Assistant Professor - Law and Technology

San José State University; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

San José State University seeks an assistant professor of law and technology in the Justice Studies department, beginning in August 2027. The role develops curricula examining law, technology, and inequality, including AI and digital evidence.

The department emphasizes equity, inclusion, and engagement with the wider community. The successful candidate will teach undergrad and graduate courses, contribute to curriculum development and advising, conduct research, publish, seek external funding,

Qualifications

• PhD before August 2027 or degree conferred by August 2027.
• Evidence of research excellence and teaching ability.
• Demonstrated awareness of diverse student populations and inclusive teaching.
• Fit with social sciences and justice studies focus.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in justice studies and related fields.
• Participate in curriculum development, program planning, and advising.
• Conduct research and publish scholarship; seek external funding.
• Engage in service at department, college and university levels.
• Participate in shared governance and service assignments.
• Organize classes within the Canvas LMS.
• Address needs of diverse student populations through inclusive materials and teaching.

Skills

Research excellence

Teaching excellence

Diversity awareness

Education

PhD in legal studies, criminology, justice studies, cyber security, digital forensics or related social science

Job description

Job no: 559614

Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track

Location: San José

Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Faculty - Social Sciences, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Position Rank and Title: Assistant professor of law and technology

School/Department Name: Justice Studies

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $88,000 - $92,000. Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August 17, 2027

Application Deadline: October 15, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The Department of Justice Studies at San José State University announces a search for an assistant professor of law and technology beginning in August 2027. Technological change, including artificial intelligence and digital evidence, is re‑shaping legal services in ways that have significant implications for equity and access to justice. This position will support the development of a curriculum that critically examines law, technology, and inequality, including issues such as algorithmic bias, digital evidence, and disparities in access to legal resources.

Justice Studies is a multidisciplinary department offering undergraduate programs in justice studies, criminology, forensic science, human rights, and legal studies, and graduate programs in justice studies and global criminology. The forensic science concentration in digital evidence, launched in 2020, prepares graduates for careers in cybersecurity and digital forensics. The Department includes the Record Clearance Project, the only program in the country that engages undergraduate students in using legal skills to clear people’s criminal records, and the Silicon Valley Digital Forensics Laboratory, providing undergraduates with an opportunity to gain practical experience in digital forensics. Additional information and programs are available at https://www.sjsu.edu/justicestudies/.

The Justice Studies department is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student success as inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally sustaining, and academically affirming approaches to supporting and engaging students and faculty. We provide opportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holistic student success, and support scholarship of engagement that addresses issues that affect our campus and community. In all of our endeavors, we strive to build leadership capacity and foster a culture of support and belonging for faculty, staff, and students.

The Department of Justice Studies and San José State University value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll more than 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first‑generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution. SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher‑scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill‑building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

Required Qualifications

• A PhD in legal studies, criminology, justice studies, cyber security, digital forensics or related social science field (e.g. sociology, economics, psychology, public policy); PhD candidates who expect to have a degree conferred by August 2027 are encouraged to apply.
• Candidates must have strong evidence of, or demonstrate the potential for, excellence in research.
• Candidates must demonstrate strong evidence of, or demonstrate the potential for, excellence in teaching.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross‑cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Substantive specialization area in one or more of the following areas: law & society, Black/Latinx experience and/or equity gaps, cybersecurity/digital forensics.
• Potential for delivering Forensic Science‑Digital Evidence curriculum.
• Experience publishing in peer‑reviewed journals or academic press books.
• Experience writing grant proposals.
• Experience teaching at undergraduate or graduate levels.

Key Responsibilities

• The candidate must demonstrate the ability to contribute to the mission of our department in research, teaching and service.
• The candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in our department and participate in curriculum development, program planning, and academic advising.
• The candidate will conduct research, publish scholarship with their specialty area(s), and seek external funding to support scholarly research.
• The candidate will engage in service at the department, college and university levels; providing service to the community and the profession.
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self‑disclose.