Assistant/Associate, Business, Family, Indigenous or Private Law (4 Positions)

Osgoode Hall Law School, York University

Osgoode Hall Law School at York University invites highly qualified applicants for 4 positions as an Assistant and/or Associate Professor in the areas of: 

1. Business Law (with demonstrated expertise in corporate law); 
2. Family Law (specifically focused on the fundamentals of family law with direct relevance and impact in Canada, including the law governing marriage, divorce, child custody and support, property division, adoption, guardianship and family dispute resolution); or 
3. Indigenous Law (specifically the law and legal traditions of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Although there is a preference for an Indigenous scholar, applications are welcomed from all qualified candidates); or
4. Private Law (restricted to Contract Law and/or Tort Law). 

We expect that two of these appointments would be made at the Assistant Professor level and two at either the Assistant or Associate Professor level. These are open tenure-track appointments to the Professorial Stream to commence July 1, 2027.

Osgoode Hall Law School https://www.osgoode.yorku.ca/ is one of Canada’s most distinguished and recognized legal institutions. For more than a century, we have been preparing law students and future professionals. Osgoode’s motto, Through Law to Justice, reflects our commitment to legal education and research in service of the legal profession, Canada, and the wider world.

Osgoode is currently finalizing an inclusive, consultative, and coordinated planning process for its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. The plan is organized around three primary areas of focus:

1. Teaching & Learning: Championing a full spectrum of inspiring, relevant, and demanding legal education, from JD to graduate to life-long professional development.
2. Research & Knowledge: Producing, mobilizing, and recognizing rigorous, original, and consequential legal scholarship that advances knowledge, policy development, innovation, and impact.
3. Osgoode’s People and Place in the World: Making a difference by connecting learning, research, and professional development with Osgoode's local and global partners and communities.

Osgoode is committed to academic excellence, truth and reconciliation, equity and diversity, inclusion, and well-being across the full spectrum of its work. These commitments inform our teaching, research, community engagement, and the support we provide to students, faculty, and staff.

Candidate Qualifications:

• Degree: All candidates must hold a JD degree and a graduate degree in law or equivalent credentials. PhD or PhD near completion by the appointment’s start in law or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Scholarship:
• A coherent and well-articulated program of research, writing and knowledge dissemination.
• A record or evident promise of generating innovative, substantive, rigorous, and as appropriate, externally funded research and/or writing.
• A record or evident promise of making influential contributions and demonstrating excellence of a recognized international calibre in the field (e.g. clear research plan; a record of high-quality publications (or forthcoming publications), including with significant journals in the field; presentations at major conferences; awards and achievements; and strong recommendations from referees of high standing).
  • Teaching:
• A record or evident promise of excellence in teaching and dedication to students (e.g. a teaching dossier; teaching accomplishments and pedagogical innovations, including in high-priority areas such as experiential education and technology-enhanced learning; teaching evaluations; and strong letters of reference).
• Suitability for prompt appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, given that the positions will involve graduate teaching and supervision.

Hiring Policies:

•  The anticipated starting salary for this position at the rank of Assistant Professor is in the range of $115,000 to $145,000 and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The anticipated starting salary for this position at the rank of Associate Professor will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. York University offers generous benefits and salary provisions.
• All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval.
• Osgoode Hall Law School is committed https://www.osgoode.yorku.ca/academic-employment-opportunities/commitment-to-equity/  to the principles of equality and diversity, and inclusion, broadly understood. We are particularly interested in candidates with diverse backgrounds and especially encourage candidates in equity, diversity and inclusion categories. As a part of this commitment, the Law School’s Employment Equity Plan aims to increase the representation on faculty of members from five groups: women, racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2+ persons. Persons identifying as members of these equity-seeking groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

• York welcomes and employs scholars from all over the world. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. 

  York has a policy on Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities https://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/policies/accommodation-in-employment-for-persons-with-disabilities/ and is committed to working towards a barrier-free workplace and expanding the accessibility of the workplace to persons with disabilities. Applicants who require accommodation are invited to contact Adam Parachin, Chair of the Faculty Recruitment Committee,  facultyrecruitment@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Application Process:

• Due date for completed applications: November 7, 2026 
• Required materials: 1) a completed https://www.osgoode.yorku.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Osgoode-Faculty-Application-Form.pdf;  2) current CV; 3) cover letter; 4) copies of law and graduate transcripts; 5) a detailed research plan; 6) a teaching dossier (see details below); 7) copies of three academic articles or book chapters authored by the applicant (where published materials are not available, one or more dissertation/thesis chapter(s) may be submitted in lieu); 8) contact information for three referees. Reference letters will only be requested from shortlisted candidates All applications will be kept confidential to the Osgoode Faculty Recruitment Committee and faculty colleagues who provide reviews of files.
• The teaching dossier should be no more than 15-20 pages and should include teaching evaluations, a statement of teaching philosophy, an account of teaching experiences and related responsibilities (list of courses taught/course outlines, examples of print and digital teaching materials and how they are used), a summary of commitment to professional development (participation in teaching workshops; supervision of masters and doctoral students; mentoring new faculty), and other evidence of teaching effectiveness (student letters of support; teaching awards).
• Provide required information regarding your Canadian work status and optional self-identification for Affirmative Action purposes at this link: YUWorkAA http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YUWorkAA.
• A process for verifying Indigenous belonging may be applied to candidates who identify as Indigenous. 
• Direct questions about the position process or applications to Adam Parachin, Chair of the Faculty Recruitment Committee, at facultyrecruitment@osgoode.yorku.ca.
• Submit materials to email: facultyrecruitment@osgoode.yorku.ca, as a single PDF.

Learn More About York and Osgoode:

• York University generates and shares knowledge through our research, teaching and engagement with communities around the world. The 2023-2028 Strategic Research Plan https://www.yorku.ca/research/strategic-research-plan-2023-2028/ showcases the depth, breadth and ambition of research at York.
• York’s commitments to social justice are laid out in our Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategyhttps://www.yorku.ca/dedi-strategy/, the Framework & Action Plan on Black Inclusion https://www.yorku.ca/abr/ and the Indigenous Framework for York University https://www.yorku.ca/indigenous-landing/wp-content/uploads/sites/817/2025/08/Indigenous-Framework-for-York-University-A-Guide-to-Action.pdf.
• Follow the activities and accomplishments of York’s faculty, students and staff on YFilehttps://www.yorku.ca/yfile/.

First Nations peoples have lived on this part of Turtle Island for millennia, stewarding the land, the water and all that contributes to life in this region. Today, the culture and presence of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples enrich the lands and people of this territory. More than two centuries ago, the Mississauga people welcomed settlers to this territory, providing sustenance and engaging in trade and commerce. Today, York University campuses are located on the Toronto Purchase Treaty No. 13 lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the lands of the Anishinabek of the Williams Treaties First Nations. Our campuses are also situated on the traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat and the Haudenosaunee. Treaty history is foundational, and it is our collective responsibility to honour the land, as we honour and respect those who have gone before us, those who are here and those who have yet to come. We are grateful for the opportunity to be learning, working and thriving on this land, and we commit to learn the truth and be active in the process of reconciliation.