The chair will be firmly embedded in a working environment in which a comparative attitude is treasured. The Institute currently has a Chair of Comparative and Transnational Law of Civil Procedure (chair of the Institute of Anglo-American Law) and it plans to set up a visiting professor program for German and French comparative law scholars.
We are seeking to appoint a versatile common law scholar with a firm grasp of foundational subjects such as contract law, the law of torts, property law or secured transactions. Although the focus of the chair has been on the English tradition so far, we invite all candidates with a common law background, whether it is English, American or Asian/Australian. More importantly, we are looking for a scholar who is willing and able to interact with our student and researchers to mutually enrich, to participate in our research projects and show professorial initiative in developing new strands of research and teaching.

Teaching

• The Anglo-American Private Law chair will be responsible for teaching and thesis supervision in the Civil Law LLM and the Advanced Master International Civil and Commercial Law. The specific programme and subjects are subject to further agreement and depend on the areas of expertise of the chair;
• Courses are taught in Leiden, in the English language.

Research

• The Anglo-American Private Law chair will take part in the research programme of the Institute of Private Law, not only by publishing scholarly work but also by inspiring, guiding and supporting staff members and students in the field of Anglo-American Private Law.

• A PhD in private law – in the field of contract law, tort law and/or property law (land law, real property and trusts) – or similar academic experience;
• Practice experience and/or academic experience in a common law jurisdiction;
• Knowledge of systems of continental private law;
• Excellent teaching record;
• Well respected, with a network in the English speaking academia;
• Availability in Leiden to teach courses during two consecutive periods per year of approximately five weeks each;
• Availability to perform relevant duties at a distance during the remainder of the year.

Initial period of employment in this position is for 5 years. Salary range from € 5334.- to € 7766.- gross per month on a full-time basis (pay scale HL2 , in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). Please note that the candidate will be appointed on a 0.2 FTE basis.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions.

Diversity
Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Universiteit Leiden

Leiden is a typical university city, hosting the oldest university in the Netherlands (1575). The University permeates the local surroundings; University premises are scattered throughout the city, and the students who live and study in Leiden give the city its relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere.

Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge in applying for academic posts and for functions outside academia. More at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at.

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/werken-bij

Leiden Law School

At Leiden Law School, the Institute of Private Law has a strong reputation for teaching and researching private law from a comparative perspective. We educate researchers with a firm international, comparative and interdisciplinary outlook on core issues of contract, tort, restitution and property. We deliver alumni who are comfortable with studying differences and similarities of legal rules and doctrines across various legal systems. One of the cornerstones of the Institute’s research and teaching concerns the interaction of legal systems, such as the interaction of the law of the European Union and concepts of national private law.

Given our ambition to equip our researchers and students with the tools to compare, analyse and evaluate private law from a comparative and international perspective, the study of Anglo-American commercial law has always been an important part of our teaching. The English common law in particular has certain features that are essential to study for continental lawyers. These include not merely the very notion of common law but also the various aspects of the law of contract, the specific structure of tortious liability and the law of property and trusts. Knowledge of these subjects enables students, researchers and future practitioners to assess cross border legal challenges.

Since 1988, various courses on aspects of tort, restitution and contract law have been taught at Leiden in the context of the Institute of Anglo-American Law, with the aim of positioning and strengthening the Leiden Law School profile concerning teaching and research of Anglo-American law. The chair of Anglo-American Private Law, funded by the Institute of Anglo-American Law, was held by eminent scholars: Basil Markesinis, Peter Birks and John Cartwright.

With over 5,000 students and 450 members of staff, Leiden Law School is one of the largest faculties in the Netherlands. Yet, in all its diversity, it is still known for its ability to provide education on a small scale. The Faculty focuses on multi-faceted high-level teaching and research, both nationally and internationally. It does so by working with talented people and stimulating and supporting them in their professional and personal ambitions. The Faculty is housed in the beautifully restored Kamerlingh Onnes Building on the Steenschuur in Leiden. Working for the Leiden Law School means working in an inspiring scientific environment. 

https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/law