Rule of Law Fellow, Neukom Center for the Rule of Law, Stanford Law School

2027-2028 Rule of Law Fellow, Neukom Center for the Rule of Law, Stanford Law School

Fixed-term for one-year with possible extension.

About the Center:

Building on Stanford Law School’s long history as a leading voice on the rule of law, Neukom Center for the Rule of Law works on numerous fronts to research key questions related to accountability, just laws, open government, and accessible justice around the world.

Established in 2022, the Neukom Center opens its doors at a critical time, when numerous studies, including from The World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, reveal a decline in the rule of law around the world. The interdisciplinary Center is a home for research, teaching, collaboration, public discourse, and policy labs, all of which share a common goal: to produce trailblazing research on countering global trends toward autocracy and on how to strengthen accessible, impartial justice and open government.

The Center’s focus on interdisciplinary projects elevates rule of law issues across Stanford University, including through the University’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law and the Hoover Institution, as well as academic institutions globally.

With the goal of inspiring a new generation of scholars to strengthen the rule of law within the United States and globally, the Center embraces a multidisciplinary approach to confronting complex, global challenges. While housed at the Law School, the Center looks outward toward a broad range of disciplines. The fundamental goal is collaboration with like-minded initiatives to leverage diverse voices and uncover the most innovative paths forward.

Job Description:

This fellowship is intended for people who have recently completed (or will soon complete) their training in law and/or doctoral level degree (PhD/J.S.D.) in a relevant discipline (history, political science, economics, etc.) and who seek an academic career working on rule of law questions (broadly interpreted). The research may involve, among others, questions of comparative constitutional law, law and development, comparative law, judicial reforms, democracy, governance and institutions, and related topics.

The Fellowship:

The Stanford Neukom Center for the Rule of Law is a residential fellowship that provides an opportunity to conduct research in the dynamic environment of Stanford University. The fellowship is for one year with the opportunity of extending for a second year based on accomplishments and budgetary approval (under the sole discretion of the Center to determine). Though we expect that fellow will dedicate most of their time to pursuing their proposed research projects, we expect the fellow to be responsible for planning and executing specific
projects for the Cetner as well, including the annual Rule of Law Roundtable. The fellowship is designed to ensure meaningful mentorship from faculty within the law school as well as in the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Stanford University.

Fellows are encouraged to become part of a lively law-school-wide community of individuals with an interest in legal academia by attending weekly faculty lunch seminars and participating in activities with the other fellows at Stanford Law School. Fellows are also encouraged to attend and participate in the broad range of lectures and workshops available within the broader university, including among others, CDDRL. For the 2027-2028 fellowship, we will provide a workspace, a competitive salary, and a generous benefits package

Qualifications: Applicants should have a JD or doctoral level degree (PhD/J.S.D.) in a relevant area. Successful applicants may also have experience in a federal appellate clerkship, and a demonstrated aptitude for original research, typically in the form of past publications or notes.

How to Apply: All applicants should apply through the Stanford Careers portal (Search for Requisition Number 201616), and should include the following AS ONE PDF DOCUMENT:
(1) a CV;
(2) graduate transcripts;
(3) a research proposal of no more than five double-space pages (briefly outlining past work but focused primarily on research to be undertaken during the fellowship); and (4) official transcripts of all academic work pursued in college, as well as in graduate programs.
In addition,
(5) applicants should provide two letters of recommendation, to be emailed directly by the recommenders themselves to Lucy Ricca (lricca@law.stanford.edu).

The expected pay range for this position is $72,000 to $75,000 per annum upon hire. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.