Lecturer in Legal Decision Making

Classification Title

Lecturer

Ph.D. in Criminology or Criminal Justice, Sociology or a relevant social science field by date of hire. A Juris Doctor (J.D.) by itself is not sufficient for this position.

The selected candidate must clearly demonstrate the ability to teach effectively in face‑to‑face and/or online formats.

The Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law at the University of Florida invites applications for a full‑time, nine‑month, non‑tenure‑accruing position at the rank of Lecturer with research and teaching interests related to legal decision making, beginning on August 16, 2026.

This position supports the Law & Society component of our program in Criminology & Law by focusing on the study of the social context of law. We seek applicants whose interests include legal decision‑making pre‑trial (e.g., prosecutorial decision making, plea bargaining), during trial (e.g., juries, courts, sentencing), and/or post‑trial (probation, parole). The Lecturer will typically teach three (3) Law & Society courses each semester, such as Law & Legal Process, Law & Society, Juvenile Law, Criminal Law, and Criminal Procedure.

Preference will be given to applicants who can offer other Law & Society courses concerning legal decision making, and/or required Criminology courses such as Criminological Theory and Research Methods in Criminology. Preference will also be given to those with experience teaching multiple class sizes using different teaching modalities (face‑to‑face, online, hybrid).

The Lecturer will also support other instructional needs to the undergraduate Criminology & Law program, such as undergraduate advising and engaging in research collaboration with undergraduates.

In addition, the Lecturer will be expected to actively contribute to campus‑ and college‑wide initiatives designed to increase the quality of the educational experience provided to students, while also helping them create a path from their studies to their future professions. These include offering courses to UF Quest () and participating in the Beyond
120 program (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./beyond
120).

The Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law is a large and dynamic department with nearly 700 undergraduate Criminology majors and roughly 20 Criminology, Law and Society graduate students. The Department has two undergraduate programs, both offered via in‑person and online courses, and new minors in Sociology of Social Justice & Policy and Environmental Justice & Policy. Faculty conduct research in various areas, including criminology and criminal justice;

psychology and law; families and gender; health, aging, and the life course; environment and resources; and race and ethnicity. Many faculty are affiliated with other academic programs at UF, including the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Center for Latin American Studies, the Center for European Studies, the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, and the Health Science Center.

More information about the Department is available at  including biographical information about our faculty, students, and staff; and a description of the various projects and research interests in which our members are involved.

UF is the state’s oldest, largest, and most comprehensive land grant university with an enrollment of over 50,000 students and was ranked Number 1 public university in the United States by Wall Street Journal in its “2024 Best Colleges in the U.S.” report. UF is located in Gainesville, a city of approximately 150,000 residents in North‑Central Florida, 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and 67 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, and within a 2‑hour drive to large metropolitan areas (Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville).

The beautiful climate and extensive nearby parks and recreational areas afford year‑round outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and nature photography. UF’s large college sports programs, museums, and performing arts center support a range of activities and cultural events for residents to enjoy.…