Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Law (Bar Practice Course) in Leeds

The University of Law in Leeds seeks qualified solicitors and barristers for Lecturer or Senior Lecturer positions in Law, focusing on the Bar Practice Course. Candidates must be admitted to practice in England and Wales. The role involves teaching vocational programs like BPC, CILEX, and Higher Rights, alongside student pastoral support and curriculum development.

Salaries range from £40,500–£42,500 for Lecturers and £49,000–£54,000 for Senior Lecturers, with additional location allowances for London-based roles. Benefits include 35 days annual leave plus bank holidays, private medical insurance, life assurance, a contributory pension scheme, and financial support for obtaining required teaching qualifications such as the PGCHE and FHEA.

The university offers research opportunities and professional development. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis throughout the year, reflecting the institution's flexible recruitment approach for experienced legal professionals transitioning into higher education.

To be considered, you must be admitted to practise in England and Wales, either as a member of the Bar of England and Wales or through admission to the Roll of Solicitors in England and Wales. An academic career with ULaw offers far more than a traditional teaching remit. Alongside teaching and assessing on the BPC and our wider vocational programmes, there are opportunities to contribute to the delivery of Professional Development courses for practitioners, design and assess on our CILEX programme, and, as the sole provider of the Higher Rights qualification, play a key role in Higher Rights assessment design and delivery.

Moving from legal practice into higher education can be an exciting opportunity to use your professional experience in a different way; sharing your knowledge, developing future legal professionals and continuing to develop your own career. At ULaw, we’re committed to supporting you to develop your skills, build your confidence and become an outstanding lecturer. Following successful completion of probation, you will be enrolled onto our Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) and supported to achieve Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). For solicitors without Higher Rights of Audience, we also offer the opportunity to obtain this qualification.

For those with an interest in scholarship, there is scope to help shape and strengthen our research culture, with research time release available to pursue research activity and publish work of relevance to both the legal profession and academia.

We welcome applications from legal professionals throughout the year. As part of our ongoing approach to academic recruitment, we’re interested in hearing from qualified solicitors and barristers who may be interested in joining ULaw as a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in Law. Submitting an application allows us to understand your experience, areas of legal expertise and interest in an academic career. We will review applications on an ongoing basis and, where your experience aligns with our current or future academic requirements, we may contact you to discuss potential opportunities.

Please note that submitting an application does not necessarily relate to an immediate vacancy or guarantee that a position is currently available. Opportunities arise throughout the year depending on our academic requirements, student numbers and programme needs.

Our academics draw on their professional experience to teach across a range of legal and vocational programmes. Depending on your expertise and experience, opportunities may include teaching and assessment across areas such as the BPC, CILEX, Professional Development and Higher Rights, alongside other programmes delivered by ULaw. We’re particularly interested in hearing from legal professionals who can bring current, relevant professional experience into the classroom and help prepare our students for successful careers in the legal profession.

Our delivery model operates on a 5-over-7-day working pattern, which may include evenings and weekends, reflecting the flexible way our students learn. We offer full-time, permanent roles working 35 hours per week and are also open to considering candidates seeking part-time hours, with a minimum commitment of 0.6 FTE (21 hours per week). Specific working arrangements will depend on the requirements of the opportunity.

Teach on our courses and act as an academic coach to students, signposting students on pastoral aspects during their learning journey. Deliver high-quality teaching and support for learning, including communication with other academics to support the continuous improvement of teaching and student support. Identify opportunities to develop module content, structure and assessment with colleagues and make proposals for how this should be achieved. Contribute to the effective design and review of inclusive learning, maintaining quality standards and regulations in curricular design. Routinely communicate complex and conceptual ideas to those with limited knowledge and understanding, as well as to peers, using high-level communication skills.

Is this you?

• Sufficient breadth and depth of professional experience in the relevant discipline to develop teaching programmes and learning support.
• Professional and credible, with the ability to command respect.
• Passionate about sharing your professional experience and supporting the next generation of legal professionals.

Requirements for Lecturer positions:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Fellowship of Advance HE (FHEA) or equivalent, or willingness to work towards this.
• Relevant teaching qualification or willingness to work towards the PGCHE.

If you do not currently hold FHEA or a relevant teaching qualification, it is a requirement of the University that you enrol onto the relevant programme, delivered and financially supported by the University, usually within 12 months of successfully passing probation. Successful completion of the programme/qualification is essential to the role.

Requirements for Senior Lecturer positions:

• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Fellowship of Advance HE (FHEA).
• Relevant teaching qualification.

Senior Lecturers will have developed significant expertise in the application and practical delivery of a range of teaching techniques, pastoral care, mentoring colleagues, assessment design, marking and team leadership. When opportunities arise, our competitive salary range is £40,500–£42,500 for Lecturers and £49,000–£54,000 for Senior Lecturers. (In addition, our London based roles attract a location weighting allowance of £4,300).

We also offer a generous annual leave entitlement of 35 days plus Bank Holidays, along with a rewards package that includes:

• Private Medical Scheme and Life Assurance
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Training and Qualifications, including Course Sponsorship/Fee Discount
• Season Ticket Loans and Student Discounts

At The University of Law, you will work alongside other like-minded professionals who are passionate about driving innovation in higher education and delivering successful outcomes for our students.

Our Approach

We are committed to ensuring our workforce is reflective of our diverse student population, striving to increase the representation of age, disability, gender identity and expression, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic background of our employees. We’re also committed to providing adjustments to those who may require support with the recruitment process.

Please contact the ULaw Talent Acquisition Team at talentacquisition@law.ac.uk. Please note: For opportunities with ULaw, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK. If in doubt, please visit the GOV.UK Right to Work guidance. We are not a licensed sponsor. Some posts within the University are subject to a DBS check. You will be notified of this during the application process.