About UNH School of Law:  Founded in 1973 to encourage innovation in legal education, the University of New Hampshire School of Law has an enrollment of approximately 350 JD students and 40 LLM and interdisciplinary master’s degree  students.  Students come from many states and countries around the world and study in a close-knit, cooperative environment.  The curriculum emphasizes an intensive, practice-based approach involving many opportunities for hands-on learning, including externships.  In recent years, approximately 75% of the JD students have participated in the program, and many students have externed at multiple placements. In addition to part-time placements, the program allows students to extern for a full semester in any type of legal setting where there is breadth and depth of legal work, and a commitment to the student’s education during the placement. The school also has an extensive in-house clinical program.

Job Description:  Reporting to the Dean and the Associate Dean of the Law School, the Externship Director is responsible for providing vision and leadership, and bringing an entrepreneurial approach in the development of the Externship Program.  Specific responsibilities include:

Essential Job Functions

1.     Responsibility for overall design and operation of the externship program, including the program’s fit in the overall educational program for JD students, insuring high quality placements and compliance with ABA rules.

2.     Work collaboratively with Assistant Director in the design and operation of the program including the following components.  

            A. Develop and teach a class focused on the development of a professional identity and                               lawyering skills.

B.      Communicate with and counsel students about the wide variety of options for the practice of law, and help them focus on areas of interest and strengths.

C.     Help students’ secure appropriate residencies/externships.  Such placements include all types of legal practice, including private firms and industry.

D.    Mentor students as they develop a professional identity and their lawyering skills.

E.     Work with students to develop individual learning plans for their externship semester(s).

F.     Review of weekly written submissions from students about the experience at their placements.

G.     Communicate with placement supervisors on a regular basis about student’s progress.

H.     Regular communications with the bar and bench, especially focused on UNH alumni and IP practitioners to help secure new and appropriate placements for students.

I.      Arrange for and visit students enrolled in program.

 

Other Job Functions

1.   General faculty responsibilities as assigned.

2.  Work with administration to determine appropriate staffing for the educational and administrative aspects of the program.

3.   Supervise administrative staff to insure records of the work with each student in the program.

4.  Provide reports to Deans and faculty as requested and appropriate.

5.  Communicate with faculty at other law schools, including attending and participating in appropriate conferences.

6.  Help publicize the UNH law externship program.

7. Regular communications with the professional development team, including career services and academic advising about general program and specific advice to individual students.

8.  Develop and manage budget for department.

9.  Interest in producing writings, including but not limited to academic scholarship focused on practical education for training new lawyers.

10.  Ability to and willingness to teach in the program year round.

Appointment:  This is a tenure track/tenure or long-term security faculty position.  Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, and the position includes a comprehensive benefit package.  Anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2013.

Application:   Please send letters of interest and CVs to faculty.appointments@law.unh.edu.  Address letters to Kimberly Kirkland, Chair, Appointments Committee.

Requirements:  Qualifications for this position include:

·      A minimum of 5 years experience as a practicing lawyer.

·      Strong interest in all aspects of legal practice and the profession.

·      Clinical or externship teaching experience strongly preferred.

·      Excellent interpersonal skills, including great listening skills and ability to work with students at time of high stress in their lives.

·      Ability to and interest in travel.

·      Ability to utilize Word is necessary and Excel, strongly preferred.

Ability to use TWEN or other technology for delivery of online education.