Senior Lecturer in Law in Sheffield

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world‑class university. We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

The School of Law is looking to recruit a Senior Lecturer in Law (open-ended) from 1 September 2026. If appointed, you will play an important role in our team and contribute to research‑led teaching. This post is open to applicants from all areas of law, but we are especially keen to attract applicants with the ability to teach and convene modules on the foundations of legal knowledge at UG and PG Levels. You will carry out high quality research, deliver research‑led teaching at UG and PG level, and supervise UG/PG dissertations and PhD theses in your area of expertise. You will complement and extend the current and future strengths of the School and you will have an international research profile and a track record of high quality teaching. You will also have experience in academic leadership and management, and a commitment to collegiality, inclusivity and the development of early career researchers. You will be capable of contributing to the School's presence across the Faculty and University, and through outreach and knowledge exchange activities in the local community and beyond.

The School of Law enjoys an international reputation for excellence in research, for the expertise of its staff, and the achievements of its graduates. We have a diverse team who aspire to address global challenges and our vision is to advance the interdisciplinary understanding of law, socio‑legal studies, and criminology. We enjoy a global network of research and teaching links and encourage all undergraduate students to spend a year abroad with one of our partners. The School's civic engagement activities and pro bono work connect it with the city of Sheffield, and with partners in the commercial, public and third sectors, nationally and internationally.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Research: Conduct and disseminate innovative research to an internationally excellent standard. Develop funding strategies, including preparing and submitting research proposals to appropriate funding bodies in order to generate income and manage external research grants. Undertake research and translational activities with the potential to have demonstrable effects on society, public policy or services, the law, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia. Involvement in professional activities and with national and international professional bodies.
• Learning and Teaching: Design, develop and deliver modules across a range of UG and PG programmes. Coordinate team teaching, including liaison with other academic staff and/or postgraduate teachers, to ensure high quality delivery. Engage in, and reflect on, teaching and teaching policy that enhances the design and delivery of existing UG and PG programmes. Carry out module and programme evaluation and implement teaching quality assurance and enhancement strategies. Supervise and assess UG and PG dissertation students and doctoral students. Provide academic support for students by acting as an Academic Tutor.
• Leadership and Administration: Contribute to the life of the School, Faculty and wider University community by taking on leadership roles and responsibilities where required, and contribute to the development of relevant policies. Make ethical decisions in your role, modelling inclusive and collegiate behaviour, embedding the University's sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible, and furthering the University's EDI objectives. Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in your application statement when you apply.

• A demonstrable record of internationally excellent research and an established professional standing and esteem in the field. (Essential; Stage: Application/ Internal review of publications)
• A record of attracting and managing external research grants and/or using your research expertise to undertake research and translational activities that have resulted in or have the potential to result demonstrable effect on, change or benefit to social/public life beyond academia. (Essential; Stage: Application/ Interview)
• A proven ability to design and deliver high‑quality teaching and supervision to undergraduate and postgraduate students. (Essential; Stage: Application/ Interview)
• A demonstrable commitment to interdisciplinarity, internationalisation and inclusion in research and teaching. (Essential; Stage: Presentation / Interview)
• Demonstrable capacity to work effectively with a diverse group of students and staff. (Essential; Stage: Application/Presentation/Interview)
• Demonstrable experience, qualities and skills (e.g. communication, networking and decision‑making) suitable for leadership positions in the School of Law, the Faculty and the wider University. (Essential; Stage: Application/ Interview)
• Experience of mentoring and supporting staff performance, including the development of earlier career researchers. (Essential; Stage: Application/Presentation/Interview)
• An ability to identify and solve problems and deliver positive outcomes. (Essential; Stage: Interview)
• Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal and excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to liaise effectively with colleagues, students and external stakeholders. (Essential; Stage: Application/Presentation/Interview)

Further Information

Grade: 9
Salary: £61,759 to £80,524
Work arrangement: Full‑time
Duration: 1 September 2026
Line manager: TBA
Direct reports: None

Our website: https://sheffield.ac.uk/law

For informal enquiries: Professor Richard Kirkham, Head of the School of Law: r.m.kirkham@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place in early to mid June 2026. This will consist of a 10 minute presentation to School of Law colleagues, followed by a 15 minute Question & Answer session, an interview (30-40 mins) and an opportunity to meet more informally with colleagues from the School of Law and tour Bartolome House. As part of the application process, you will also be asked to share a research output, which will be internally assessed for its REF potential. The outcome of this assessment, feedback on your presentation from those who attend and the interview will be used in the decision‑making process. We will let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage at least one week before the interviews. Please contact law-hr@sheffield.ac.uk if you require any reasonable adjustments.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways.
• A range of generous family‑friendly policies paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies access to menopause support in the workplace paid time off and support for fertility treatment and more.

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits

We are a Disability Confident Leader. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date: 01/06/2026

The University of Sheffield is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our staff and students. It is an offence to apply for this role if you have been barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. Applicants will be subject to relevant safeguarding checks in line with the requirements of each role and the guidance from the Department for Education. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): Childcare disqualification, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Medical, Online and social media, Eligibility to work, Satisfactory references, Suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.