Price Professor of Public Interest Law

The Centers for Public Interest Law (CPIL) at the University of San Diego School of Law is a nationally recognized powerhouse for nonpartisan advocacy. Founded in 1980, the Centers teach students to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. We operate at the rare intersection of elite academic scholarship and "boots-on-the-ground" legal action. Our mission is to ensure that government remains ethical, transparent, and accountable to those who lack the leverage to advocate for themselves.

CPIL serves as the umbrella for three specialized centers:

Consumer Protection Policy Center (CPPC): Led by the Price Professor of Public Interest Law, CPPC is the state’s leading watchdog over regulatory agencies. It publishes the nation’s only direct reporter on state regulatory activities—written by students and featured on Westlaw—to provide transparency where special interests often operate in the shadows.

Children’s Advocacy Institute (CAI): One of the nation’s premier youth rights organizations, CAI represents children’s interests in all three branches of the state government, including through lobbying, litigating, and consulting on administrative reform. For example, CAI’s areas of special emphasis are improving the child protection and foster care systems and improving outcomes for youth aging out of foster care.

Energy Policy Initiatives Center (EPIC): A research leader in sustainable energy, EPIC develops the legal and policy frameworks necessary for California’s future energy needs.

At the heart of our work is a commitment to the marginalized and unorganized constituencies of California. In a landscape where monied special interests heavily outnumber public advocates, we serve as a vital counterweight. We combine high-impact litigation and legislative testimony with a rigorous clinical program. We don't just critique the legal system; we actively train the next generation of public interest leaders to master it, ensuring the fight for equity and open government continues for decades to come.

The leadership and culture at the USD School of Law reflect a "San Diego vibe,” balancing high-impact legal work with a collegial, welcoming atmosphere. It is an institution on the rise, recruiting accomplished new faculty and expanding the school’s footprint and national reputation. With an outstanding administration to support USD Law faculty and legal clinics, colleagues genuinely collaborate and value a pleasant, fun environment.

It is truly an exciting time in the history of USD law, as the bar pass rate is at an all-time high and the school is currently experiencing a surge in rankings and student success, including a remarkable 94% job placement rate for recent graduates.

This full-time, clinical tenured or tenure-track position presents an exceptional opportunity to build upon the groundbreaking work of CPIL founder Robert

C. Fellmeth. This combination of professional momentum, a storied legacy, and a supportive community makes USD Law an extraordinary place for a visionary leader to make a lasting impact.

• Salary – $147,768 - $221,652
• 403(b) Plan
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Long-Term Disability Coverage, and Life and AD&D Insurance.
• Tuition remission at USD and partner institutions for faculty and their immediate family members
• Free On-Campus Fitness and Recreation Facilities
• Other professional development resources, including funding for summer research projects, conference attendance, etc.

This is an in-person role with an office located at the USD School of Law - 5998 Alcala Park Way, San Diego, CA 92110.

Originally endowed by legendary San Diego philanthropist Sol Price, the Price Professor of Public Interest Law is a distinguished full-time, clinical tenured or tenure-track position occupying a unique space at the intersection of elite academia and systemic legal advocacy. This role carries the dual responsibility of advancing academic scholarship as a faculty member while also serving as the Executive Director of the Consumer Protection Policy Center (CPPC), one of the nation’s premier public interest watchdog organizations.

As a…