Clinical Law Prof Blog

JOBS: Maryland Carey Law's Director for the new Federal Appellate Immigration Clinic

Via Prof. Leigh Goodmark: 

[T]he Chacón Center for Immigrant Justice at Maryland Carey Law is hiring an inaugural Director for our new Federal Appellate Immigration Clinic for Fall 2022.  The Director will . . . pursue the Chacón Center’s goals of human rights, racial equity and social justice for immigrants.  The new Director will be charged specifically with designing and teaching a clinic to engage in federal appellate litigation that will work in collaboration with our existing Immigration Clinic and will be focused on the immigration consequences of convictions, humanitarian protection, and other impact issues that affect immigrants.  We especially welcome applicants with strong backgrounds in legal practice, applicants of color, applicants with disabilities, veterans, women, and other members of historically disadvantaged groups.

The official job posting is here.  This position is a full-time, tenure-track faculty appointment and sits on the Faculty Council, with voting rights on all matters. We will consider both entry level and junior lateral candidates with potential for outstanding legal practice, clinical education, and scholarly achievement.

The position will begin July 1, 2022.

The Federal Appellate Immigration Clinic will be part of the Chacón Center for Immigrant Justice at Maryland Carey Law, which also includes the Immigration Clinic and student support and activity programs to provide pro bono representation to people facing deportation at the trial court level and in the federal appellate courts, to educate and mentor students interested in practicing immigration law, and to advance the law to benefit immigrants in Maryland and nationally, with particular emphasis on eliminating racial inequities in immigration law.  The Federal Appellate Immigration Clinic will represent low- and moderate-income individuals and amicus curiae parties in federal appellate matters relating to immigration and criminal law, with particular focus on the overlap of these two fields of law and on asylum law, using litigation to pursue goals of racial equity, human rights and social justice.  Maryland Carey Law has a long and robust tradition of experiential learning reflected in its Cardin Requirement that every full-time day student enroll in a clinic in order to graduate.

Responsibilities:

The responsibilities of the Director of the Federal Appellate Immigration Clinic include: designing and implementing a new appellate immigration clinic in coordination with other Chacón Center faculty and staff; designing and teaching a weekly seminar component to the appellate clinic; engaging in strategic case selection and development in light of immigration case law, legislation and public policy in Maryland and nationally; teaching, through case supervision and mentoring, students engaged in all aspects of appellate litigation, with emphasis on written and oral advocacy and professional responsibility; exercising ultimate professional responsibility for the appellate clinic’s caseload; pursuing independent scholarly and professional research and writing; and participating in the governance of the law school through committee and faculty council work.  The position may also include non-clinical teaching responsibilities in the law school as appropriate and feasible.

Minimum Qualifications:

Admission to practice law and good standing in a U.S. jurisdiction is required, as is a demonstrated record of excellence in legal practice, including appellate, immigration and/or criminal litigation; experience teaching or supervising law students in legal practice; and interest in scholarly and practice-oriented research and writing. Proficiency in Spanish is preferred.

Compensation

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Maryland Carey Law offers faculty a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Maryland has a strong commitment to diversity. We welcome applications from persons of color, people with disabilities, veterans, women, and other members of historically disadvantaged groups.

I am more than happy to talk about this opportunity, but I’m going to be offline for a bit soon.  If you want to reach out to me, please do so by Aug 10 or after Aug 23.  Thanks for your help in finding a terrific new clinician!

News: California Western School of Law Adopts Unitary Tenure Track Policy

Via California Western release:

 

SAN DIEGO—California Western School of Law has announced that the faculty and Board of Trustees have voted to adopt a unitary tenure track. This change to the institution’s Faculty Bylaws creates opportunities for its clinical, Legal Skills, and other skills professors who were hired as full-time faculty to achieve tenure, with the same faculty governance and voting rights that come with an existing tenure-stream faculty position.

