Executive Director and Supervising Attorney
Maurice A. Deane School of Law
Hofstra University
Building on a long-established history of preparing, challenging, and inspiring its students to make an impact in their communities through its clinical and pro-bono programs, the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is breaking new ground by launching a new Access to Justice Incubator for our recent graduates in Nassau County, New York in Fall 2013. Four post-graduate Fellows will work under the supervision of an experienced Executive Director/Supervising Attorney to provide civil legal services to low and moderate income clients in several critical areas of need. At the same time, it will serve as an innovative post-graduate apprenticeship to better prepare the next generation of the legal profession for practicing law and shaping their responsibilities to serve the community. Fellows will be trained to (1) serve as guardians, court evaluators, and attorneys for individuals alleged to be incapacitated for healthcare decision-making, and (2) represent individuals facing foreclosure on or eviction from their homes, or denial of public benefits.
The Executive Director/Supervising Attorney of the Incubator will have two primary responsibilities: managing the legal practice of the Incubator and supervising the Fellows’ work on behalf of clients. The specific duties associated with those responsibilities will include: (1) developing a training curriculum for the Fellows, including consideration of potential partnerships with legal service providers and bar associations, (2) working with the Board of Directors to establish practices and protocols for the Incubator, (3) drafting grant applications and reports and cultivating sources of support for the Incubator, (4) collecting, assessing and reporting case data and information, (5) promoting community engagement and collaborations, including public speaking and written communications about the Incubator, and (6) other administrative responsibilities such as maintaining malpractice insurance, accreditation, case management systems, and a budget for the Incubator. This position will report to the Incubator's Board of Directors, which is made up of faculty, administrators, and alumni from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. The Executive Director/Supervising Attorney will be encouraged and expected to engage in the life of the Law School.
Qualifications include:
- A JD degree from an AHA-accredited law school
- Admitted to practice law in New York State
- Five to seven years of experience in one or more legal practice areas noted above, as well as the willingness and capacity to self-teach new areas of law and/or legal skills
- One to three years of experience supervising, managing, and evaluating legal work of Jaw students and/or new attorneys
- Demonstrated capacity for high-quality, interdisciplinary problem-solving
- Demonstrated professional judgment
- Demonstrated commitment to provision of high quality legal services to low and moderate income communities and demonstrated strong public interest orientation
- Excellent public speaking and writing skills, including practice-oriented and/or scholarly publications about lawyering and the legal profession
- Experience in law office and case management
- Commitment to training and mentorship of Fellows, including ability to instill reflective practice and provide constructive feedback to colleagues
- Sensitivity to ethical issues and ability to analyze applicability of rules of professional responsibility
- Fluency in a language other than English is strongly preferred
- Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
To apply, submit resume, list of references, and writing sample via email to Maria Filotti at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law, Hofstra University, maria.filotti@hofstra.edu. Inquiries may be directed to Jennifer Gundlach, Senior Associate Dean for Experiential Education and Clinical Professor of Law, at jennifer.gundlach@hofstra.edu. The deadline to apply is September 15, 2013.
Hofstra University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering diversity in its faculty, administrative staff and student body, and encourages applications from the entire spectrum of a diverse community.