Visiting Assistant Professor - Lawyering Program

The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, located in Baltimore, seeks applicants for a full‑time, non‑tenure‑track position to teach in our innovative first‑year Lawyering Program. The selected attorney will jointly hold the titles of Donald Gaines Murray Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor for an initial one‑year appointment, beginning July 1 2026, with the expectation of reappointment for a second year based on satisfactory performance and the possibility of a third year.

The Murray Teaching Fellowship is designed to provide teaching experience and scholarly mentorship for accomplished law school graduates with legal practice experience who are interested in entering legal academia. The program is named for Donald Gaines Murray, a 1938 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law and the institution’s third Black graduate. Mr. Murray’s civil‑rights work, including the landmark lawsuit that ended racial segregation at the law school, exemplifies the legacy that the Fellowship honors.

The Lawyering program forms an integral part of the first‑year JD curriculum. Students act as attorneys in simulated cases that incorporate topics from other foundational courses. They review case files, develop factual records, interact with simulated clients, opposing counsel, and judges, and produce legal analyses in various formats such as memoranda, client letters, professional emails, court filings, and oral arguments. The program culminates in mock appellate oral arguments.

All first‑year students enroll in Lawyering I in the fall semester and Lawyering II in the spring semester. In the fall, the focus is on objective, predictive analysis; in the spring, the focus shifts to persuasive advocacy. Students learn to draft legal office memoranda, negotiate settlement agreements, revise contracts, and prepare appellate briefs.

• Teach two sections of Lawyering I (3 credits) in the fall semester and two sections of Lawyering II (3 credits) in the spring semester, each section comprising 30–34 students (≈ 15 students per section).
• Implement the simulated problem set designed by the program director and create lesson plans, prepare for class, and deliver instruction.
• Provide extensive written feedback on student drafts and final submissions throughout the semester.
• Hold individual conferences with students at least once during the semester.
• Assess student performance and assign grades.

Murray Fellows receive mentorship for teaching and scholarship preparation. Fellows participate in the law school’s junior faculty workshop, present and receive feedback on their scholarship, and engage with the academic community through workshops and events.

Murray Fellows have access to the Thurgood Marshall Law Library for teaching and scholarly support, may hire a student research assistant to assist with scholarship, and receive support for conference registration and travel up to $2,000.

• J.D. degree with a record of high academic achievement from an ABA‑accredited law school.
• At least two years of legal practice experience, one of which may include a judicial clerkship.
• Excellent legal writing skills and outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Prior law school teaching experience preferred.

Applications are accepted online only at https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, a resume with three listed references, teaching evaluations, a writing sample (unedited by a third party and either a scholarly publication or a substantial legal practice document such as a brief), and a scholarly agenda.

Final date to receive applications:
February 15 2026, though applications will be considered on a rolling basis and remain open until filled.

START DATE:
July 1 2026

Salary: $75,000 per year, plus benefits, with conference travel and registration support up to $2,000.

BENEFITS: UMB offers a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes wellness, work/life balance, and professional development. The position participates in a retirement program (pension…