 

At the heart of this change is California Western’s commitment to living its values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Faculty hired without tenure are disproportionately under-represented in the academy, and yet face much more uncertain employment. A unitary track system provides these individuals with a clearer career pathway while promoting a spirit of collegiality and equality amongst all faculty.

 

“This is a momentous occasion for the California Western School of Law” reports Dean Sean Scott. “Moving toward a unitary tenure track reflects our desire to dismantle the traditional hierarchies within faculty ranks, which is part of the larger goal of addressing structural inequalities within legal education.”

 

The new system will also benefit the intellectual life of California Western. It incentivizes research and writing amongst faculty that typically fill legal skills positions, which solidifies the intersection of theory at practice. Adds Dean Scott: “we’re sending a signal to students about the need within their own careers to blend deep thinking and research with legal skills; to be successful they must have mastery of both.”

 

Read more:https://tinyurl.com/4zpm6bf7

 

JOBS: Harvard Law School's Assistant Dean for Clinical and Experiential Education and Pro Bono Programs

Harvard Law School Assistant Dean for Clinical and Experiential Education and Pro Bono Programs 

Harvard Law School Clinics provide students hands-on legal experience under the supervision of licensed attorneys who are experienced practitioners and trained clinical legal educators. The Assistant Dean for Clinical and Experiential Education and Pro Bono Programs will largely be responsible for the annual development of clinical curriculum for HLS’s 23 in-house clinics and 13 externship clinics, the management of externship clinics and 12 student practice organizations, and oversight of all independent clinical opportunities. In addition, the Assistant Dean will oversee the Law School’s Pro Bono Program. The Assistant Dean will collaborate with the Vice Dean of Clinical and Experiential Education and the Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs to develop and implement clinical enrollment policies and processes with respect to HLS’s goals and clinic capacities.

The Assistant Dean will:

- Oversee annual development of clinical curriculum and related policies and processes;

- Review, in consultation with clinical faculty directors, clinical course and teacher evaluations and pro bono placement evaluations for teacher/clinic or placement/supervisor effectiveness;

- Develop, review, and approve pro bono placements and coordinate with the Registrar’s Office on tracking students’ completion of degree requirement;

- Develop advising programs and opportunities for students regarding clinical education and pro bono opportunities;

- Oversee ABA, state bar, and other regulatory compliance for clinical academic program, including for international students, and related review of regulations and development of policies and processes;

- Provide effective staff management for a group or team of employees, including hiring and orientation, training and development, workflow and performance management, and the promotion of an inclusive and innovative work environment;

- Build and manage key relationships and outreach among various HLS departments and external stakeholders, including groups such as Admissions, Registrar, and Communications; and

- Working in conjunction with Office of Communications, oversee communications, marketing, media outreach and public relations for HLS clinical work and academic programs

Qualifications. A JD is required, together with a minimum of ten years of clinical or externship management experience or law firm pro bono management experience, including work experience in a law school environment. Knowledge of budget management and supervisory experience is strongly preferred. Candidates must have knowledge of legal services, non-profit, government and industry as well as a demonstrated commitment to public service. Candidates must have an eagerness to work with law students and faculty and participate in the vibrant public interest community at HLS. Candidates must have excellent writing and communication skills and be able to demonstrate professionalism, sophistication, and diplomacy in working effectively with diverse constituencies (students, faculty, law firms, practicing attorneys, and clients.) The ability to manage competing demands and priorities is essential. Candidates must be willing to take initiative in identifying and evaluating new opportunities.

Review of candidate materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment. A complete application will include a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae or resumé́ and contact information for five professional references who can speak about the candidate’s qualifications for this appointment. Named referees will not be contacted without the candidate’s prior consent. Chuck O’Boyle of C. V. O’Boyle, Jr. LLC is leading the search. Expressions of interest, applications, nominations and inquiries should be directed to Mr. O’Boyle at [email protected].

