THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCHOOL OF LAW invites applicants for an opening as a Visiting Clinical Instructor of Law serving as the Animal Law Clinic Teaching Fellow, beginning in the summer of 2024. This is a full-time, non-tenure track appointment. There is no assurance of continued employment beyond the end of the eleven months. 

This position offers an attorney with an interest in clinical teaching and animal law the opportunity to teach, supervise students, and work with experienced faculty members in a law school clinical program. The fellow will work in the Animal Law Clinic, which serves as a court-appointed legal advocate in animal cruelty cases. 

The fellow's duties will include co-teaching Clinic classes, supervising Clinic students’ casework, collaborating with lawyers who serve as advocates, developing materials to train and support advocates, and working on other animal advocacy projects. The fellow will work closely with the Clinic’s faculty director, can collaborate with faculty and students in the Law School, and can work on scholarship and other learning goals.

The School of Law is especially interested in candidates who will add to the diversity of our faculty and community. We welcome applications from individuals underrepresented in the legal academy, as well as candidates with experiences, backgrounds, and viewpoints that will enrich the diversity of our community. 

The Animal Law Clinic is one of 19 clinics and field placement programs operated by the Law School, including a robust in-house clinical program that comprises clinics focusing on asylum, criminal defense, animal law, housing, tax, intellectual property, and transactional practice, and clinics run in partnership with non-profits affiliated with the law school that focus on child advocacy, criminal defense, disability rights, environmental law, elder law, and veterans’ benefits. UConn Law was an early leader nationally in clinical legal education, and its clinics and field placement programs continue to garner recognition statewide for training lawyers and providing outstanding service to needy members of the community.  

Additional information about the clinics at UConn Law School can be found on the Law School’s website, at https://www.law.uconn.edu/academics/clinics-experiential-learning/clinics-field-placements. A recently published short book, “Born Fighting: Clinical Education at the University of Connecticut School of Law,” traces our fifty-year history: https://today.uconn.edu/school-stories/new-book-describes-history-uconn-law-clinic/.

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education. It includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Planning and co-teaching the Clinic seminar classes.
• Supervising Clinic students’ casework outside of court hearings.
• Supervising students in court.
• Providing short consultations to attorney advocates.
• Planning and participating in advocacy, research, education, and outreach projects related to the Clinic.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. J.D. degree.
2. Membership in the Connecticut bar or the ability to become a member within three months of hire (Connecticut’s bar admission rules allow faculty members to be admitted without taking the Connecticut bar examination in some circumstances).
3. Excellent written and oral communication and advocacy skills.
4. Demonstrated ability to work both collaboratively and independently.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Practice experience in the field of animal law and/or criminal law.
2. An outstanding law school and/or law practice record.
3. Teaching or supervision experience.
4. Practice experience in the field of criminal law.
5. Demonstrated commitment to public interest or pro bono legal work.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a non-tenure track, eleven-month, annually renewable position at the Law School campus in Hartford starting August 23, 2024. The annual salary is $70,000. Benefits include health insurance and research support.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/27607 and submit the following application materials:

• A letter of interest,
• Curriculum vitae,
• Diversity statement,
• Writing sample, and
• A list of 3 references.

The evaluation of applicants will begin immediately. Information about the UConn Animal Law Clinic can be found at the UConn Law School website, at https://law.uconn.edu/academics/clinics-experiential-education/animal-law-clinic.

Please contact Jessica Rubin, Associate Dean for Experiential Education and Director of the Animal Law Clinic, Jessica.rubin@uconn.edu.

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

This position will be filled subject to budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics, which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp. 

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.

The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce.  The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner.  This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all.  We strongly respect each individual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same.  All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer.