Vice Dean and Vice President for Academic AI & Emerging Legal Technologies | Professor of Law

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence is transforming every facet of the legal profession—from research and drafting to litigation strategy and client service. Law schools have a responsibility to prepare graduates for this reality by embedding AI technologies and literacy into the core of legal education. In addition, as courts, law firms, and corporate legal departments increasingly adopt AI-driven tools across a wide range of work product, client services, and internal operations, proficiency in and understanding of these technologies are essential for effective and ethical practice, competent legal advice, and legal leadership.

Southwestern is committed to equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in an AI-driven legal landscape and to equipping faculty with the capacity to train those students effectively. By providing strategic and thought leadership in integrating AI competency across the educational experience, the Vice Dean/Vice President will ensure that our academic programs remain workplace-relevant and at the forefront of innovation. This role will advance the institution’s goals of fostering AI literacy and ethical AI use, and of preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly changing legal environment.

Because Southwestern anticipates that other technologies will emerge that also will impact legal education and law practice, we anticipate that this role will evolve as technology evolves.

Key Responsibilities (administrative – approx. 75%)

Strategic leadership in academic AI: Work with the faculty and other senior law school leaders to develop and implement a long-term vision for AI and other legal technology across the curriculum, assessment, and student support. Maintain an evolving AI and technology strategy incorporating immediate, short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans. Stay curious about and maintain awareness of evolving AI technologies, uses, and potential applications in law schools and the legal profession, as well as legal and regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines. Consider how the law school can continue to lead in areas of traditional strength, including entertainment law, public service/public interest law, and advocacy. Ensure the law school’s initiatives keep pace with industry developments and best practices.
Curricular integration, AI literacy, and innovation: Collaborate with the faculty to integrate AI and other technology into the J.D. Learning Outcomes and existing courses and to design new courses and programs. Collaborate with faculty to help determine what skills students will need to practice law in the future and how to adjust the curriculum to ensure graduates are prepared to practice. Help train or secure training for faculty and students to ensure the desired level of AI and technology literacy and capacity to engage in AI and technology leadership in practice.
Policy development and academic integrity: On a regular basis, work with the faculty and senior campus leaders to review and revise policies, guidance statements, and other statements of best practices implicated by or impacting the use of AI or other technology. Devise and implement approaches and guidelines for operationalizing AI tools and technology, including experiments and pilots.
Faculty development and support: In collaboration with the IDEA Committee, organize workshops, tutorials, and individualized consultations to help faculty build AI literacy, experiment with AI-assisted teaching and research methods, learn about other technologies that might advance teaching, learning, and scholarship, and develop accessible materials.
IT partnership and technology vetting: Collaborate with the law school’s CIO, IT department, Associate Dean for Assessment, and Institutional Effectiveness Office to identify, evaluate, and implement AI-related or other technology-related software and platforms that impact the academic mission. Help ensure that new tools align with educational objectives. Help develop and vet appropriate training for faculty and students. Monitor, track, and report on the usage, effectiveness, and Return on Investment. Collaborate to develop institutional AI-use policies to ensure data security and legal compliance.
Data analytics and research: Work with the Institutional Effectiveness Office to collect and analyze data on student performance, satisfaction, and engagement in AI-integrated courses and initiatives, and AI practice-readiness. Lead or support grant proposals and research projects that examine the impact of AI and other technology on student learning, access to justice, and professional responsibility.
Ethical and regulatory guidance: Monitor laws, legal ethics opinions and guidance, and regulatory developments relating to AI and related technology and issues. Work with the school’s General Counsel and CIO to ensure compliance.
External relationships and programming: Serve as Southwestern’s liaison to external organizations regarding AI initiatives, and participate in conferences and other events. Investigate potential partnerships with other institutions of higher education, nonprofits, government institutions, and reputable technology companies. Participate in offering AI-related CLEs to alumni on an annual basis. Periodically present programming around AI and the Law, inviting AI and other relevant legal technology practitioners to update the Law School community on current and upcoming developments. Build partnerships for externships, clinics, and other programs that might benefit students and faculty. Engage alumni, practitioners, and judges through surveys, focus groups, an advisory board, or events.
Institutional effectiveness and accreditation: Contribute to Southwestern’s accreditation efforts by documenting how AI initiatives support mission fulfillment, student achievement, and continuous improvement. Coordinate with the ABA, WSCUC, and other accrediting bodies on emerging standards for AI and other technology in legal education.
Resource development and funding: Work with the President & Dean and the Institutional Advancement Office to research and pursue grant, foundation, and donor support for AI and other technology programming and initiatives.

Teaching Responsibilities (approx. 25%)

Teach, on average, one course per year on the intersection of AI with the legal system or profession.

Qualifications

J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school or an equivalent law degree from a foreign law school.
At least 10 years of full-time teaching experience at an ABA-accredited law school.
Tenure-eligible.
Distinguished record of teaching and scholarship commensurate with the appointment offered.
Practical experience using AI-assisted research, drafting, or analysis tools in legal or academic settings. Familiarity with emerging AI regulations and ethical frameworks.
Ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, manage budgets and programs, and deliver projects on schedule. Prior administrative experience in higher‑education settings is strongly preferred.
Experience developing learning outcomes and conducting program assessment.
Excellent writing and public‑speaking skills; ability to explain technical concepts to non-specialists; willingness to engage with faculty, students, alumni, and the bar.

Compensation:

$250,000-$350,000 (12-month appointment), commensurate with qualifications and higher education administrative experience. Additional administrative stipend equal to that paid to other Vice Deans (currently $50,000/year). Professional development and travel budget.

Other Information

Full-time. Faculty status and senior administrative position. This position reports to the President & Dean.

The administrative appointment is at will, while the faculty appointment would be continuing (assuming an appointment with tenure is offered).

The successful candidate must live or agree to move to the Los Angeles area at the start of the appointment. We hope the successful candidate can start between June 1 and August 1, 2026.

To Apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting in mid-March; only complete applications will be reviewed. Email applications to academicadmin@swlaw.edu.

Required application components:

Current CV.
At least three professional references who can speak to your work in and knowledge about AI and academic administration. References will not be contacted until a candidate has been invited for a campus interview.
Teaching evaluations from the two most recent years you have taught.
Separate written statements (~500 words each), narrated slide decks (~4 minutes each), or videos (~4 minutes each)—feel free to mix and match (e.g., a narrated slide deck for prompt “a” and a video for prompt “b”)—that directly address the following prompts:
1. Describe a concrete way you have integrated generative or agentic AI into law teaching while preserving academic integrity. Include: (a) the course or learning context, (b) the specific AI use case(s), (c) guardrails (policy, attribution, assessment design), (d) how you measured effectiveness, and (e) what you would change the next time you taught the topic.
2. Provide an example of a significant organizational change you led in an academic setting (e.g., curriculum redesign, accreditation initiative, new program launch). Include: (a) the problem statement and why change was necessary, (b) stakeholders and sources of resistance, (c) your change strategy and timeline, (d) governance and decision-making structure, (e) measurable outcomes, and (f) one thing you would do differently and why.

Southwestern is an equal opportunity employer.

For applicants who may need accommodations, please review Disability Accommodation Policy for Employees and Job Applicants.