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Law and Politics (4 units) – Lecturer Posting for USC’s Capital Campus

USC Gould School of Law is seeking a part-time lecturer to teach an undergraduate law class in Washinton D.C. at USC’s Capital Campus location – Law and Politics (4 units). The instructor will begin work this fall 2025 to develop the course. The instructor will then teach the course during the spring 2026 semester, from Jan 12 to May 1, 2026 (final exam period May 6-13). The class is will be held on USC’s Capital Campus once a week in the evenings from 6:00 to 9:30PM either on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday depending on the candidate’s availability. The schedule is firm so candidates must be able to teach on campus at the scheduled time.

Candidates should have strong legal professional backgrounds, preferably with teaching experience. The course will be taught exclusively to enrolled undergraduate students. A Juris Doctor degree or PhD is required.

Course Description:

This course examines the relationship between the rules that structure the political system, the theories and caselaw behind the system, and the reality of how the political system actually works. It will also consider how the system ought to work, making class time both practical and theoretical. It will look at how we select and elect our candidates, primarily in presidential politics. It will also explore why so few people vote, and why so many think the system is broken. Finally, the course will try to define the place of politics in contemporary American life and culture, and how it has evolved over time. The course will proceed in a combined lecture and seminar style, with significant student participation encouraged.

This class may be postponed to a later semester if there are fewer than 6 students enrolled.

Spring 2026 Academic Calendar

Classes Begin

Mon

January 12

Martin Luther King’s Birthday Holiday

Mon

January 19

President’s Day Holiday

Mon

February 16

Spring Recess

Sun-Sun

March 15-22

Classes End

Fri

May 1

Study Days

Sat-Tue

May 2-5

Exams

Wed-Wed

May 6-13

Final Grading Deadline

Tue

May 19

USC reserves the “Adjunct” appointment for faculty teaching less than full-time at USC, who are employed full-time in a primary profession or career elsewhere. Adjunct faculty typically teach only one course per year but, in exceptional cases, may teach one course per semester, if approved by the dean.

To ensure compliance with federal, state or local regulatory requirements as well as university policy and procedures, Adjunct Lecturers are required to complete specific training requirements as a condition of employment. Adjuncts Lecturers must complete mandated training by a required deadline. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination, in accordance with the Faculty Handbook. Trainings that are required for all faculty and staff include USC’s Harassment Prevention Training at the time of hire and every two years thereafter, USC’s Integrity and Accountability Code Training at the time of hire, Information Security training annually, and Workplace Violence Prevention Plan training annually. A variety of other trainings may be required based on specific job responsibilities.

https://policy.usc.edu/training-requirements-and-opportunities/

https://employees.usc.edu/learn-grow/learning-and-professional-development/required-training/

The base salary range for this position is $2,433.66 - $11,000.00 per semester. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the number of units per course, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

The Gould School of Law (Gould) considers candidates that demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values (https://culturejourney.usc.edu/explore/unifying-values/) . Gould holds a unique position in society, and within the university, as every aspect of these principles are influenced by and can be protected through legal rules and institutions. At Gould, we are proudly committed to maintaining a community in which each person respects the rights of others to live, work, and learn in peace and dignity, to be proud of who and what they are, and to have equal opportunity to realize their full potential as individuals and members of society.