Lecturer in Law (Early Career)
An innovative early-career academic role at the UK’s largest university, blending online teaching excellence with cutting-edge legal research.
Best for:Best for early-career legal scholars with a PhD in Law or related fields, strong online teaching experience, and a commitment to both research and digital pedagogy.
Overview
This permanent position at The Open University’s Law School targets recent PhD graduates or early-career academics seeking to establish themselves in both teaching and research. The role focuses on developing high-quality online learning materials for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with a strong emphasis on foundational legal knowledge in England and Wales. Candidates are expected to contribute to teaching across modules like Criminal Law, EU Law, and SQE, while also conducting independent research aligned with the university’s strategic priorities. The post is ideal for those passionate about digital education and legal scholarship, offering a platform to grow expertise in a flexible, student-centric environment.
What you'll do
- Design and develop innovative online teaching modules for undergraduate, postgraduate, and short courses in foundational legal knowledge (England & Wales).
- Deliver and present teaching modules, including creating clear, accessible, and inclusive assessment materials for diverse student backgrounds.
- Conduct independent research and produce publications aligned with the university’s research and knowledge exchange strategies.
- Supervise PhD students and contribute to their academic development.
- Support income diversification initiatives to sustain research and teaching activities.
- Engage in external events and promotional activities to enhance the Law School’s academic profile.
- Monitor and ensure the quality of tuition, assessment, and student support in online learning environments.
- Participate actively in Law School, Faculty, and University committees as required.
- Collaborate with academic and support staff to develop module projects and maintain strong working relationships.
Requirements
Degree required: PhD in Law or a closely related subject, successfully defended and completed.
Language: English; proficiency required for teaching, research, and publication (no specific test mentioned).
Instruction: English
Publications: Evidence of a capacity to develop a trajectory of 3* (REF standard) publications.
- Proven teaching experience in higher education, particularly in distance learning settings.
- Ability to structure and write complex law teaching materials in English for asynchronous online delivery.
- Evidence of a trajectory toward achieving REF-standard (3*) publications in legal research.
- Commitment to conducting high-quality research, including current or planned projects and external funding applications.
- Strong digital literacy and IT competency for both teaching and administrative tasks.
- Undergraduate law degree or equivalent, along with a postgraduate qualification in Law or related fields.
- Experience working collaboratively in academic teams and managing workloads under tight deadlines.
- Candidates must have recently defended their PhD or not held substantive academic posts since completing their doctorate.
- Open to applicants based in the UK or Republic of Ireland.
- No explicit age or residency restrictions beyond the above.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-20 (interviews on 19-20 November 2026; early closure possible) (Europe/London)
Applicants must submit a CV and a supporting statement (up to 1000 words) demonstrating how they meet the essential criteria for the role. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and early closure may occur if sufficient candidates are identified.
- CV
- Supporting statement (up to 1000 words) demonstrating alignment with essential criteria
Contact
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