Transactional Fellow
The University of Chicago

Description

The University of Chicago Law School is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time position teaching, training, and supervising law students as a Transactional Fellow, appointed with the rank of Lecturer. This position is expected to begin on July 1, 2026. The appointment is for three years, with possible reappointment for a second term. This position is benefits-eligible. The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefits offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

The Fellow will be expected to teach a section of an experiential skills course in Contract Drafting three times per year, once each quarter (Autumn, Winter, and Spring). The course is an introduction to legal drafting and review of transactional documents, including how to use a contract as a tool of planning and problem-solving to accomplish a client's practical business goals. The course has weekly written homework assignments requiring detailed, individual written feedback.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a J.D. from an accredited law school and at least three to five years of relevant work experience. Relevant work experience means experience in contract drafting, contract negotiation, or other transactional work in private law practice. In addition, the candidate must be a member in good standing of the bar of Illinois or another state. Preferred qualifications include significant academic achievement in law school; experience working with a wide range of contracts, including asset purchase agreements, operating agreements/shareholder agreements, employment agreements, confidentiality agreements, licensing agreements, and services agreements; experience creating contracts for novel situations, not just reviewing and revising form agreements; and prior teaching experience. The Fellow is expected to contribute to the intellectual life of the Law School. In assessing potential contributions of this sort, we value candidates who will contribute ideas and perspectives that will enrich and improve student experiences and the Law School's intellectual culture.

Application Instructions

Each candidate should submit a cover letter, resume or curriculum vita (that includes a description of transactional matters on which the applicant did substantial work), a law school transcript, a list of references, and a writing sample (law-relevant work not edited by anyone else). Candidates are required to apply online and upload all application material at the University of Chicago academic recruitment site: http://apply.interfolio.com/183711.

Applications will be accepted until April 23, 2026.