Lecturers in Law (2 posts)

Job Summary

RGU is a professionally orientated University with an innovative, inclusive approach to the design and delivery of teaching and learning and to the provision of student support. With an established profile of student success and satisfaction, and with a strong academic and professional reputation, the Law discipline (within the School of Law and Social Sciences) is seeking to appoint two Full-Time Lecturers in Law.

The School of Law and Social Sciences is both academically and professionally focused, with a strong reputation for innovative and flexible online and on-campus courses at undergraduate, postgraduate and professional levels. Many of the courses are accredited and/or recognised by relevant professional and industrial bodies, including the Law Society of Scotland, Faculty of Advocates, SSSC and BPS. The successful candidates will contribute to a thriving Law discipline, primarily through lecturing/teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

There are two positions available. For the first position, applications are sought from legal practitioners with particular strengths in the following areas of law; Criminal Law (including relevant socio-legal disciplines), Delict, Energy Law or Maritime Law, alongside a more general familiarity with the core elements of the Law Society of Scotland's Foundation Outcomes, (as well as the core elements of the law curriculum).

For the second position, applications are sought from legal academics with a research background. In addition to teaching, you will be expected to undertake research and consultancy activities as appropriate. It is expected that you will have an existing research profile at an appropriate level to your career stage, which may include research outputs, and evidence of submission of bids for external research funding (either as lead or co-investigator).

Both positions may also carry out appropriate administrative roles within the School, including assisting with the PG Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, the Grampian Community Law Clinic and acting as a Module Co-ordinator or a Honours Co-ordinator.

For informal enquiries, please contact David Christie, Associate Dean for Academic Development and Student Experience at the following email address - david.christie@rgu.ac.uk

Grade 7 Salary Scale: £39,906 – £46,049
Grade 8 Salary Scale: £47,389 – £56,535
Salary on appointment will be dependent upon experience.

Candidates with limited or no prior experience as an academic will be placed on the first point of the Grade 7 scale. Consideration will be given to offering an Academic Attraction Payment (adjusted annually) for those candidates who have specific industry knowledge, skills or, expertise which are required for the position.

Please see the job attachments for further information regarding the Grade 7 and Grade 8 criteria.  Further guidance on Academic Attraction Payments can be found here.

This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check. For more information visit: https://www.mygov.scot/basic-disclosure/

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week, but you must be in a position to deliver teaching on campus to meet the requirements of the course. You also will benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave, onsite nursery, sports centre as well as a range of voluntary health and travel benefits.

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Dean of School

RESPONSIBLE FOR: No supervisory responsibility

PURPOSE OF POST: Contribute to the teaching, development and running of the School’s portfolio of courses. This position will actively underpin and support both teaching and consultancy activities, as well as adding to the research profile of the School.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

• Carries out designated teaching online and on-campus (e.g. via lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, online activities, etc.) and assessment duties in areas of expertise, or as otherwise required by the Dean of School (or delegate thereof).

• Participates in the development and preparation of teaching and assessment materials.

• Provides tutorial and personal guidance for students.

• Supervises undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations.

• Develops and maintains expertise in subject areas.

• Participates in subject and course development.

• Participates in curriculum development and, in particular, contributes to the introduction of new methods of teaching and learning.

• Assists with the PG Diploma Professional Legal Practice and Grampian Community Law Clinic, as appropriate.

• Undertakes appropriate administrative responsibilities (e.g. head of stage, module co-ordinator, honours co-ordinator, student selection, examination organisation, placement organisation, timetabling, maintaining attendance records, etc.)

• Assists in the supervision and visiting of students during their periods of work experience.

• Promotes and markets the School and its courses to local, national and international clientele (including student recruitment).

• Maintains working relationships with other Schools/Departments/Units within the University, as necessary, for the smooth operation and continued development of the School and its courses.

• Actively participates in and suggests relevant staff development activities.

• Actively pursues and/or encourages research activities (e.g. writing for publication, developing own research, supervising research students, establishing externally funded research projects, presenting at conferences, etc.)

• Engages with other staff, wherever possible, in consultancy activities relevant to the School.

• Engages in public engagement activities and dissemination of research.

• Establishes and maintains relevant professional and industrial links, as necessary, for the effective operation of the School's courses (e.g. engagement in work of external bodies, (both educational and professional)).

• Represents the School on relevant University committees and the School and University on external committees.

• Carries out such other related duties as may be required, and directed by the Dean (or the delegate thereof).

Candidates with limited/no lecturing experience can still be considered but will work to the Developing Academic. Full details of both roles can be found in the attached PDF.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

First Degree: LLB or equivalent Law degree

Postgraduate level qualification and/or equivalent professional experience

Membership of a relevant professional body

Knowledge

Demonstrates expert knowledge of one or more of the required legal specialisms

Experience

Academic teaching and research, or practitioner role in one or more of the required specialisms

Unsociable Hours

Willingness to conduct classes occasionally in the evenings and/or weekends

 

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Understanding/familiarity with Scots Law, specifically having qualified as a Scottish Legal Practitioner.

PhD or equivalent qualification in a relevant specialism.

Certificate in Higher Education Learning and Teaching

Fellowship or Senior Fellowship of a relevant professional body.

Knowledge

Awareness of the higher education environment, in the UK and internationally

Growing research reputation or potential.

Experience

Online teaching and learning environments

Travel

Willingness to travel for university purposes.

 

Behaviours

Behaviour 1: Communication - Ability to receive, understand and convey information requiring careful explanation and information of a complex or conceptual nature, in a clear and accurate manner.

Behaviour 2: Pastoral Care and Welfare - Experience of calming and reassuring those with work/study related problems who may be experiencing distress, dealing with difficult welfare situations or confidential matters and providing support for those in considerable distress or requiring long-term complex support.

Behaviour 3: Teaching and Learning Support - Experience of providing standard information or delivering teaching or training, designing content or learning materials within existing frameworks and developing innovative approaches to learning experience and the curriculum.

Behaviour 4: Service Delivery - Experience of exploring and adapting a service to meet customers' expectations and also identifying ways of improving standards.

Behaviour 5: Analysis and Research - Experience of identifying or designing data gathering and analytical methods appropriate for each investigation and producing reports that identify key issues and findings.

Behaviour 6: Liaison and Networking - Experience of circulating information in an accurate and timely manner, working across team boundaries to build and strengthen working relationships, leading and developing internal networks to pursue a shared interest and leading and building external networks to enhance the work of the organisation.