Job Description

The First Amendment Clinic invites applications for a Career-Track Faculty position as an Assistant Teaching Professor with a business title as Stanton First Amendment Fellow. This is a one-year position, starting as soon as possible, running until May 2027, with the possibility of renewal after that. This position is grant-funded. The purpose of the fellowship is to enable an experienced lawyer to shift gears and develop new expertise in First Amendment litigation.

ASU Law launched a First Amendment Clinic in 2018. The clinic trains law students to promote and defend free speech interests by taking both ordinary cases that will help students develop their skills and impact litigation that aims to extend First Amendment precedent in the courts. The clinic takes on a wide array of cases and controversies, including defense against libel claims, access to courts, opposing prior restraints and subpoenas of journalists, and defending the civil rights of those censored by the government. The fellow works with students daily on all of the clinic’s projects.

Qualifications

Essential Functions

• Litigating: Take an active role in litigating state and federal court cases with student assistance.
• Training: Take an active role in training the clinic students in research, writing, oral advocacy, and other litigation activities.
• Teaching: Assist with teaching students about a First Amendment practice.
• Professional Engagement: Take part in occasional professional activities such as presentations and broader engagement in the legal academic community.

Required Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school (or equivalent degree in law-related area) and an active bar membership,
• Practical law experience, including through a clinic, and
• Experience in docket management and in conducting discovery.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years of law firm experience,
• Interest in developing First Amendment litigation experience,
• Ability to manage clinic students and
• Capacity to work in a collaborative law clinic.

Application Instructions

To apply, applicants must submit:

• Letter of interest
• C.V.
• Minimum of two professional references.

All application materials must be submitted via Interfolio in order to be considered. The initial application deadline is March 31, 2026 Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they are received until the position is filled.

Additional information about the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and Arizona State University is available at law.asu.edu Information about Professors at ASU, including status, rank, titles, and appointment categories, can be found in the Academic Affairs Manual

If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact Gregg Leslie, Professor of Practice and Executive Director, First Amendment Clinic, at Gregg.Leslie@asu.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

A background check is required for employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.