Professor of Law at University of Chester, United Kingdom (£58,225 - £61,759 per annum)

The University of Chester is seeking to appoint a Professor of Law to join its School of Law and Social Justice, part of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science. The University describes this as an opportunity for an established academic leader to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of legal research and scholarship within the School.

The post (HR reference RA3054-26) is full-time and permanent, on grade TSR6 of the executive pay spine. It is based in the Wheeler Building on the University's Riverside site in Chester, and the post holder reports to the Head of School, Ruth Sutton.

The Professor of Law will provide intellectual and strategic leadership across the School's research portfolio. The job description lists, among other duties:

• Leading the development and delivery of a research strategy for Law, including research centres, clusters and thematic groupings
• Producing world-leading legal scholarship (articles in highly ranked journals, monographs and edited collections) and contributing to REF and other external evaluations
• Securing significant external research funding and leading major research programmes as Principal Investigator
• Mentoring colleagues and early career researchers, and supervising doctoral researchers
• Driving research impact so that legal research informs law, policy, judicial reasoning, regulation and professional practice
• Representing the Law School through keynote lectures, invited talks and national and international research networks
• Acting as module or course leader as required and contributing to University committees and governance

• A good first degree and a postgraduate degree at doctorate level, or equivalent professional experience in a relevant specialism
• Membership of appropriate academic and professional networks
• Evidence of national professional standing, such as a nationally recognised fellowship or accolade, or a position in a national or international professional body or subject association
• A postgraduate HE teaching qualification or Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (Senior Fellowship of the HEA is desirable)

• Evidence of research leadership in a higher education environment
• A substantial national and international reputation as a leading authority within a field of Law
• Demonstrable research impact on law, policy, regulation, professional practice or judicial decision-making
• A track record of securing significant external research funding, including leadership as Principal Investigator on major grants
• Experience of building and leading research teams, centres or thematic groupings, and of mentoring early career researchers
• Extensive experience of doctoral supervision to successful completion
• Experience of contributing to research assessment exercises
• An established role in the wider academic community, such as editorial positions, grant panels, advisory roles or leadership in research networks
• A sustained record of world-leading and internationally excellent legal research, evidenced through high-quality publications

Applicants who do not clearly demonstrate the essential criteria in their application will normally be rejected at shortlisting.

• Salary: TSR6, points 44 to 46, £58,225 to £61,759 per annum
• Contract: full-time, permanent
• Holiday: 35 days per annum, plus two extra statutory days over Christmas
• Pension: academic staff are enrolled in the Teachers' Pension Scheme from the first day of employment
• Probation: a twelve-month probationary period applies to all academic posts
• The successful candidate will complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire and may be required to undergo a medical examination

Applications are made online only. Use the Apply Online button on the official vacancy page; you will be asked to register an account on the University's recruitment site (or log in to an existing one). The form saves as you go and can be completed in stages. All applications must be submitted by 23:59 BST on Sunday 4 October 2026.

Short-listed candidates will be asked to bring proof of qualifications to interview. The University has published guidance on the use of AI in applications: AI may be used to check spelling and grammar or to structure your own ideas, but answers should not be copied from AI tools.

• The University states that it welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates and particularly encourages applications from groups currently under-represented in higher education.
• The advertisement and job description do not address visa sponsorship or the right to work in the United Kingdom. Candidates applying from India should clarify this with the University's Human Resources team before applying.
• The vacancy is also listed on the Society of Legal Scholars vacancies board.