Professor/Associate Professor/Assistant Professor of Legal Studies

NYU Abu Dhabi invites applications for tenure-track/tenured open-rank faculty appointments in Legal Studies. The position is in principle available from August 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

We will consider applicants from legal scholars with an active research agenda in all areas of law. We are especially interested in those whose research and teaching include international and comparative dimensions, as well as private law.

The program in Legal Studies was established as an interdisciplinary program at NYU Abu Dhabi in 2018. It is situated within the Social Sciences and the Arts and Humanities. The Program offers teaching towards the BA with a major or a minor in Legal Studies. The Program teaches courses mainly in the common law, but provides many opportunities to study civil law.

The major in legal studies provides for the academic study of the law in the context of a liberal arts education. We approach questions of legal doctrine against the background of broader questions of human experience. What is justice? What is Law? How is it organized? Who and what constitutes the arbiter of justice? What are the effects of historical, cultural, religious, and national settings on law and justice? What are the legal issues raised by global concerns such as those about the environment, technology, and trade? Our students combine the study of law with the study of the core curriculum but also with many optional courses they take in the humanities and the social sciences.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a doctorate or equivalent degree in law or cognate fields (which includes a Juris Doctor taken in the United States and other jurisdictions that follow that model of legal education), and they must have – or have the potential to develop – a strong record of scholarship. Applicants for the Associate Professor or the Professor title, must have an established and internationally recognized record of research publications. A clear commitment to undergraduate teaching is also essential.
Application Instructions

To apply for this position, please submit the following items:

• Cover Letter;
• CV;
• Statement of Teaching Interests;
• Recent Teaching Evaluations (if available);
• Statement of Research Plans;
• Up to 5 representative publications or other writing samples;
• Names and contact information of 3 references for recommendation letters to be solicited at a later stage of the search process. Do not include the letters in the uploaded documents. Senior candidates may choose to delay submitting referee details until shortlisted.

We will review applications beginning 2 December 2025. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews at our campus at NYU Abu Dhabi. We anticipate that successful candidates can start the appointment and relocate to Abu Dhabi in the academic year 2026-2027, subject to budget approval.

NYUAD is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and seek individuals who will contribute to the excellence and vibrancy of our academic community. 

Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates. In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply.

For questions about this position, please email nyuad.academicrecruitment@nyu.edu.