Human Rights Research Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position overview
Position title: Lecturer
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay at appointment. See the following table for the current salary scale for these positions: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t15.pdf . The current full-time salary range for these positions is $70,977- $199,722.
Percent time: Generally part-time; 5 - 100%
Anticipated start: Summer 2026 or later
Review timeline: Applicants are considered for positions as needs arise; the existence of this applicant pool does not guarantee that a position is available. The applicant pool will remain in place for 12 months; those interested in remaining in the applicant pool beyond the advertised final closing date must reapply.
Position duration: Positions may be for one semester or for the full academic year, with the possibility of renewal. The possibility of reappointment is based on need and subject to the terms of the bargaining agreement
Application Window
Open date: April 1, 2026
Most recent review date: Wednesday, Apr 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Thursday, Apr 1, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
Berkeley Law is generating an applicant pool of qualified instructors to teach courses in our Legal Studies program should openings arise.
Legal Studies is an interdisciplinary undergraduate major that engages the meanings, values, practices, and institutions of law and legality. The faculty of Berkeley Law's Jurisprudence and Social Policy Program (JSP) has primary responsibility for the Legal Studies program at UC Berkeley. JSP faculty and other Law faculty teach a curriculum that examines how law shapes, and is shaped by, political, economic, and cultural forces. The major is designed to stimulate critical understanding of and inquiry about the theoretical frameworks, historical dynamics, and cultural embeddedness of law.
The department seeks qualified candidates who possess subject matter expertise and teaching knowledge in the following course subjects, and who can support the success of all students through inclusive curriculum, classroom environment, and pedagogy.

• Foundations of Legal Studies
• Policing
• Theories of Law & Society
• Theories of Justice
• Aims & Limits of Criminal Law
• Feminist Rights Movements
• Philosophy & Law in Ancient Athens
• Cybersecurity in Context
• Data, Prediction, and Law
• Human Rights & War Crimes Investigations Methods
• Ethical AI
• Law & American Empire in the Pacific
• International Courts and Human Rights
• Law, Judicial Politics, and Rights in Latin America
• Law & Rights in Authoritarian States
• Supreme Court & Public Policy
• Wall Street / Main Street
• Monetary Law and Regulation
• History of Political Economy
• Law & History of Economic Institutions of Capitalism
• Law & Economics (micro)
• Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship
• Intimate Partner Violence
• Human Rights Research & Practice
• International Law & International Relations
• Law & Development
• Sexuality & Gender
• Punishment Culture & Society
• Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation
• Sex, Reproduction, and Law
• Crime & Criminal Justice
• Access to Justice
• American Legal & Constitutional History
• Law, Politics, and Society
• Sociology of Law
• Special Topics in Legal Studies
• Immigration and Citizenship
• Immigrant Rights Movements
• Restorative Justice
• Other Legal Studies course subjects (please specify in your Cover Letter)

General Duties
In addition to teaching responsibilities, general duties include holding office hours, assigning grades, advising students, preparing course materials (e.g., syllabus), and maintaining a course website. All work must be performed in the United States, whether in person or online.
Berkeley Law strives to educate responsible, effective, and forward-thinking advocates who serve the public through legal practice, public policy, academic scholarship, and related fields. In doing so, the school addresses some of society's most pressing challenges by leveraging its strengths in teaching and research to improve law, policy, and public institutions. At the heart of Berkeley Law's public mission is a commitment to access, affordability, and empowering students from all backgrounds to pursue impactful careers across a wide range of professional paths.
UC Lecturers are academic appointees in an organized bargaining unit and are exclusively represented by the American Federation of Teachers - Unit 18.
Most courses are offered in-person on the UC Berkeley campus with a few synchronous online courses offered in the summer. All courses are offered Mon. - Fri, 8am - 9:05pm U.S.A. Pacific Time. All work must be performed in the United States, whether in person or online.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Curricular Details: http://legalstudies.berkeley.edu
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• J.D. degree or equivalent international degree, or Ph.D. degree, or enrollment in a Ph.D. degree (or international equivalent) program.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• J.D., Ph.D., or equivalent international degree.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience teaching law or legal studies courses in a United States undergraduate program.
• Advanced training in the interdisciplinary study of law or five years experience in relevant legal practice.
• Effective verbal/written communication and presentation skills (English), including the ability to clearly convey conceptual and complex ideas and information.
• Outstanding student and peer teacher evaluations and experience in creating syllabi, learning objectives, lectures/presentations, learning activities, assignments, assessments, exams, and quizzes.
• Experience teaching online and/or developing academic content for online courses.
• Ability to support the success of all students through inclusive curriculum, classroom environment, and pedagogy.
• Effective organizational skills with attention to detail.

Application Requirements
Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter - Please address the following questions related to your potential teaching in the Legal Studies program. Please limit your response to 300 words. Describe your competencies and experiences relevant to successful instruction in undergraduate courses related to law, including your prior teaching experiences, teaching approach, and future teaching interests. This can include, for example, specific efforts, accomplishments, and future plans to support the success of all students through inclusive curriculum, classroom environment, and pedagogy. Explain how your approach and expertise contribute to an interdisciplinary undergraduate program in the study of law. Describe other aspects of your academic or professional experience as it is specifically relevant to teaching in the Legal Studies program.
• Sample Syllabus or Course Proposal - Please upload a sample syllabus or a course proposal for a course you selected, including a detailed course description, course topics, types of readings, other materials to be assigned, and mode(s) of assessment. If uploading more than one document, please combine all documents into one PDF file.
• Student Course Evaluations and/or Course/Presentation Materials - Please upload your most recent student course evaluation(s), if available. Alternatively, please upload any sample Course and/or Professional Presentation Slides/Materials. If uploading more than one document, please combine all documents into one PDF file.

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05245
Help contact: academicpositions@law.berkeley.edu
About UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy ( APM 210 1-d ). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community , which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.
The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.
For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy .
In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA