Law, Lincoln Alexander Sch Law

Posted:

November 19, 2025

Deadline to Apply:

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Located in downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada and on the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and the Wendat Peoples, the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Toronto Metropolitan University invites applications for the position of Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies. The successful candidate will be appointed for a five-year term commencing July 1, 2026 with the possibility of renewal of up to one additional five-year term.

During the term of appointment as Associate Dean, the incumbent shall be an “associate member” of the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA) in accordance with the TFA Collective Agreement. The processes related to the recruitment and selection of the successful candidate for the Associate Dean position are governed by the Appointment of Academic Administrators Policy and Procedures (the “AAA Policy”). Consistent with other senior university appointments, the successful candidate will receive an administrative stipend for the period of appointment as Associate Dean.

In recognition of the under-representation of members of equity-deserving groups in academic leadership, applications from those who self-identify as one or more of the following groups are particularly encouraged: First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. We welcome those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense.

The Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies will assist the Dean in providing effective academic and administrative leadership in support of the Lincoln Alexander School of Law’s research, and graduate studies priorities. Working under the general direction of the Dean and in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders, the Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, will:

• Provide strategic leadership in the areas of research and graduate programs, development and promotion.

• Engage in strategic planning in support of the School’s research capacity and objectives; help to establish research priorities and goals; implement research support programs; develop policies for grant administration and externally funded research projects and related matters; and support a culture of excellence in research and scholarship graduate, certificate and professional programming.

• Plan and assess graduate and certificate program needs.

• Ensure the proper administration of externally funded research projects and activities, and that the funded research is executed in accordance with the agreement with the project funding agency or institution.

• Work effectively with the Dean and faculty members to secure external project funding and provide appropriate and responsible guarantees, flexibility, and support with regard to these research projects.

• Liaise with the OVPRI to ensure the proper administration, support, budgeting, financing, and reporting of externally funded research projects.

• In cooperation with OVPRI, consult, advise, promote and encourage faculty members in their planning for grant applications, and to facilitate and coordinate individual and group applications for strategic grants.

• Provide effective mentorship to newly hired faculty members to support their research and writing objectives.

• Engage in strategic planning in support of the Faculty’s innovation and technology initiatives and future research centres/institutes as they relate to our four pillars.

• In coordination with the Dean and the School’s advancement and marketing teams, help to plan and prepare fundraising strategies to promote the Lincoln Alexander School of Law; attend functions related to fundraising and programmatic initiatives; promote research and teaching initiatives of faculty members; and undertake other relevant public relations, promotion, marketing, and communications activities as needed.

The successful candidate will be a tenured faculty member in the Law school who holds a Juris Doctor or LL.B. degree as well as: either 1) a Ph.D. in Law or a closely related field by the appointment date, or 2) an LL.M., or a Master’s degree in a closely related field, and engagement in scholarly activities and community work. The successful candidate demonstrates excellence in teaching, SRC, graduate mentorship and service activities and will further present evidence of:

• experience within a University setting and specifically within a legal program;

• an up-to-date understanding of funding opportunities, legal pedagogy, and curricular design;

• knowledge of graduate and certificate programming;

• a commitment to building strategic partnerships with the legal, tech, business, and social justice communities;

• experience or demonstrable capacity in managing a large portfolio of academic administrative matters;

• a proven record of strong SRC output and of fostering SRC activities, including attracting funding;

• experience mentoring faculty and students, especially those who identify as Black, Indigenous and/or racialized persons, and a deep understanding of the barriers that they face in SRC;

• superior organizational, leadership, collaborative and interpersonal skills and positive rapport with faculty and students; an ability to function effectively in a team-oriented environment, fostering productive relationships with pre-tenure faculty, tenured faculty, students and staff;

• experience in curriculum design and implementation; familiarity with pedagogical practices in the Law School; a commitment to excellence in teaching and learning;

• an understanding of operational structure of the University; and

• a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) including an understanding of EDI principles and evidence of application of those principles, or clearly defined plans of how EDI principles will be applied and promoted in research and teaching.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal (click on “” to begin) by December 3, 2025. The application must contain the following:

• a letter of application;

• a curriculum vitae; and

• an EDI statement

Any confidential inquiries can be directed to the committee chair deanoflaw@torontomu.ca.

Contacts

Candidates who belong to one or more of the equity-deserving groups recognized at TMU are welcome to connect with Debbie Thompson [debbie.thompson@torontomu.ca], Executive Director, Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion [www.torontomu.ca/equity].

Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about working at Toronto Metropolitan University are welcome to contact James McKay, the Indigenous Human Resources Lead at TMU at Indigenous@torontomu.ca.

Any confidential inquiries about the opportunity can be directed to the deanoflaw@torontomu.ca

Lincoln Alexander School of Law

Our School offers a Juris Doctor program to students of diverse backgrounds. Our faculty prides itself on the excellence of its research, the quality of its teaching and community engagement. We are interested in candidates who will contribute to our existing strengths in research/creative activity and teaching through academic, professional and diverse lived experiences and perspectives.

The successful candidate will contribute to strengthening our Juris Doctor program, and it’s Four Pillars:

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion;

• Increasing Access to Justice;

• Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and

• Academic Excellence.

Lincoln Alexander Law has an outstanding reputation for scholarly work and an innovative teaching culture. It is one of only two law schools in the country to offer an Integrated Practice Curriculum that integrates lawyering skills in each year of the program, allowing our graduates to be licensed as lawyers without articling. The law school’s community legal clinic involves students in legal advocacy on behalf of low-income residents in our community.

Lincoln Alexander Law is committed to advancing Indigenous legal education in Canada. The school’s Indigenous Legal Education Committee works with community partners to create opportunities for faculty, staff and students to engage in land-based learning. In addition to seeking to hire Indigenous faculty, this year the school will be establishing a staff position for a Director of Indigenous Initiatives who will play a key leadership role in advancing Indigenous student support, Indigenous community engagement, and reconciliation efforts at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. This role focuses on culturally grounded student programming, advising, and community partnerships that promote Indigenous student success and advance the law school’s commitments to reconciliation and Indigenous inclusion in legal education.

The successful candidate will engage in a combination of teaching, research and service duties, maintaining an inclusive, equitable, and collegial work environment across all activities. Responsibilities include: contributing to our Juris Doctor program through teaching, mentoring and supervision of students; participating in curriculum development/expansion as appropriate; establishing and maintaining a strong, community-engaged research agenda, including pursuing innovative, independent research that produces cutting-edge high quality results; and participating in the academic life of the Law School and the University.

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)

Serving a highly diverse student population of over 45,000, with 100+ undergraduate and graduate programs built on the integration of theoretical and practical learning and distinguished by a professionally focussed curriculum with a strong emphasis on excellence in teaching, research and creative activities, TMU is a vibrant, urban university known for its culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, community engagement and city-building through its award-winning architecture.

As part of its response to the Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), TMU has adopted processes and supports towards the hiring and evaluation practices relating to Indigenous faculty members.