EEO Statement: Harvard University is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

JOBS: University of Tennessee College of Law Dean

Via Prof. Wendy Bach: 

THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF LAW is opening a search for its next Dean:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Law (UT Law). The university seeks an experienced, collegial, and energetic leader who will provide the inspiration, cohesion, and vision for UT Law and serve as its chief academic and administrative officer. The dean reports to the provost and works closely with the vice provosts, deans of other academic colleges, and UT Law faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders (including members of the Tennessee bench and bar), in setting overall academic and strategic priorities for UT Law, allocating resources to move those priorities forward, and developing a collaborative community committed to student success.

As the leader of the state’s flagship law school at a land-grant university, the dean must recognize and support the institution’s duty to serve the people of Tennessee. Because UT Law graduates practice in a wide variety of settings that are subject to change over time, the dean should recognize the significance of preparing law students for diverse practice areas and professions. Moreover, the dean must be able to balance an internal role that engages the law school community with an external role that engages alumni, the state and local bench and bar, state legislators, local governmental officials, and other Tennesseans.

The next dean inherits an active, involved faculty committed to shared governance, a dedicated staff, a strong student body, a supportive campus administration, and a loyal alumni base. UT Law embraces a unitary tenure track for doctrinal, clinic, legal-writing and library faculty, and has developed an egalitarian culture among its faculty, staff, and students. The successful candidate will be a collaborative, transparent, and inspiring leader who is equally committed to teaching, service, and scholarship. The dean will further UT Law’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; continue to develop a successful fund-raising and alumni-engagement program; promote and, where possible, advance UT Law’s local, regional, and national reputation; and support a community that is engaged, transparent, and inspirational for all its stakeholders.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate relevant experience in managing a comparable enterprise within a complex system like UTK; leading and inspiring a diverse, mission-driven community and stakeholder base; and promoting engagement inside the College, across the campus and the greater university, and within the legal profession and the public. The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal skills, a capacity for creative thinking, and the enthusiasm and demonstrated ability to lead with a spirit of service.

THE COLLEGE OF LAW

Founded in 1890, UT Law is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools. In its 2022 law school listing, USNWR ranks UT Law at #60 among all US law schools and #31 among public law schools in the nation. The National Jurist grades UT Law “B+” in its Best Value listing. UT Law’s business law program is currently ranked #37 among US law school business law programs and #25 among US public law school business law programs by USNWR.  The clinical program consistently ranks in the top ten of all US public law schools.

The mission of UT Law is to prepare students for the practice of law by integrating theory and practice across the curriculum, with an emphasis on clinical and skills training, innovative classroom teaching, legal writing, and professional values. The college endeavors to produce high-quality scholarship that examines, explains, critiques, and improves the law and the legal system. UT Law strives to serve the university, the campus, the profession, and the public by developing and sharing its talents and expertise.

UT Law’s JD program has approximately 365 students, 70% of whom are Tennessee residents. With a productive, engaged faculty of 41, UT Law boasts an enviable 9:1 student-faculty ratio while maintaining an affordable tuition. UT Law offers JD students two optional concentrations: Advocacy and Dispute Resolution and Business Transactions, each of which provides an opportunity for students to focus their studies as they develop skills and gain knowledge helpful to their pursuit of meaningful employment. JD students can also pursue dual-degree programs in business, philosophy, public health, social work, and public policy and administration. UT Law students may choose an accelerated JD program or opt for a flexible program, allowing them to earn their JD degree in a manner that best suits their own circumstances. UT Law also provides a “3+3” program for students who intend to earn a BA/BS degree and a JD degree within 6 academic years. UT Law’s MLS degree and legal studies graduate certificate program are designed to provide foundational legal knowledge to working professionals and graduate/PhD students whose fields intersect with law.

