The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law seeks to hire a tenured or tenure-track faculty member to begin in June 2015 to direct its Immigration Law Clinic. Applicants must possess a law degree, strong academic background, practical and clinical teaching experience in the field of immigration law, and a record or the promise of excellence and high scholarly achievement. The successful candidate will demonstrate the enthusiasm to lead and inspire our students to excel in representing the Clinic’s clients. Prior experience with the refugee claims process in Canada is desirable.
The Immigration Law Clinic is an active participant in immigrant communities in Michigan and conducts numerous outreach events to serve community members. Students enrolled in the Immigration Law Clinic represent immigrants seeking a variety of relief and benefits, including asylum, family sponsorship, Violence Against Women Act petitions, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Students represent clients before the U.S. Immigration Court and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Students write appellate briefs to the Board of Immigration Appeals and the U.S. Courts of Appeals. The classroom component of the Clinic includes substantive instruction in interviewing, litigation, and appellate advocacy skills, as well as attorney-client relations, ethics, and case strategy. The Immigration Law Clinic is a critical component of UDM's Certificate in Immigration Law, which students earn based on successful completion of four Immigration Law-related courses and an externship in Immigration Law.
The School of Law is located at UDM’s Riverfront Campus in downtown Detroit and is within walking distance of federal, state, and municipal courts, the region’s largest law firms, and major corporations, including General Motors, Quicken Loans, and Comerica Bank. The School is also uniquely situated two blocks from the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, an international border crossing that links Detroit, Michigan with Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Detroit offers residents and visitors a dynamic variety of cultural and entertainment attractions that are easily accessible from the Law School, including the Detroit Institute of Arts (housing a world-class art collection), the Detroit Symphony, the Detroit Opera House, the Detroit Zoo, the Henry Ford Museum, Eastern Market (historic farmer’s market), and major league sports teams.
As Michigan’s largest, most comprehensive private university, the University of Detroit Mercy is an independent Catholic institution of higher education sponsored by the Religious Sisters of Mercy and Society of Jesus. The university seeks qualified candidates who will contribute to the University's urban mission, commitment to diversity, and tradition of scholarly excellence. The University of Detroit Mercy is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer with a diverse faculty and student body and welcomes persons of all backgrounds.
Mail or e-mail letters of application and resumé with references to Professor Gary Maveal, Chair of Faculty Recruitment, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, 651 E. Jefferson, Detroit, MI 48226,mavealgm@udmercy.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.