Associate Professor/Professor

The University of Kansas School of Law invites applications for both entry-level associate professor and lateral tenure-track/tenured professor candidates for one position to begin in the fall of 2027. Our primary curricular needs are in 1L and core upper-level courses. We invite a plurality of scholarly agendas, methodologies, and perspectives, ranging from traditional doctrinal to empirical to critical-analytical to interdisciplinary scholarship.

This position is subject to a collective bargaining unit between The University of Kansas and United Academics, that UAKU is the exclusive representative for the bargaining unit, and that it is their right to be a member or not be a member of a union without fear of personal or professional repercussions.

KU Law ranks among the top 50 law schools in the nation and lands at #24 among public law schools according to recent U.S. News & World Report Rankings. Law faculty are active scholars, researchers, and subject matter experts in their fields. KU ranks #19 among public law schools for scholarly impact. Many professors are authors of textbooks and casebooks used in classes at KU and in law schools across the U.S. and overseas.

KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.

The University of Kansas is a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive university with a $2.7 billion endowment and a faculty of 3,571. Current enrollment is 31,169 (22,544 undergraduate). Students come from 116 nations and all 50 states; 26.6% of KU students are members of minority groups. The 1,000-acre main campus is in Lawrence, a community of 96,000 in hilly northeast Kansas that lies about 35 miles west of Kansas City. Lawrence has a lively downtown and a thriving arts and music scene, and its local government has enacted ordinances supporting equality for all members of its population. Lawrence also offers numerous sports and recreational opportunities, local shops, and a wide range of good restaurants.

40% - Classroom teaching and counseling students

• Teach courses in the School of Law to meet the needs of the School.
• Mentor law students.
• Provide academic advising to law students.
• Hold regular office hours.

40% - Conducting and publishing research

• Demonstrate sustained productivity through publications and presentations for national and international academic and professional audiences.
• Participate in scholarly workshops at the School of Law.

20% - Providing service to the law school, university, and the legal profession.

• Participate in the regular academic activities of the School of Law, including attending faculty meetings, actively participating in faculty hiring, completing committee assignments, and attending major School of Law functions.
• Provide general service to the School of Law and University.
• Participate in professional service within the legal academy or legal profession, such as committee work for local, regional, national, or international professional associations like the Association of American Law Schools, the American Bar Association, or state and local bar associations.

COLLEGIALITY – Faculty members are expected to meet satisfactory standards of performance in all three areas of responsibility and to carry out those responsibilities in accordance with the Faculty Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.

Associate Professor
1. J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school (or an equivalent degree),
2. Demonstrated strong scholarly potential and a commitment to excellence in teaching.

Professor
1. J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school (or an equivalent degree),
2. Demonstrated outstanding scholarly career and a history of effective teaching and substantive service

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have the foundational knowledge and skill set required to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is based on accreditation requirements, institutional standards of academic and professional excellence, alignment with peer institution benchmarks, and contributes to the credibility and effectiveness of the role within the university community

The Faculty Appointments Committee will begin reviewing applications on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Initial interviews will be conducted via Zoom. We will review candidate materials posted in the AALS Faculty Appointments Register (FAR), and also invite applications from candidates not participating in the FAR. We will conduct finalist interviews on the Lawrence campus.

Applications must be submitted online at:

• https://employment.ku.edu/academic/33253BR

A complete application should include the following:

• Cover letter that specifies subject matter teaching interest(s)
• CV or resume
• Detailed statement of research interests and future plans
• Writing sample
• Names of three references.

Materials such as teaching evaluations or additional samples of scholarly work may be requested of candidates at a later date. Although later applications may be considered, for the fullest consideration, applications from candidates not participating in the FAR should be submitted by September 8, 2026. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

Professor Kyle Velte
Faculty Appointments Committee
University of Kansas School of Law
1535 W. 15th Street
Lawrence, KS 66045
kvelte@ku.edu

Commensurate with experience

Tuesday September 8, 2026

Wednesday August 18, 2027