Adjunct Professor Positions - Independent Study: The Profession

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Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles invites applications for adjunct professor positions to teach the two-unit Independent Study: The Profession course in one of the following practice areas: Criminal, Civil, and Entertainment Law Litigation. The adjunct faculty will teach and guide students through practice-based writing projects designed to simulate the work of a first-year associate. The course will run from April through September 2025.

The adjunct teaching position involves creating a comprehensive hypothetical problem, including realistic legal issue(s) and a fact pattern for the students to research and analyze. In addition to other course components, students will draft both a legal memorandum and a persuasive brief based on the hypothetical problem. The adjunct faculty will be responsible for guiding students through the research and analysis, providing substantive feedback to students, and modeling effective and professional legal practice. The adjunct faculty will help students develop professional habits and strong legal analysis and writing skills. The adjunct faculty will work closely with the SCALE Office, Southwestern’s two-year accelerated law program, in developing and teaching the course. This position requires the adjunct faculty to teach in both physical and virtual classroom spaces. 

Southwestern seeks candidates who are passionate about teaching and mentoring students, have excellent written and oral communication skills, are highly organized, and enjoy creating educational materials that translate professional experience into engaging and impactful instruction. Candidates must hold a J.D. degree and be admitted to practice law in a jurisdiction of the United States, have significant practice experience in the relevant area (Criminal Law, Civil Litigation, or Entertainment Law), and have a proven track record of mentoring and providing constructive feedback.

Compensation

Adjunct faculty who have not previously taught this course will receive a one-time course preparation stipend in the amount of $2,000. Compensation to teach the course will be $4,000. Enrollment is expected to be 16-18 students. Enrollment will be capped at 20 students.  

To apply

 Send your CV and a cover letter outlining your teaching philosophy and experience in the relevant practice area via email to academicadmin@swlaw.edu and put “Adjunct Professor Application – Independent Study” in the subject line of the email. Review of applications will be ongoing until the positions are filled. Interviews will be held via Zoom.

Southwestern is an ABA-accredited, independent law school located in the center of Los Angeles. Our mission includes educating lawyers ready to serve clients, the profession, and our society with excellence, empowering students to reach their potential, cultivating inclusion and belonging, and shaping the law and public policy through teaching, scholarship, and service. Southwestern’s Mission and Core Values can be found here.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis now and in the future.

This posting is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for performing the job. It is not a contract or employment agreement and should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of all functions, responsibilities, or requirements an adjunct faculty member may be required to perform. Also, Southwestern reserves the right to revise the job description at any time.