An academic in Criminal law and Vulnerabilities (50%)

UCLouvain; Louvain-la-Neuve; On-site; EUR 25,000 - 38,000; Part time

Job summary

UCLouvain seeks to recruit a part-time academic in Criminal law and Vulnerabilities. You will teach Youth Justice, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Sentence Enforcement across the faculty and School of Criminology, supervising Master’s theses in Law and Criminology.

You will lead research in Youth Justice and Criminal Law, supervise PhD theses, and participate in governance within the faculty and research institutes, contributing to society and international visibility.

Qualifications

• PhD in Law/Legal Studies, preferably criminology.
• Proven record in university teaching with international-level publications.
• Extended stay or significant experience abroad.
• Significant experience in criminal law practice in Belgium.
• Expertise in vulnerabilities at the intersection of rights, security, and standards.
• Able to teach law to students with limited knowledge of law.
• Able to conduct high-level scientific research from funding to team management.

Responsibilities

• Teach mainly in Youth Justice, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Sentence Enforcement.
• Supervise Master’s theses in Law and Criminology.
• Develop and lead research programmes in Youth Justice, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Sentence Enforcement.
• Engage in service activities within the faculty and contribute to international visibility.

Skills

Team collaboration

Pedagogical innovation

Interdisciplinary research

French English

Public speaking

Education

PhD in Law

Job description

An academic in Criminal law and Vulnerabilities (50%)

Reference: 38679 / DRT 018P / 2027

UCLouvain seeks to recruit

A part-time academic position in Criminal law and Vulnerabilities

About us

UCLouvain is the leading French-speaking university in Belgium and is also widely recognised internationally. Founded in the heart of Europe in 1425, the university brings together 40,000 students and 6,000 staff members on nine campuses in Brussels and Wallonia. Research and education activities are organised in 20 faculties, 23 research institutes, 5 learning centres and 18 libraries. UCLouvain also has two university hospitals.

UCLouvain is a major player in the transition to a sustainable society. The challenges of the ecological crisis are integrated into courses and the university develops numerous local projects (such as a university farm and sustainable campuses). As a digital university, UCLouvain is involved in open science and education, and trains academics in innovative teaching practices through its Louvain Learning Lab. Thanks to two science parks, the university’s research benefits from interaction with 250 companies and 3 incubators, which is fuelled further by being at the centre of a region driven by technological innovation.

UCLouvain has a strong tradition of international collaboration in both teaching and research. These partnerships take shape through numerous exchange agreements, its firm commitment to the European alliance Circle U. and the network The Guild, as well as the welcoming of a large community of international researchers, supported by the Louvain Welcome Desk.

Within the Faculty of Law and Criminology (DRT) and the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Legal and Criminological Sciences (JUR‑I), Social Sciences and Humanities Sector, this position will include the following teaching, research and community service duties:

• Teaching

You will teach mainly in the field of Youth Justice, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Sentence Enforcement, in the various programmes managed by the faculty, including by the School of Criminology. You will also be expected to supervise Master’s theses (in Law and in Criminology).

• Research

You will develop your research activities, including the lead of research programmes in the field of Youth Justice, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Sentence Enforcement. You will be responsible for the supervision of PhD theses.

Once tenured, you will carry out various service activities and responsibilities within the institution, such as being a member of a programme committee or examination committee or having management responsibilities within the faculty, including the School of Criminology or the research institute.

You will also contribute to serving society, particularly in the economic, social, cultural or development cooperation fields. Finally, you will ensure, through research and teaching activities, the university’s international visibility.

Who we’re looking for

• Education

You have a PhD in Law/Legal Studies possibly supplemented by training in another discipline within the humanities – preferably in criminology.

• Experience

You have a proven track record in university teaching, with evidence where possible by formal evaluations. Your scientific experience is demonstrated by publications of international standing.

You have supplemented this with an extended stay or significant experience abroad, outside the institution that awarded your doctorate.

You have significant experience of criminal law practice (as a barrister, judge or in an equivalent role) in Belgium.

You have recognised expertise in situations of vulnerability, viewed at the intersection of fundamental rights, security requirements and the effectiveness of legal standards. This interest relates both to vulnerable groups (children, persons deprived of their liberty, people with mental health issues, etc.) and to the structural contexts (climate change, migration dynamics, health crises, economic precarity, etc.) that generate or exacerbate these situations.

• Skills

You are comfortable working as part of a team of academics and integrate research results into your teaching. You are creative, open to pedagogical innovation and multidisciplinary. In particular, you are able to teach legal subjects to students with limited knowledge of law

You are capable of conducting high-level scientific research, from obtaining funding to team management. You are able to approach your work from an interdisciplinary perspective, demonstrating an openness to methodologies from the social sciences (in particular criminology, sociology, political science and psychology).

You can communicate in French and English. If this is not the case, you undertake to acquire a command of these two languages within two years of taking up your position. Knowledge of other languages, such as in particular Dutch, is an asset.

What we offer

• Tenure after positive assessment of the probationary period – typically four years. This type of career entitles you to a public sector pension.
• Appointment as lecturer or professor according to your previous academic experience, as determined by the Rectoral Council.
• Teaching load capped at 90 hours for a full-time tenure-track position, and 150 hours once tenured.
• An attractive and progressive salary according to seniority and the promotion process.
• A start date of 1 September 2027 at the earliest.
• An integrated leadership and management training programme, including a range of pedagogical, linguistic and other training courses.
• Benefits including transport, family, culture, commercial, etc.
• Official policy that supports equal opportunities and promotes diversity within academic and all other categories of staff.
• Specific emphasis on a work-life balance.

Practical Information

Application deadline: 5 November 2026 at noon (UTC+1 Time Zone)
Starting date:September 1st 2027

Location:

Social Sciences and Humanities Sector
(DRT) (https://uclouvain.be/en/faculties/DRT)
(JURI) (https://uclouvain.be/en/research-institutes/JURI)