Associate Professor (School of Law)

Position Summary: Washburn University School of Law invites applicants for one tenure/tenure-track position beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year. We are especially interested in candidates who would teach debtor/creditor, real estate transactions, property. Washburn Law has a unitary tenure track with scholarship support including summer writing stipends, year-round research assistants, and funding for travel to conferences. The appointment is subject to budgetary approval.

We seek engaging candidates whose performance to date has demonstrated effectiveness in teaching, scholarship, and service or the potential for achievement in each of these job functions. Each selected candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to pursuing teaching excellence at Washburn University, including a dedication to developing inclusive teaching practices that engage all learners.

The School of Law moved into its new, state-of-the-art building in July 2023. The building features classrooms equipped with up-to-date recording technology, including closed captioning; a green room recording studio; and beautiful trial and appellate courtrooms.

The Washburn campus is located blocks from the historic state capitol. Topeka features affordable housing; beautiful, historic neighborhoods with well-maintained parks; and a nationally recognized public library. It is also the home of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Site.

Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in the metropolitan setting of Topeka that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students. Washburn has a student body of over 5,500 undergraduate, graduate, and law students, a significant and growing number of whom are first-generation and Pell-Grant eligible. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a dynamic faculty, staff, and student body and cultivating a robust learning and working environment and curriculum. We employ more than one thousand faculty and staff on our campuses throughout Topeka and strive to offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, and a supportive culture and a healthy work/life balance. Washburn seeks to create an environment that reflects our core values for creating positive IMPACT: inclusion, modernization, partnership, achievement, community and transformation. In 2024, Washburn was recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to Great Colleges to Work For® program.

Essential Functions:
• The appointed hire will be responsible for fulfilling teaching expectations associated with a tenured/tenure-track professor appointment.
• The appointed hire will be responsible for fulfilling scholarship expectations associated with a tenured/tenure-track professor appointment.
• The appointed hire will be responsible for fulfilling service expectations associated with a tenured/tenure-track professor appointment.
• Perform additional job-related duties as appropriately assigned.

Required Qualifications:
• JD degree from an ABA-approved law school or international equivalent.
• Dedication to developing teaching practices that engage all learners.
• Demonstrated commitment to institutional service, whether university or practice related.
• Demonstrated potential for scholarship.
• Demonstrated dedication to developing inclusive teaching practices that engage all learners.
• Official educational transcripts required at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Record of practice, teaching, and/or scholarship in the areas of debtor/creditor, real estate transactions, property.

Special Instructions to Applicants: Questions pertaining to this position may be directed to Professor Emily Grant at [email protected].

Background Check Required

Washburn University is committed to providing an environment for individuals to pursue educational and employment opportunities free from discrimination and/or harassment. The University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or marital or parental status.

Washburn University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants for employment. If you are an applicant who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please email [email protected] or call 785-670-1538 at least five (5) business days in advance of the date you need the requested accommodation.