The letter of offer or contract documents the intent of a hiring institution to engage a candidate for a formal position as an employee or for another role, such as a consultant or advisor. This chapter focuses on a letter of offer or contract for employment as a faculty member. The chapter reviews the process of evaluating the letter of offer or contract and discusses how to navigate the search process with the final negotiation phase in mind. Navigating the search process involves accurate self-assessment of personal and career goals; meeting with mentors; preparing questions for the interview; accumulating institutional information before, during, and after the interview; and creating decision grids. This chapter discusses what to look for in the letter of offer or contract and what the most common negotiable components are. Components of the legally binding contract or letter of offer that are usually not reviewed in enough detail include job-specific responsibilities articulated in amendments and employee handbooks. Contract components covered include terms, terminations, and restrictive covenants; academic rank; duties and responsibilities; and compensation. The components and importance of employee handbooks are discussed. The rationale for retaining legal counsel depends on the complexity of the job, rights related to intellectual property, and an individual’s personal situation. In this chapter, we focus on the approach for a typical clinician educator agreement, as an illustration of an academic letter of offer. A sample letter of offer is included.