Visiting Assistant Professor

University of Minnesota Law School
Visiting Assistant Professorship Program
Visiting Assistant Professor, 9403V

Visiting Assistant Professor (VAP) Program

In 2025, the University of Minnesota Law School launched a new program for law school graduates and practicing lawyers aspiring to become legal academics. The Visiting Assistant Professor (VAP) program is designed to give participants the resources, mentorship, teaching experience, and intellectual community they need to develop an ambitious scholarly agenda and prepare for the law school teaching market.

Minnesota VAPs presumptively spend three years in the program. They are expected to teach one or two law school classes per year and develop a body of scholarship in anticipation of entering the law school teaching market in their second or third year.

VAPs participate fully in the intellectual life of Minnesota Law. Each VAP is paired with a faculty mentor who provides sustained guidance on scholarship, teaching, professional development, and the academic job market. VAPs participate in the weekly faculty colloquium and are invited to attend the Law School's workshops in legal history, public law, and law and technology, which bring scholars from around the country to present their research.

VAPs join a large community of scholars at different stages of their careers, including other VAPs and junior scholars who regularly present their research to one another at junior faculty workshops. As part of a major research university, VAPs are also encouraged to build relationships with scholars beyond the Law School, including in the Medical School, School of Public Health, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Carlson School of Management, College of Liberal Arts, and departments and programs in fields such as economics, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, and the sciences.

Duties / Responsibilities

VAPs are expected to teach a two-credit seminar of their own design in the spring semester of their first academic year in the VAP program. In their second year, VAPs are expected to teach five credits, likely the same seminar taught in Year One plus a three-credit doctrinal class. In their third year, VAPs will teach three credits, ordinarily in the spring semester to facilitate the academic job market.

VAPs are expected to make substantial progress on an independent research agenda and to complete at least one full-length scholarly article suitable for publication and capable of serving as a job-talk paper.

Appointment

This is a 100% time, renewable, 12-month academic professional appointment which will begin in summer 2027. The initial appointment will be for a period of one year. The appointment may be renewed for up to an additional two years following the successful completion of the first year. The position is onsite at the University of Minnesota School of Law in Minneapolis, MN.

Compensation

VAPs will be paid an annual salary of $75,000. The Law School will also provide professional and scholarly development support, including resources for research assistants, membership in professional associations, and participation in scholarly conferences.

Required Qualifications

J.D. degree from an A.B.A. accredited law school. Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in pursuing legal academia.

About the University of Minnesota Law School

One of the country's top public law schools, the University of Minnesota Law School is a leader in preparing students to address the complex social, economic, legal, and ethical issues of our time. Our exceptional faculty, innovative curriculum, and outstanding clinical and experiential learning opportunities equip students for the demands of the 21st century. Minnesota Law attracts a talented and diverse student body from across the United States and around the world.

Minnesota Law is part of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, a leading public research university that offers extraordinary opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaboration. Law School faculty regularly work across disciplinary boundaries, drawing on fields including medicine, history, economics, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, public health, bioethics, neuroscience, business, and public policy. The University's breadth allows scholars to develop intellectual communities both within the Law School and across the University.

Minnesota Law is in the heart of Minneapolis, a vibrant academic, professional, and cultural community. The Twin Cities combine the resources of a major metropolitan area with distinctive neighborhoods, extensive parks and trails, a nationally recognized arts and music community, and abundant year-round recreational opportunities.

Pay Range: $75,000 per year; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the
time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures
that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while
maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and
equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates
will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis beginning on November 1, 2026. They must be submitted through the University of Minnesota online employment system, and only complete applications will be considered. To apply, go to: https://humanresources.umn.edu/content/find-job and reference job number 376426.

A complete application consists of the following:

1. A cover letter addressing the candidate's interest in Minnesota Law and in the VAP program.
2. A curriculum vitae that includes a list of three references. The references should speak to the candidate's interest in and aptitude for sustained legal analysis; at least one of these references should be a legal academic. Please be sure to include the name, title, email address, and phone number for each reference.
3. Transcripts for law school and any graduate programs of study. (Informal transcripts are acceptable.)
4. One or more writing samples, with a preference for scholarly articles or chapters (published or unpublished), comments, and notes. We welcome publications and drafts from multiple literatures (e.g., law, history, philosophy, medicine, bioethics) and using multiple methods (e.g., doctrinal, critical, empirical, ethnographic), including dissertation chapters. The VAP Program Committee will also consider articles from bar journals, policy papers from multiple disciplines, guidance documents, and legal briefs. If any of the works submitted are jointly authored, please provide an explanation of what the applicant's role was in researching and writing the work.
5. A research agenda (between 750-2000 words) discussing future research projects the candidate would like to undertake during or after their VAP.

For further information, applicants should contact the Appointments Committee at lawappointments@umn.edu.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail jobcentr@umn.edu.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.