Job Announcement: Dean of the UCLA School of Law

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) invites inquiries, nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the UCLA School of Law.

Founded in 1949, the UCLA School of Law is one of the youngest top-ranked law schools in the United States and is committed to advancing the field of law through strong traditions of excellence in teaching, curricular innovation, influential scholarship and public engagement. One of UCLA’s 12 professional schools, the law school has approximately 200 full-time and part-time faculty (of whom 70 are tenure track) who teach approximately 1,400 students enrolled in Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.), Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) and Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) programs. The school houses a wide array of centers and institutes in such areas as business law, climate change, entertainment law, human rights, immigration law and policy, international and comparative law, reproductive health, technology law and policy, and sexual orientation and gender identity law. The school offers academic specializations in business law and policy; critical race studies; environmental law; international and comparative law; media, entertainment and technology law; law and philosophy; and public interest law and policy. Eight concurrent degree programs allow students to pursue a J.D. along with a degree in African American studies, American Indian studies, management, philosophy, public health, public policy, social welfare and urban planning. UCLA Law faculty are recognized worldwide for their contributions to scholarship, teaching and law reform in a broad spectrum of fields that have significant societal impact — including constitutional law, civil rights and critical race studies, environmental law and policy, criminal law, corporate law, public interest law, immigration law, international law and intellectual property.

As the chief executive and academic officer for the school, the dean sets the standard for intellectual engagement and accomplishment by providing strategic vision for and operational leadership of the academic programs. The dean works to advance legal scholarship and education — promoting initiatives within and outside UCLA; enhancing excellence through diversity in educational programs and faculty and student recruitment; and linking the work of law faculty and students to other disciplines, communities and interests within and outside the academy. The dean serves as the school’s public voice, articulating its contributions to local, state, regional, national and international communities and pursuing an aggressive development program to build the school’s resources. Reporting to the executive vice chancellor and provost, the dean serves on the deans council and the council of professional school deans, collaborating with the chancellor, executive vice chancellor and provost, vice chancellors and vice provosts, deans and department chairs at UCLA and across the University of California system.

We seek a visionary leader to build upon the school’s traditions of excellence and community engagement. Ideal candidates will be nationally recognized with demonstrated leadership and administrative experience and a strong commitment to legal education and scholarship. Minimum requirements include demonstrated commitment to teaching, research and public service; a record of distinguished scholarly accomplishment and intellectual leadership in the field of law; substantial administrative leadership at a research university; proven success in — or aptitude for — external and alumni relations and development; an established record of advancing equity, diversity and inclusion; and credentials that merit appointment at the rank of full professor.

Situated on 419 acres, five miles from the Pacific Ocean, UCLA is enriched by the cultural diversity of the dynamic greater Los Angeles area, as well as the geographic advantages of Southern California. One of the world’s preeminent public research universities, UCLA is an international leader in breadth and quality of academic, research, health care, wellness, cultural, continuing education and athletic programs, with more than 5,200 faculty members who teach approximately 47,500 students in the UCLA College and 12 professional schools. UCLA is consistently ranked among the top institutions nationally for research funding, having generated $1.7 billion in research grants and contracts in the last fiscal year alone.

Confidential review of applications, nominations and expressions of interest will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. Address nominations, inquiries and applications to our Isaacson, Miller consultants Tim McFeeley, Cati Mitchell-Crossley and Jaime Morgen via the Isaacson, Miller website: www.imsearch.com/8693. To be ensured full consideration, please submit a letter of interest — including a diversity statement — and curriculum vitae by December 1, 2022.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.