DRAKE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL invites applicants from entry level and lateral candidates to join our collegial faculty and direct the Criminal Defense Clinic beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. The Criminal Defense Clinic is a pillar of our law school’s top-ranked Criminal Law program and has launched the careers of countless alumni who now serve as defenders, prosecutors, judges, and advocates across the state, region, and country. The Criminal Defense Clinic currently emphasizes representation of low-income clients in misdemeanor cases before the Polk County District Court. We encourage interested candidates to reimagine the reach and impact of this clinic, should the candidates so desire.
The Director’s duties include supervising and advising students in the direct representation of defendants in criminal law matters. Other responsibilities include: docket selection and clinic design, supervision and assessment, teaching a weekly skills development seminar for clinic students, engaging in community education, and directing system reform efforts. As an integrated member of the law school faculty, the Director will also participate in faculty governance and service.
The position begins July 1, 2024 and will be a twelve-month position. The faculty position can be tenure-track, tenured, or long-term contract depending on the candidate’s qualifications and preferences. Under either appointment rank, the faculty member will have faculty governance rights. Clinical faculty appointed on the tenure-track have a reduced scholarship requirement and the same rights and responsibilities of other full-time faculty, but with an emphasis on clinical teaching, professional competence and activity, research and creative work, and University and public service.
Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a J.D. or comparable law degree and be admitted, or able to satisfy the requirements for admission, to the Iowa Bar. An exceptional academic record, distinguished record of clinical teaching or extensive practice-related experience, a demonstrated capacity for excellence in teaching, supervision and assessment, and service is preferred. At least three years of practice experience is required.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Confidential review of applications will begin immediately with priority given to applications received by February 28th, 2024. The Faculty Appointments Committee will review applications made through the Drake University job board, accessible at https://jobs.drake.edu/jobs/08897166-bd74-44d1-b050-c69fbb7dea78.
Please complete the online application and attach: (1) a letter of interest, (2) a complete CV, (3) teaching evaluations (if available), (4) a diversity statement, and (5) the names and addresses of at least three references.
Please do not attach additional documents at this time. Supplemental documents may be requested or required of finalists.
All job offers are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check, satisfactory reference checks, and proof of work authorization.
For questions about the position, please contact:
Professor Suzan M. Pritchett
Chair, Criminal Defense Search Committee
Drake University Law School
suzan.pritchett@drake.edu
If you have questions about the application process, working at Drake University, or would benefit from an accommodation during the application process, we are happy to assist you. Contact Drake HR at jobs@drake.edu.
Salary & Benefits
The salary for these positions is competitive with peer schools and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.
At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our digital benefits guide: Drake Benefits Guide (Plan Year 2024).
One of our very popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. You can learn about both the tuition waiver policy and tuition exchange programs here: Tuition Benefits.