Director of Bar Support

Position Summary:  Southern Illinois University School of Law is a dynamic, small public law school that provides its students with an optimal mix of theoretical and experiential educational opportunities in a student-centered environment to prepare them for a changing legal profession in a global environment. SIU School of Law seeks to fill a non-tenure-track, 12-month, faculty position to begin on August 16, 2024. The Director of Bar Support's primary objective will be to enhance the bar passage rates at the law school through developing, implementing, directing, and evaluating a comprehensive bar examination program, including the for-credit Advanced Legal Analysis course. This role involves working with the Academic Support Program and with the law faculty to incorporate best practices in preparing students for the bar. The Director of Bar Support will also provide academic advising to students to enhance their preparation for the bar exam.

Teaching

• Teach bar-prep courses as determined by School of Law policies.
• Specific teaching loads will include focus on bar support and will be determined by the Associate Dean in consultation with the faculty member.
• Plan and present material assigned for course with the assistance of the Barbri program materials.
• Establish specific requirements for general bar exam readiness and make them known to students, grade examinations and papers, and submit grades in a timely manner.
• Maintain regular interaction with students outside the classroom including student advising and sponsorship of student activities.
• Participate in School of Law governance and serve on committees.

Bar Preparation and Oversight and Best Practices

• Assist the Director of Academic Support in providing support to faculty for incorporating best practices to enhance bar preparation.
• Provide support to graduates preparing for the bar. This support includes advising students on bar applications, licensure, and bar preparation.
• Serve as liaison with Professional Responsibility professors to help prepare students for the MPRE Multistate (Professional Responsibility Exam) and the NextGen bar exam.

Student Counseling and Guidance

• Meet individually with students to provide information and answer questions relating to the bar exam and the application-and-licensure process.
• Serve as academic advisor for students to enhance their likelihood of successfully passing the bar exam the first time. 

ABA Compliance

• Provide bar pass data, including backup data, routinely to the Registrar and the Dean.
• Ensure School of Law compliance with ABA requirement Standards 504 & 509.

Bar Exam Liaison

• Advise the faculty and administration regarding any bar-preparation matters.  Work with faculty on integrating bar exam topics and material, including assessments, in select courses.
• Identify factors impacting bar passage rates and develop strategies to enhance bar passage rates.
• Serve as primary contact for the School of Law with commercial bar course vendor and bar examiners to obtain results, monitor changes to the exam, and arrange for meetings as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications:

• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Admitted to the practice of law.
• Minimum of five years of relevant work experience, either in the law school academic support field or teaching bar exam skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven teaching, interpersonal and counseling skills, including class preparation, classroom teaching and working with individual students.
• Superior interpersonal communication and presentation skills with a special focus on communicating effectively with students, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups and those with varying abilities.
• Adept at developing, marketing, and delivering a bar preparation program.
• Commitment to diversity and supporting a diverse student population.  Willingness to work with students with a range of disabilities.
• Strong academic record.
• Excellent oral and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent time management skills, ability to prioritize multiple projects, meet deadlines.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

Deadline to Apply: until filled

SIU Carbondale, member of the SIU System, is an anti-racist community that opposes racism, discrimination and inequity in any form, and embraces diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice for all people.

SIU Carbondale is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of 
individuals with disabilities and protected veterans that strives to enhance its
ability to develop a diverse faculty and staff and to increase its potential to
serve a diverse student population. All applications are welcomed 
and encouraged and will receive consideration.

Please use the following link to apply https://jobs.siu.edu/job-details?jobid=15688