Description

The Department of Political Science & Legal Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences at Suffolk University invites applications for a full-time tenure track Assistant Professor position in our Undergraduate Law program beginning July 1, 2025.  We are seeking a teacher scholar with a research program focused on equity and inclusion in the law that may include a specialization in Constitutional Law, civil rights law, criminal procedure, environmental racism, immigration law or public health law or another field of law. 

Candidates should provide evidence of commitment to excellent teaching and scholarly potential, including a research agenda and plans for publication in legal journals or peer-reviewed journals in law and public policy. The Undergraduate Law Program prepares students for law school and careers as non-lawyer legal professionals.  The Department includes undergraduate majors in Political Science, International Relations and Undergraduate Law, a Paralegal Studies Certificate and Associates Degree Program (for Non-Lawyer Legal Professionals) as well as Master of Arts degrees in Applied Public Policy and Global Public Policy.  Preference will be given to those who have experience teaching legal research and writing and working with paralegals and/or supervising legal staff. Candidates should be able to contribute to the core curriculum and first year seminar program.  In addition to demonstrating excellence in teaching and research, the successful candidate is expected to advise and mentor undergraduate students, and engage in service with the department, college and university.  The workload for this position is 45% teaching, 35% research, and 20% service with a 5-course teaching load per year.

Suffolk’s Political Science & Legal Studies Department’s faculty are teacher scholars with a strong commitment to student development by providing high quality instruction to a diverse student body.  Faculty in the department are award-winning teachers recognized for innovative pedagogical practices, community leaders civically engaged in advancing social justice, internationally recognized policy and political consultants and active researchers and scholars. Initiatives such as Suffolk Votes, the non-partisan university-wide initiative to raise political awareness and impact by increasing student voter participation, reflect the department’s key role in Suffolk’s Community Engagement Carnegie Classification. Department faculty take advantage of our location in the heart of Boston to design exciting real-world learning opportunities at the Court House and the State House. Close connections with Suffolk Law School, which has top-ranked skills clinics, provide students in the Undergraduate Law program with rich pre-professional opportunities as does our thriving Center for Restorative Justice.

The successful candidate will contribute to a rich tradition of community-engaged teaching and experiential education that prepares our diverse, substantially first-generation college students—40% of whom are Pell eligible—for careers and civic engagement. The successful candidate will have a commitment to inclusive pedagogy and curricular diversity, mentoring and advising students—especially first-generation college students—as well as conducting impactful research.  We seek candidates excited about centering best practices pedagogy focused on active, applied and experiential learning in their teaching; a commitment to ongoing and continuous improvement in teaching is expected.  Familiarity with and experience using pedagogical methods that enable students across racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and ability groups to reach their maximum potential is a valuable qualification. 

Not sure this is you? Contact us to find out! Research indicates that women and members of marginalized populations tend not to apply to jobs when they think they do not meet the qualifications, when, in fact, they often do.

Suffolk University is dedicated to a diverse and inclusive academic community. Diversity, equity and inclusion are woven into our fabric.  Founded in 1906 to provide access to legal education during the evening for individuals who might not otherwise have been afforded that opportunity, Suffolk University consistently seeks to advance its history and mission as a school of access and opportunity.  This mission is lived through our decisions at every level.  U.S. News ranked Suffolk University among the top 100 universities in the country for social mobility.  Suffolk was also listed 14th nationally in percentage of international students.  Through student, faculty and staff recruitment and support, community engagement, curriculum development, and research, the University community works to advance equity for every student, every day.  Learn more about how we manifest the core values of our mission at Suffolk DEI.   

Candidates must hold a JD (combination JD and PhD in a relevant field also invited) by the commencement of the 2025-26 academic year.  Experience teaching undergraduates is preferred. 

Completed submissions should include: cover letter; CV; law school transcript; Teaching Philosophy; Diversity Statement; a statement of research interests and agenda; student course evaluations (if available); and a list of references.  For full consideration, applications should be submitted by November 1, though applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Initial interviews will be via Zoom followed by on-campus interviews.

Suffolk University is a private, comprehensive, urban university located in downtown Boston and is an equal opportunity employer committed to faculty diversity. Candidates from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Suffolk offers substantial employee benefits, including retirement benefits, tuition remission for employees and their families, tuition exchange program with participating institutions, as well as health, dental, and life insurance, commuter benefits, and a strong employee assistance program.  Learn more about CAS faculty here.  To learn more about the Political Science & Legal Studies Department visit our website. Inquiries about the position should be addressed to Professor Brian Conley, Chair of the Political Science & Legal Studies Department at bconley@suffolk.edu. 

Suffolk University does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, genetic information, or status as a veteran in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs, activities, or employment. As an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, the University is dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive faculty and staff that reflect the broad range of human experience who contribute to the robust exchange of ideas on campus, and who are committed to teaching and working in a diverse environment. We strongly encourage applications from groups historically marginalized or underrepresented because of race/color, gender, religious creed, disability, national origin, veteran status or LGBTQ status. Suffolk University is especially interested in candidates who, through their training, service and experience, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the University community.