Associate Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Legal Informatics
Application deadline:
18 January, 2021
Stockholm University; at the Department of Law
Closing date: 18 January 2021.
The Department of Law is one of the largest departments at Stockholm University and falls under the Faculty of Law. It consists of approximately 200 employees and 6500 students. Roughly 100 teachers are engaged full-time in teaching and in conducting the research upon which the Department’s teaching is founded. The Faculty is comprised of around 40 professors whose areas of scholarly pursuit comprise diverse spheres of legal science. As a colleague at the Faculty of Law, you will be part of a dynamic environment committed to research of the highest calibre with a strong international dimension.
Subject area/subject description
Legal Informatics with a focus on artificial intelligence and law (AI and Law).
The position as associate senior lecturer is part of the initiative ‘The Wallenberg Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanities and Society’ (WASP-HS).
Research within the area of AI and law at the Department of Law includes both methodological aspects of system design as well as regulatory aspects. The basic approach assumes that Information and Communication technologies (ICT’s) must be developed and used in unison with legal and ethical principles. This is especially relevant in relation to AI-based applications, which are characterised by self-learning systems and dynamic decision-making algorithms that lack explainability. Systems that have the capacity to change their composition autonomously cannot be regulated solely by traditional legal solutions. The digital society therefore provides new conditions upon which to apply traditional legal principles. This in turn requires that the traditional regulatory control functions of the law must be interpreted for proactive application, must potentially be modified and will require embedding in to the various technological solutions. Overall, the legal sphere comprising AI and the Law is to a large extent unchartered territory and in need of both comprehensive and deeper study.
Main responsibilities
The position requires research within the area of legal informatics, more specifically within the area of AI and the Law. The position also includes a requirement to lecture, including supervision, at undergraduate, advanced and doctoral levels. Based on a decision from the Head of the Department, teaching within other areas of law can be stipulated.
The position is full time for a period of four years. A major part of the position will entail research. The teaching part of the position will amount to 30 percent of the work per year. Besides teaching in the classroom or online, the teaching part of the position can comprise tasks such as being director of courses, course development and examination and the supervision of thesis, etcetera.
Qualification requirements
In order to qualify for employment as an associate senior lecturer, the applicant must have received a doctoral degree in Law or possess equivalent academic competencies. Primary consideration will be given to an applicant who has received a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification no longer than five years before the deadline for applications.
A criterion for employment is excellent English language capabilities. An applicant who is offered the position shall be able to teach unimpededly in Swedish within two years from the start of the employment.
Assessment criteria
As assessment criteria for employment as an associate senior lecturer, the same degree of expertise shall apply as applies to eligibility for employment. Assessment of teaching expertise shall be given as much attention as research expertise. Teaching and research expertise shall be well-documented in a manner that facilitates assessment of the quality of such expertise.
Research expertise shall have been demonstrated through activities at an advanced level through the applicant’s own scientific activities as well as through other research-related activities, such as the receipt of research grants, appointments as expert reviewer, dissertation opponent or member of an examination board, participation in international research projects, law journal duties, prizes received, research administration and other research-related experience. A great emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s ability to present a well elaborated plan for research during the employment period.
Teaching experience shall have been demonstrated through teaching at both undergraduate and advanced level. In addition to teaching, experience of both the planning and teaching on courses within the area of legal informatics is an important merit.
Completed training in teaching and learning in higher education corresponding to at least 7.5 higher education credits, or equivalent knowledge, is an advantage.
Also to be considered as an advantage are administrative skills or other skills related to the subject matter of the employment and the duties concerned with it. An additional advantage is the ability to interact with the surrounding community and to disseminate one’s research and development activities.
International contacts and international experience through foreign research visits, education, publication and work is also an advantage.
In making the assessment, attention will be given to both the ability to work with others and the ability and suitability otherwise needed for the satisfactory performance of one’s duties. As part of the overall assessment, the applicant’s developmental potential and other aspects of his/her social skills will be considered.
Information Concerning Promotion to Senior Lecturer
According to the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) (HF) the employment as an associate senior lecturer is limited to a minimum of four years and a maximum of six years. The goal with the employment is to provide the associate senior lecturer the opportunity to develop his/her independence as a researcher as well as amass the experience required in order to apply for another teaching position that requires higher demands. An associate senior lecturer at Stockholm University shall, upon application, be promoted to the position of permanent senior lecturer if he/she has the competency for such a promotion according to the Higher Education Ordinance, the rules for employment as a teacher at Stockholm University (AOSU) and in addition is deemed appropriate according to the criteria below.
Eligibility Requirements for Promotion to Senior Lecturer
An applicant shall have a documented ability to initiate and run independently research of a high academic quality. The pedagogical skills at senior lecturer level shall have been demonstrated through teaching at both undergraduate and advanced level and be well documented. An applicant must have completed higher education pedagogical education of at least 7.5 higher education credits or have been judged by the Faculty Board to have corresponding knowledge.
Additional information
An applicant offered employment will be attached to the Swedish Law and Informatics Research Institute, which provides an established research environment within the area of legal informatics at the Department of Law.
Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and one which ensures equal opportunities for all.
An applicant offered employment but lacking university-level training in teaching and learning corresponding to at least 7.5 higher education credits and who has not been deemed to have acquired equivalent knowledge in another manner shall pursue such training during the first two years of appointment.
Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from the Head of the Department, Professor Gustaf Sjöberg, gustaf.sjoberg@juridicum.su.se and subject chairman Professor Cecilia Magnusson Sjöberg, cecilia.magnussonsjoberg@juridicum.su.se.
For questions regarding the application process, please contact senior officer Agita Akule-Larsson, agita.akule@juridicum.su.se.
Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).
Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University’s recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.
Your application must be written in English.
The University’s rules of employment and instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.
You are welcome to apply!
Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.
Closing date: 18/01/2021