UT Law hosts 5 flagship faculty-led programs to enhance student training: the Clayton Center for Entrepreneurial Law; the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution; the Institute for Professional Leadership; the UT Legal Clinic; and the Legal Writing Program. Students at UT Law also have opportunities to help produce several exceptional journals, including Tennessee Law Review; Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy; The Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender & Social Justice; and Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law. Students also participate in moot trial, mock court, and transactional business competitions, as well as pro bono and public service opportunities and externships.

UT Law has an annual operating budget of approximately $15 million and a strong donor base. The college successfully concluded a $61 million campaign in June 2020 and received over $5 million in donor gifts from July 1, 2020-May 31, 2021.

For additional information about UT Law, please review: https://law.utk.edu/

Qualifications

THE ROLE OF THE DEAN

The dean serves as chief academic and administrative officer and reports to UTK’s provost. The dean is responsible for all areas of strategic planning and academic operations for UT Law: management of faculty and staff; development of academic programs; delivery of student services; oversight of facilities; development of research; and fiscal management, including fundraising. The dean works closely with a strong team of dynamic, involved leaders that includes assistant and associate deans and program directors.  

The dean will:

• Serve as the intellectual leader of the faculty through a demonstrated commitment to scholarship, an ability to inspire junior and senior faculty alike in their scholarly pursuits, and a vision for further development of the intellectual environment at UT Law;
• Promote UT Law’s teaching mission of educating outstanding lawyers through continued excellence in the academic program, including doctrinal, experiential, and hybrid courses;
• Support, guide, and further develop UT Law’s commitment to the integration of theory and practice, grounded in a foundational understanding of legal doctrine and public policy;
• Oversee implementation of the College’s recently adopted Diversity Action Plan; Establish and maintain a strong, engaged relationship with the student body;
• Promote successful change in response to evolving external environments and emerging challenges, including providing leadership in developing a common vision for UT Law that reflects the future of legal education, the career aspirations of our students, and the established strengths of the institution;
• Interact persuasively with the philanthropic community and solicit and steward private support from alumni, members of the Dean’s Advisory Council and Dean’s Circle, friends, foundations, law firms, government institutions, and corporations;
• Develop and maintain positive, mutually supportive relationships with UT Law alumni;
• Work effectively and collaboratively with senior administrators and other staff to ensure the smooth functioning of the academic and nonacademic components of UT Law’s operations;
• Create a strong sense of community and cooperation among faculty, staff, students, alumni, other campus academic and nonacademic units, the local and state bar and governments, and the courts;
• Attract, retain, and develop outstanding faculty, administrators, and staff;
• Manage UT Law’s budget within a responsibility-centered management structure.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The search committee enthusiastically welcomes applicants from a diversity of backgrounds and will consider the factors listed below in evaluating candidates for this important leadership role. While no single individual will possess all the desired experiences and qualifications, the successful candidate should possess many of the following characteristics:

• A JD, or other terminal degree in law, with accomplishments meriting tenure at the rank of full professor;
• A leadership style characterized by flexibility, inclusiveness, integrity, and openness that involves and enables faculty and other key stakeholders to share in governance;
• A demonstrated commitment to legal education, scholarship, and public service;
• Familiarity with strategic resource management and an aptitude for successful fundraising;
• Experience working with senior academic leaders across a university campus, including the ability to collaborate with the provost, deans, and other leaders to enrich the overall academic structure and the national and international reputation of UTK as a research and educational powerhouse;
• The capacity and commitment to further develop supportive affiliations with UT Law alumni and friends;
• A demonstrated dedication to building an organization that values and practices diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Superior communications skills; and
• Decisiveness and the ability to multi-task, as well as a willingness to delegate and monitor appropriately.

THE CAMPUS AND ITS LEADERSHIP

Now is an exciting time to join UTK. Chancellor Donde Plowman and Provost John Zomchick, working with faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni, and community partners, have recently developed a new strategic vision for UTK (https://chancellor.utk.edu/vision/). The new vision imagines “a world enriched by our ideas, improved through action, and inspired by the Volunteer Spirit of service and leadership.” The Dean of the College of Law would work within UT Law, the larger campus and university, the state, and the nation to pursue this vision. 

