Senior Lecturer in Law

**Job details**

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**Responsible to**

Subject Lead for Law

**Location**

One Friar Gate Square, Derby Campus

**Closing date**

Tuesday 17 March 2026

**Salary**

£47,389 to £56,535 per annum pro rata

**Job grade**

HE Senior Lecturer

**Reference**

0284-25

**Contract type**

Permanent

**Post type**

Part-time

**Adaptive working type**

Onsite

This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

**About the University**

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

**About the College/Department**

At the heart of shaping future professionals and creative thinkers, the College of Health and Humanities brings together two dynamic and diverse schools:

**School of Health and Social Care**

Preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals and social care leaders through hands-on learning, expert teaching, and strong industry partnerships. Our courses are designed to meet the demands of real-world practice and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

**School of Humanities, Law and Creative Arts**

Celebrating creativity, critical thinking, and cultural exploration. This school nurtures writers, performers, thinkers and artists, offering opportunities to grow intellectually and creatively across subjects like English, History, Creative Writing, Fine Art, and Media.

The School brings together a wide range of subjects, including

• Humanities
• Law
• Journalism and Media
• Policing, Criminology and Social Sciences
• Creative Arts

Whether exploring the past, shaping future policy, telling powerful stories, or creating inspiring work, our students develop the skills and confidence to contribute meaningfully to society and the creative industries.

Together, the College of Health and Humanities delivers a rich, interdisciplinary environment where students gain the skills, experience, and inspiration to make a meaningful impact in society.

**About the role**

**The Discipline of** **Law**

The University of Derby’s Law discipline is proud to deliver a high-quality, practice-informed legal education that prepares students for real-world impact in the legal profession and beyond.

Our team of experienced academics and practitioners work together to create an intellectually stimulating environment that blends academic excellence with professional relevance. From undergraduate LLB degrees to postgraduate and professional courses, our law provision is grounded in the principles of justice, ethics, and critical thinking.

We are looking for a Senior Lecturer to join our Law team, to work initially on the LLM in Legal Practice (SQE), and then across all our provision such as the LLB (Hons) Law and LLM (Specialist Pathways).

The successful candidate will build on the international reputation of the University and contribute to the delivery of the course through the provision of inspiring and supporting learning opportunities, providing a stimulating and nurturing environment for both students and colleagues. The role will enhance professional, academic and research partnerships to ensure that our courses anticipate the changing needs of the legal profession.

This role is part time, 0.5 FTE (18.5 hours per week).

**About You**

We are looking for a Senior Lecturer to develop and lead modules on our LLM Legal Practice (SQE). To be successful in this role, you will be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister, with Post Qualified Experience, specialising in litigation. You will have experience of module and programme leadership, or equivalent experience in leadership in your profession. You should have experience in teaching or training as appropriate.

You should have the willingness and potential to devise, advise on and manage research, to support our research portfolio.

An understanding, or a willingness to develop an understanding, of key quality metrics such as TEF, REF and KEF is required. You should have an understanding of quality assurance practices in higher education or equivalent in a legal environment.

An ability to work with stakeholders, such as the SRA, and local industry is also desirable.

**Principal accountabilities**

### **Learning / Teaching**

Lead on, or contribute to the leadership within, the subject area on undergraduate, postgraduate, professional and post-experience programmes.

Teach and facilitate learning on core and optional modules relating to the academic discipline.

Ensure that module / programme design and delivery comply with the quality standards and regulations of the University.

Contribute to the development of learning and teaching strategies and ensure that knowledge from research and scholarly activities informs and enhances learning and teaching, as well as extending it to appropriate external activities such as knowledge transfer activities.

Undertake relevant module leadership responsibilities and take on other programme-related work that may include marketing, recruitment, and learning and teaching development.

Supervise student projects at undergraduate / postgraduate levels.

Develop innovative approaches to learning and teaching, such as blended or online, to encourage student centred learning.

Ensure effective monitoring of student progress and provide advice and guidance to staff and students as appropriate.

### **Research / Scholarship**

Take the lead on, plan, develop and conduct research objectives, projects and proposals within the broader programme. Deliver research outcomes that will contribute to the REF.

Acquire, analyse, interpret and evaluate research findings / data using approaches, techniques, models and methods selected or developed for the purpose.

Manage the application of a range of methodologies, approaches and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued. Where appropriate investigate and devise research methods and approaches.

Generate income by developing and winning support for innovative research proposals and funding bids, working where appropriate within Research Centres and Colleges.

Disseminate and explain research findings through leading peer-reviewed national publications (and international where appropriate), conferences and other appropriate media.

