Research Fellow, Animal Law Program

Apply now Job no:496856
Work type:Staff Full-Time
Location:Denver, CO
Categories:Legal Professionals, Research, Postdoc / Fellow
Division: Sturm College of Law

A national leader in experiential and interdisciplinary legal education, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most innovative and ascendant law schools. The law school features a community of nationally recognized scholar-teachers, an outstanding student body, an accomplished and highly professional staff, and roughly 17,000 alumni who have achieved careers of distinction in law, business, government, public interest, and other professional domains. Located in a beautiful and economically vibrant metropolitan area, the Sturm College of Law supports a full-time JD program, a part-time weekend JD program, a range of pioneering Master’s programs, and a set of esteemed specialty programs – including an internationally recognized Animal Law Program.

Position Summary

The Animal Law Program at the Sturm College of Law is the only animal law program in the Rocky Mountain West. Among its goals, the Program seeks to train the next generation of advocates to protect the well-being of non-human animals in the United States and around the world. The Program also publishes and disseminates high-quality, interdisciplinary research designed to catalyze beneficial change in law and public policy, in the service of protecting animals.

Working under the supervision of the Director of the Animal Law Program, and collaborating with the Faculty Research Liaison and other faculty research librarians within the Westminster Law Library, the Research Fellow will undertake research focused on three projects:

1) Developing a research guide to the field of animal law and related interdisciplinary studies designed for researchers in the United States and around the world;

2) Creating a digest that identifies key scholarly contributions to the field of animal law and animal studies; and

3) Compiling a state-level compendium of animal laws and articulating an associated protocol designed to keep the resource current.

This is a one-year grant-funded position, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year, subject to available grant funding.

Essential Functions

• Collaborate with the Director of the Animal Law Program, the Faculty Research Liaison, and faculty research librarians within the Westminster Law Library to undertake high-quality in-depth legal research on the identified projects.
• Actively participate in the programmatic activities of the Animal Law Program.
• Undertake additional research and collaboration as appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong and creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic planning skills
• A high degree of professionalism
• The ability to function in a high-paced, collaborative work environment

Required Qualifications

• A JD or equivalent law degree
• Excellent legal research and writing skills

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in Library and Information Science
• Experience with state-level legislative research
• Familiarity with the field of animal law

Work Schedule
Normal hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Some evening and occasional weekend hours are required. 

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) January 10, 2024.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 11.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $75,000-$80,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement .

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.