Dundee leaves brief open to attract top legal thinkers

Dundee University plans to bolster its law department with the appointment of three professorial chairs.

In this week's Times Higher , Dundee is advertising to replace an existing professor who is retiring, along with two new posts.

Applications are invited from candidates with expertise in any of the major Scots or English law areas. The deadline is May 6.

Alan Page, head of the department, said: "It is too early to say we are looking for academics in specific areas. You look at candidates. You might say ideally you would like to do this but it's not always possible."

The recruitment market for law academics is fiercely competitive because they have numerous career options open to them.

"There's an immense amount going on at the moment," Professor Page added.

"A lot of people are moving in Scotland and the rest of the UK."

In common with other universities, the next research assessment exercise is a factor in the department's thinking.

"People are already talking about 'beyond 2008', but no one has forgotten about the next RAE," he said.

The department was rated 5 in the last RAE.