Assistant Professor American Public Law and Politics

Lake Forest College•Lake Forest, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lake Forest College Department of Politics and International Relations invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor specializing in American public law and politics to begin in August 2027. We seek someone to teach Introduction to American Politics and Introduction to Legal Studies, as well as intermediate- and advanced-level courses with an American public law focus. The Department presently offers a rich variety of courses in American constitutional law and criminal law. While we encourage candidates of all substantive interests to apply, we are especially interested in someone who can further broaden the Department’s specialized public law courses in areas other than criminal law. The successful candidate will contribute to the course offerings of the very popular Legal Studies minor and assist in the activities of the Mock Trial program. Candidates with experience in conducting Mock Trial, who can connect students with legal internships and opportunities in the Chicagoland area, or who can support the Public Policy Studies minor – such as by teaching courses at the intersections of American public law, politics, and public policy at the local, state, and national levels of government in the United States – are strongly encouraged to apply. A Ph.D. in political science or a related field and/or a J.D. is required upon the start of the 2027-28 academic year. The teaching load is six courses across two academic semesters. The successful candidate will typically have five course preparations a year, with one course – Introduction to American Politics – offered twice and can expect a rotation of courses that will also include Introduction to Legal Studies, American Constitutional Law, the American Judiciary, as well as public law courses in their areas of expertise. They must also be willing to teach a course in the College's first-year studies program, including while on the tenure track. Class enrollments at Lake Forest College are small, typically between 15 to 25 students. We seek someone who is dedicated to building a career centered on teaching and advising excellence. We expect candidates to show scholarly promise and have a robust and active research program, which would need to include peer-reviewed publications at the time of tenure. Lake Forest College supports faculty research through the provision of student research assistants and the potential to apply for summer research funds. The successful passage of the third-year review earns a one-semester sabbatical at full pay in the fourth or fifth year of service. Tenure review takes place at the start of the sixth year. The Department is especially interested in candidates who can incorporate students into their research programs. To this end, Lake Forest College’s proximity to Chicago provides an opportunity to use the city as a “laboratory” for student learning. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, an unofficial graduate transcript, a teaching statement that addresses diversity in a liberal arts setting, sample syllabi, a single sample of scholarly writing, three confidential letters of recommendation, and evidence of teaching effectiveness. Confidential letters of recommendation should be emailed to [email protected]. Other materials should be uploaded to the Lake Forest College Career Center website. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but they must be received by October 1, 2026, to be assured full consideration. A highly selective liberal arts college located on Chicago’s North Shore, Lake Forest College enrolls approximately 1,800 students from more than 40 states and from more than 100 countries. Lake Forest is one of the most diverse small colleges in the Midwest with approximately 40% of our student body comprised of domestic students of color and international students. For three years running (2023, 2024, and 2025), U.S. News & World Report rated Lake Forest College among the top three national liberal arts colleges for social mobility, which measures a college’s success in graduating students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and transitioning them into the working world. In 2023, U.S. News also ranked Lake Forest the nation’s thirteenth “Best Value” national liberal arts college. In December 2023, The Wall Street Journal rated Lake Forest the top liberal arts college in the Midwest. At Lake Forest College, the quality of a faculty member’s teaching is the most important criterion for evaluation. Lake Forest College embraces diversity and encourages applications from women, members of historically underrepresented groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but they must be received by October 1, 2026, to be assured full consideration.

Requirements

Ph.D. in political science or a related field and/or a J.D. is required upon the start of the 2027-28 academic year.
Dedication to building a career centered on teaching and advising excellence.
Scholarly promise and a robust and active research program, including peer-reviewed publications at the time of tenure.
Ability to teach a course in the College's first-year studies program.
Curriculum vitae.
Unofficial graduate transcript.
Teaching statement that addresses diversity in a liberal arts setting.
Sample syllabi.
Single sample of scholarly writing.
Three confidential letters of recommendation.
Evidence of teaching effectiveness.

Nice To Haves

Experience in conducting Mock Trial.
Ability to connect students with legal internships and opportunities in the Chicagoland area.
Ability to support the Public Policy Studies minor.

Responsibilities

Teach Introduction to American Politics and Introduction to Legal Studies.
Teach intermediate- and advanced-level courses with an American public law focus.
Contribute to course offerings in specialized public law courses beyond criminal law.
Contribute to the course offerings of the Legal Studies minor.
Assist in the activities of the Mock Trial program.
Teach courses at the intersections of American public law, politics, and public policy.
Teach a course in the College's first-year studies program.
Incorporate students into their research programs.

Benefits

Teaching load of six courses across two academic semesters.
Five course preparations a year.
Rotation of courses including Introduction to Legal Studies, American Constitutional Law, the American Judiciary, and public law courses in their areas of expertise.
Small class enrollments, typically between 15 to 25 students.
Support for faculty research through the provision of student research assistants.
Potential to apply for summer research funds.
One-semester sabbatical at full pay in the fourth or fifth year of service upon successful passage of the third-year review.
Opportunity to use Chicago as a “laboratory” for student learning.
Salary: $67,000 - $71,000.
Benefit information available at: www.lakeforest.edu/offices-and-departments/human-resources/employee-benefits