light teaching load and no administrative responsibilities.
Fellows are provided with the support and counseling necessary to the
development of a serious scholarly portfolio. By the end of the program, we
expect fellows to be competitive for tenure-track positions at leading law
schools.
Applications for the Illinois Academic Fellowship Program are invited from law
school graduates as well as Ph.D. recipients or candidates in any field who
have a sustained academic interest in the law’s interaction with their
discipline. Applicants may be in the final stage of a doctoral program, recent
graduates, or individuals completing a judicial clerkship or employed in legal
practice. Fellows will be chosen on the basis of an assessment of their
potential, with appropriate support and mentoring, to obtain a tenure-track
position at a leading U.S. law school.
Fellows will teach one class per semester. Depending on the interests of the
fellow, the teaching package may include traditional law school courses across
the full range of the curriculum and seminars that focus on the fellow’s own research
areas. Each fellow’s teaching package will be designed to provide meaningful
preparation for the academic job market and to complement the current writing
projects of the fellow, subject to the curricular needs of the College of Law.
The exact courses assigned are ultimately in the discretion of the Dean of the
College of Law.
This is a nine-month (paid over twelve months), 100% time, visiting appointment
that is typically renewed for the second year of the fellowship assuming
satisfactory performance of assigned duties. Salary is commensurate with
experience, ranging from $68,500 - $72,000. The expected start date is as soon
as possible after 8/16/2027. Fellowships are not tenure-stream positions.
The College of Law is accepting applications for fellowship positions for the
2027-2028 academic year. Applicants should submit a cover letter, a CV, a
research agenda, and a list of three references at https://humanresources.illinois.edu/job-seekers/
Applicants should submit
their materials by the application deadline, November 20, 2026. We expect
interviews to take place starting in December 2026.
This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on November 20, 2026. We expect interviews to take place starting in December 2026. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Tish Howard at lehigh@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career — along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.
Faculty Recruitment
Champaign-Urbana
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or accessibility@illinois.edu
Requisition ID 1037924
Job Category Faculty
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu
