Associate Lecturers in the Law School

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

The role

We are looking to recruit several Associate Lecturers across the Law Programme, undergraduate and postgraduate, in the Faculty of Business and Law at the Open University.

The position is part-time, approximately 0.2 FTE/ 52 days and would involve teaching one or more modules. Please visit the Law School webpages which provides information about each of our modules. We are recruiting across our Law Programme at undergraduate and postgraduate level (see Law Courses | Law | The Open University for further information) including our SQE modules *, in the following areas:- 

• Company, Business and Employment Law (including corporate social responsibility and dispute resolution)
• Civil Law (Contract and Tort)
• Criminal law
• EU Law
• Evidence Law and Practice *
• Family Law and Private Client law *
• International, Environmental and Space Law
• Land, Property and Trust Law
• Law, Society and Culture
• Public Law and Human Rights
  
  * We are particularly interested in recruiting more ALs who have knowledge in these legal areas. 
  
  The position is fixed-term and home-based.  The annual salary and workload are fixed, but there are significant workload peaks and troughs, mainly linked to providing marking and assessment feedback. This is likely to include exam and end of module marking tasks. Other tasks will be required such as focused student support (individual and forum), peer mentoring and working with the module team on assessment activities and quality improvement. Some evening and weekend work will be required. The appropriate level of FTE will be discussed at interview, and there is the possibility of increasing the FTE later. The starting full-time salary is £38,784 paid pro rata based on your FTE. Although most of the teaching occurs between October and June, the position is paid over the full calendar year.

The anticipated start date is either September/October 2026 or January/February 2027, in line with course start dates.

Person specification:

The person specification for this position should be read in conjunction with the generic person specification for an Associate Lecturer at The Open University. As well as meeting all the requirements set out in the generic person specification, you should have:

• A law degree or equivalent.
• The ability to demonstrate current knowledge of the law of England and Wales in at least three subject areas from those listed above.
• Experience of teaching law, for example A level or equivalent, undergraduate/postgraduate law or legal training or supervision in professional legal practice.
• Experience of teaching online and an understanding of the pedagogical issues associated with online learning and teaching.
• The ability to grade assessments accurately and to provide constructive, supportive feedback to students.
• Demonstrated ability to encourage students to engage with scholarship and independent study (including awareness of resources).
• Experience of working with people from diverse cultural contexts, demonstrating an understanding of different perspectives on work, learning, and assessment.
• Experience of online legal research through use of legal databases in an academic or professional context and evidence of the ability to support students in the use of legal databases.
• A willingness and flexibility to undertake other tutor related activities, for example supporting colleagues through peer review.  

It would be an advantage to have:

• Relevant knowledge or experience of professional practice.
• A higher degree or Ph.D. (or equivalent).
• Experience of teaching and assessment via an online environment.
• Evidence of having taken the initiative to deliver better teaching and learning or to take advantage of new technology in teaching.
• The ability to demonstrate a current understanding and knowledge of the changing legal environment and changes in legal education.
• A teaching qualification in relevant subject or HEA accreditation.

What you get in return

We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. To ensure they remain up to date with developments in their academic field, Associate Lecturers are allocated 6 days (pro-rata) per annum for AL-led (ie. self-directed) Academic Currency and 1 day, plus 5 days pro rata, per annum for Agreed Academic Currency and Professional Development. 

Benefits include a supportive and friendly working environment, 27 days holiday per annum (pro rata) with variable (pro rata) Bank holidays and an attractive pensions proposition.

Tuition Delivery
Online only

How to apply

An application form and job-related information are available from the links located below.  

Job related information:

AL Application Form

Generic Person Specification

Terms and Conditions 

Any queries regarding the application process please contact AL-Applications on [email protected], quoting the reference FBL_LAWSCHOOL.

All candidates will be asked to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK at interview.

The University is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role as per the requirement laid out the UK Visas and Immigration regarding Right to Work in the UK.

To work with us you will need access to the internet.

Successful applicants will be required to undertake a DBS check or equivalent for their nation of residency.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications has been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

Email : [email protected]  

An application form and job related information are available from the links located above.  Hard copies and access details for disabled applicants are available from the Recruitment Co-ordinator by email (on the link above), FBL_LAWSCHOOL.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential.  We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.