Associate Professor in Law

• Seeking academic expertise within Private or Public Law
• Make real impact - utilise your passion for legal teaching, research and citizenship
• Permanent, full-time role based at AUT's City Campus in Auckland

Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is New Zealand's newest university and one of its most distinctive. Centred on students and grounded in knowledge that works, AUT is 5-star rated by QS, with more than 27,000 students and 4,000 staff based primarily across three Auckland campuses. It's a place of real opportunity, where the values of Pono, Tika and Aroha shape how talented, progressive people work together – and you'll feel that in the culture, in the collaboration and in the difference the work makes for students, communities and the world.

Our community is stronger because of the role Te Tiriti plays in how we operate, and because Māori and Pacific knowledge, leadership and contribution are central to who we are. We embrace diversity in all its forms and are proud to welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs.

AUT’s Law School

AUT's Law School (part of AUT's Faculty of Business, Economics and Law) comprises distinguished scholars and practitioners dedicated to mentoring the next generation of legal professionals, providing innovative and comprehensive legal education, and producing research which impacts the legal landscape across New Zealand and the wider Pacific region. Our focus is on serving our wider community. A commitment to Tikanga (the principles and practices of Māori culture and values) and Te Aronui (AUT's Te Tiriti framework) is integrated into our curriculum and the way we work, ensuring that students gain a profound understanding of New Zealand's unique legal landscape. We offer a vibrant, inclusive and engaging academic environment where students are encouraged to engage critically with the law and develop practical skills.

We invite passionate and accomplished academics to join our team and contribute to our mission of shaping the future of law through impactful teaching, groundbreaking research, and meaningful community engagement.

To learn more about our Law School, please click here: AUT's Law School

The opportunity \| Te Whiwhinga mahi

We have a permanent, full-time (37.5 hours per week) opportunity for an Associate Professor to make significant impact and develop their career in teaching, research and service. We are open to expertise across areas relevant to our Law School and are particularly interested in applicants with expertise and ability to teach into:

• Contract Law, Land Law or Torts

You'll teach across programmes as assigned by the Dean of Law, while also having the opportunity to develop new courses that reflect your particular strengths and interests. We embrace practice-led, as well as research-informed, approaches to teaching where the student experience is optimised. Your contributions to programme and course development will enhance our continuous improvement focus.

Research at AUTis central to our mission, driving innovation, informing teaching and creating real-world impact for communities, industry and society. You will be expected to publish actively in your specialised field/s. We offer an excellent research environment with financial support for research, additional contestable grants and with guidance available from senior scholars. It is also expected that over time the successful candidate will seek external research funding, engage with government, business, professional bodies and the community, and contribute to School/Faculty activities including supporting and mentoring junior colleagues.

What we offer \| Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou

At AUT, you’ll join a values-led university that supports you to thrive. Benefit from flexible working, a supportive culture, cultural capability development for all staff, and strong growth opportunities – while advancing your impact through clear career pathways, recognition and research, and teaching support. To learn more about our competitive staff benefits, please click HERE.

About you \| Ko wai koe

As an academic member of staff at AUT, you’ll blend teaching, research and engagement to create outcomes that have real impact on the world. You’ll work closely with students, collaborate across disciplines and contribute to projects alongside our industry and community partners. With room to experiment, develop your skills and refine your practice, you’ll be supported to make a practical, impactful contribution to both learning and discovery.

You will bring an open, engaging, and collaborative approach, with the flexibility to respond to changing requirements, and actively contribute to a positive and collegial environment. You will demonstrate cultural humility, awareness, and respect when engaging with indigenous peoples and culturally diverse communities. Experience supporting indigenous, equity, or inclusion focused initiatives is highly desirable.

To be successful in this role you will ideally have:

1. Qualification:

• A minimum of a completed LLM.

2. Teaching and Learning:

• Substantial undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience, including course and assessment design, delivery, and coordination.
• Ability to engage with students in innovative and engaging ways.
• Ability to contribute to curriculum innovation and the development of high-quality course content.
• Ability to design and deliver innovative assessments.
• Proven ability to attract and supervise postgraduate research students.

3. Research and Scholarship:

• Extensive publication record in top-tier law journals.
• Established international research networks and demonstrated potential or experience securing external research funding.
• Proven ability to build and sustain collaborative research partnerships across academia and industry.
• Editorial board membership and/or experience as an editor, guest editor or conference track chair.

4. Equity and Te Aronui

• A champion for equity and capability to support the school on its Te Aronui journey.
• Demonstrated academic leadership and service – either internally or externally.
• Experience engaging with industry, government, and community stakeholders to translate and apply research.
• Proven ability to communicate research to non-academic audiences, including through media engagement.

Please feel free to add any further comments you feel may also support your application.

How to apply \| Me pēhea te tuku tono

Along with your full academic CV (including a complete list of any previous teaching, publications and any grant acquisitions) - please also submit:

• A cover letter explaining why this role and AUT are of interest, and how your experience aligns with some, or all, of the selection criteriawe're seeking above;

• A research statement (1 page max);

• Evidence of satisfactory student evaluations and innovation in teaching (2 pages max).

All applications must be submitted through the online application process.

Further information:

• Start date and term: The successful candidate would ideally join AUT no later than June 2027 and will secure a permanent, full-time academic appointment.
• Salary range: NZD $155,156 - NZD $179,634 (salary step commensurate with skills and experience).
• For academic enquiries: Contact Professor Ceri Warnock, Dean of the AUT Law School [email protected]. For recruitment enquiries: Contact Mike Wood, AUT Executive Recruitment Partner - [email protected].

Closing date for applications: Sunday 6 December at 11.55pm NZST.

Interviews: To take place in mid-late January 2027.

Reference: 97182

At AUT we strive to be a place where people love to work and learn. We are committed to te Tiriti, excellence and inclusivity and aspire to be the University of choice for Māori and Pacific communities. We welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs. Please note that all applications must be submitted through the online application process. For further information, please send us an enquiry here or call 921 9499. Please note we are happy to answer your questions but we do not accept applications by email. You will need to apply through the standard registration process.Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi.

With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive.

Job Details

Reference # 97182

Location (s) City Campus

Employment type (s) Full-time permanent

Closes on 06 Dec 2026 23:55

Expertise Associate Professor

Experience level (s) Experienced (2 years +)

Candidate Information Guide

Posted on 04 Nov 2026