Ensure adherence to ethical standards in the projects for which the role holder is responsible.

Monitor research resources such as budget, materials and equipment.

Provide mentoring and guidance to colleagues and co-ordinate the work of research and support staff.

Take a leading role in the development and delivery of business engagement activities, developing entrepreneurial links with external organisations.

Identify own professional needs and undertake appropriate training and staff development.

### **Other**

Act as a personal tutor, supporting and mentoring students as appropriate.

Provide pastoral care to students, referring when necessary to services that provide further support.

Liaise with international partners as required on existing and future collaborations.

Contribute to new initiatives at appropriate levels.

Build on existing research networks, furthering contacts with external organisations such as funding bodies.

Actively seek out and develop opportunities for interdisciplinary research both across the University and externally.

Observe and implement University policies and procedures.

**Person specification**

### **Essential Criteria**

#### **Qualifications**

• Good Honours Degree in relevant subject discipline or equivalent
• PhD or equivalence accepted in a relevant subject area, for example by publication or through appropriate professional achievement
• Qualified to practice in England and Wales as a Solicitor or Barrister, with Post Qualified Experience (PQE) specialising in litigation
• Subject specific qualifications / knowledge
• Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education or equivalent qualification, or equivalent experience in delivering training in a professional environment
• Senior Fellowship of the Advanced HE (HEA) or willingness to work towards

#### **Experience**

##### **Learning / Teaching**

• Demonstrable experience of delivering effective learning, teaching and assessment in Higher Education (HE) to undergraduate and postgraduate students, or equivalent experience in delivering training or supervision in a professional environment
• Demonstrable experience of practicing in litigation, managing own caseload and experience of mentoring in relation to this
• Experience of quality assurance and validation of HE modules/ programmes, or equivalent experience in practice in respect of quality assurance
• Proven experience of module and programme leadership, or equivalent experience in respect of similar leadership
• Demonstrable experience of successful curriculum development, or equivalent in a professional environment
• Demonstrable experience of effectively designing and implementing a range of formative and summative assessments for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, or equivalent experience in designing and implementing training in a professional environment
• Significant experience of excellent teaching identified by peer review, or equivalent experience in delivering excellent training or supervision in a professional environment and recognised as such by peers
• Experience of supervising undergraduate projects and postgraduate research students, providing training and some teaching as appropriate, or equivalent in a professional environment

##### **Research / Scholarship**

• Experience and achievement in the area of litigation, reflected in growing and consistent national reputation
• Evidence of publishing in high quality (“REF able”) journals or other outputs in research or practice, or a willingness to develop a research profile soon after joining supported by a mentor, to contribute to the Law School’s research strategic aims
• Existing links with external bodies in the field of litigation

#### **Skills, knowledge & abilities**

• Excellent knowledge of litigation in practice
• An appropriate level of digital capability and aptitude with practical experience of applications which can be used to enhance student learning
• Ability to communicate with clarity on complex and conceptual ideas to those with limited knowledge and understanding as well as to peers, using high level skills and a range of media
• Excellent ability to build relationships and collaborate with others, internally and externally
• A high level ability to think critically and promote innovation and creativity
• The potential and willingness to devise, advise on and manage research programmes
• Demonstrates competences, core behaviours and supplementary behaviours that support and promote the University’s core values
• Demonstrates an understanding of and willingness to exemplify professionalism in learning / teaching and the values of the UK Professional Standards Framework for HE
• Committed to continual enhancement and a high quality student experience
• Promotes a high performance culture, fostering continuous improvement and driving quality
• A willingness to engage with and develop a sound knowledge of the QAA Quality Code and HEFCE’s Operating Model for Quality Assurance
• A sound knowledge of the current higher education environment and its implications for the student learning experience
• A sound knowledge of the employability agenda and its relevance to learners and the curriculum
• A willingness to engage with and develop a sound knowledge of internationalisation and its relevance for learners and the curriculum

**Benefits**

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 47 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
• Teacher’s Pension Scheme
• Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
• Discounted onsite gym
• Cycle to Work scheme
• A flexible working environment
• A commitment to personal and professional development

**Key contact**

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Christie Eaton , Assistant Head of Discipline/Senior Lecturer: Law via c.eaton@derby.ac.uk

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.

**Important information**

#### **Visa Sponsorship Eligibility**

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

#### **Equity, diversity and inclusion**

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.

We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non-binary-inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.

When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender-neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non-binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.

The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.

However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

Read more about equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Derby.

#### **Environmental Sustainability**

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

**Elevate your career in academia, shape the future today.**

**How to apply**

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You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

**The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.**

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@derby.ac.uk.

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.