Chancellor Donde Plowman became the ninth chancellor of UTK on July 1, 2019. Under her leadership, the university has placed renewed focus on its land-grant mission as the state’s flagship public institution. Since her arrival, Plowman has overseen the creation of the UT Oak Ridge Innovation Institute, the reunification of the Knoxville campus with the Institute of Agriculture, continued growth in student enrollment and retention rates, and the launch of a new strategic visioning process.

Before arriving at UTK as its Chancellor, Plowman spent nine years at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she served most recently as executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. She earlier served for more than six years as the James Jr. and Susan Stuart Dean of UNL’s College of Business Administration. Before going to Nebraska, Plowman was on the management faculty at UTK, where she served for two years as head of the Department of Management in the Haslam College of Business. She began her academic career at the University of Texas at San Antonio as an assistant professor of management and advanced to the position of professor and associate dean for graduate studies and research, where she was responsible for the creation of the university’s doctoral degree in business.

Plowman has a doctorate in strategic management from the University of Texas at Austin, an undergraduate degree with a major in English from Southern Methodist University, and an MEd in higher education administration from the University of North Texas.

Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor, John Zomchick was appointed in May 2020, but he has called UTK home since 1985. He most recently served as vice provost for faculty affairs, a position he held for more than five years. He also served as interim provost and senior vice chancellor from August 2016 until April 2018. Before joining the Office of the Provost’s staff, he served as executive associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.

A professor of English, Zomchick is a scholar of eighteenth-century English literature. During his time in the UTK College of Arts and Sciences, he held a number of administrative appointments, including associate dean for academic personnel, interim associate dean for academic programs, and head of the Department of English. Zomchick has a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s and doctorate in English literature from Columbia University.

For additional information about UTK, please review: https://www.utk.edu/

KNOXVILLE AREA

The City of Knoxville is a hidden gem with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, outstanding athletic opportunities, and a robust offering of outdoor and cultural activities. Knoxville enjoys the charm of a small city with opportunities and activities that range from green energy initiatives and community greenways to thriving festival culture, music, culinary, and outdoor recreation scenes. Knoxville’s diverse community brings events such as the Asian Festival, Knoxville Opera’s Rossini Festival, Kuumba Festival, Hola Festival, the Big Ears Festival, Dogwood Arts Festival, and numerous other music festivals and artists. The city is also home to the Knoxville Museum of Art, East Tennessee History Museum, the Beck Cultural Center, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and UT Knoxville’s Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History. Citing both affordability and quality of life, U.S. News and World Report ranked Knoxville among the best places to live.

Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a statistical area population of over 850,000 people. Moderate home prices enable Knoxville residents to maintain a great standard of living, and commutes to campus are conveniently short. The Knoxville region houses many leading corporations, including Bush Brothers & Company, Clayton Homes, Discovery Inc., PetSafe/Radio Systems Corporation, Regal Cinemas, Pilot/Flying J, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. UTK is located within easy driving distance of Asheville, Nashville, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains and is a day’s drive from Memphis, Chicago, and Washington D.C.

For more information about Knoxville, please review: http://www.knoxvillechamber.com/quality-life.

Application Instructions

Nominations, applications, and inquiries are being accepted for the position commencing immediately. For confidential inquiries and nominations, please contact Ms. Brooke M. Swart, Executive Recruiter at [email protected].

Applications should include: (1) a letter of interest addressing the qualifications, (2) a comprehensive curriculum vitae, (3) a statement of leadership philosophy, (4) a statement of philosophy on diversity, equity and inclusion, and (5) the names and contact information (addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses) of five references. Materials should be submitted electronically via (Interfolio Site).  Priority consideration will be given to materials received by September 10th, 2021.