Professor-Tenure System

Working/Functional Title

John F. Schaefer Chair in Matrimonial/Family Law

Position Summary

Michigan State University College of Law invites applications for a full-time, faculty position at the Full Professor level in the Tenure System Faculty Appointment System.  The Law College expects to hire a faculty member with exceptional teaching and scholarship credentials to fill the John F. Schaefer Chair in Matrimonial and Family Law.  The Schaefer Chair was the first fully endowed chair in the Law College history and recognizes faculty with a proven research agenda in matrimonial and family law including issues related to marriage, marriage equality, spousal support, property division, child custody, child support, and other issues related to family formation and dissolution.  The Law College seeks applicants with a commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarly achievement.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Pursues a rigorous scholarly agenda that advocates a facet of matrimonial or family law.
2. Serving as a leader in national, regional, and local conferences, symposia, and discussions that facilitate greater knowledge of matrimonial and family law issues.
3. Teaches family law (including matrimonial law) and other courses as agreed upon by the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs.
4. Assists with promotion and development of MSU College of Law programs.
5. Actively engages in service at the college and university as well as in national organizations.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Law

Minimum Requirements

• JD or PhD in related discipline.
• Knowledge of the legal profession.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of people.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience working with computer applications including legal databases.

Required Application Materials

Qualified applicants should submit:

• a cover letter
• current curriculum vitae or resume
• a short professional biography

Special Instructions

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing the application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Teresa Eldred, College of Law Human Resources Manager at 517.432.6819 or eldredt@law.msu.edu.

Review of Applications Begins On

10/09/2023

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Website

WWW.LAW.MSU.EDU

Department Statement

Michigan State University College of Law is a diverse and inclusive learning community with roots dating to 1891 when it opened as Detroit College of Law in Detroit, Michigan. It moved to its current East Lansing location in 1995 and remained a private institution until 2020 when it became a fully integrated college of Michigan State University. 

Today, MSU Law has more than 650 students, 55 faculty members, 50 staff members, five librarians, and a world-wide network of some 11,500 alumni. MSU Law operates seven legal clinics overseen by nationally recognized faculty that provide students an opportunity to work on actual legal cases. Additionally, it offers some of nation’s leading law programs in new and emerging legal education, including Intellectual Property and Trial Advocacy, Indigenous Law and Policy Center, the Lori E. Talsky Center for Human Rights of Women and Children, Conservation Law Center, and Animal Legal and Historical Web Center.

MSU College of Law, operating under the principles of its DEI Strategic Plan, is poised to become the state’s preeminent law school, preparing a diverse community of lawyer-leaders to serve diverse communities in Michigan and beyond. It is committed to providing a legal education that is taught by leading scholars in their fields, includes best-in-class experiential opportunities, and helps students graduate without excessive debt.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.