DRAKE LEGAL CLINIC: ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (OR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR) AND PROFESSOR/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF LAW

DRAKE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL invites applications for the position of Executive Director of the Drake Legal Clinic (or Associate Dean of Experiential Learning) and Professor/Associate Professor of Law. The precise level will depend on the candidate’s qualifications. This is a twelve-month position, beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year. This position will be tenure-track or long-term contract, depending on the candidate’s qualifications and preferences. The Director/Associate Dean’s duties will include the planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and administration of all clinical programs. The position will also involve directly supervising and assessing students in at least one clinic, and providing support, when needed, for other clinicians. The position may include coordinating experiential programs such as internships, the annual Drake Law Trial Practicum, and advocacy programs. Teaching a doctrinal course may also be possible.

Candidates must possess a J.D. or comparable law degree and be admitted to, or able to, satisfy the requirements for admission to the Iowa Bar. A distinguished record of clinical teaching or extensive practice-related experience, including litigation, with a demonstrated capacity for excellence in teaching, scholarship, supervision, and assessment is preferred. At least three years of experience is also preferred, and a collaborative leadership style.

Drake has long excelled in clinical education and is a pioneer in the area. Our six clinics provide students with an outstanding legal experience in Entrepreneurial/Transactional Law, Children’s Rights Law, Delinquency Law, Elder Law, General Civil Law, and Criminal Law. Housed in the state-of-the-art Neal and Bea Smith Law Center, the Legal Clinic is an integral part of the Law School Program and is supported by a multi-million dollar endowment. The Law School is located in Des Moines, the capital of Iowa, which provides students with a rich variety of internships, including at government agencies, the legislature, state and federal courts, and public interest groups. Drake’s first-in-the-nation Trial Practicum enables first-year students to watch a real trial and to interact with and learn from highly-skilled attorneys and judges. A thriving metropolitan area of more than 600,000 people, Des Moines is consistently ranked in national surveys as one of the best places to live in the United States.

The ideal candidate will possess creativity and a clear vision for integrating experiential skills and clinical courses into the traditional law school curriculum. Establishing strong relationships with the bench and bar, grant funders, and university officials will also be critical to success in the position.

Drake University is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks applicants who reflect the diversity of the nation. No applicant shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information or veteran status. Confidential review of applications will begin immediately. Applications (including a letter of interest, a complete CV, teaching evaluations (if available) and the names and addresses of at least three references) should be sent to:

Professor Mark Kende

Chair, Faculty Recruitment Committee

Drake University Law School

2507 University Ave.

Des Moines, Iowa 50311

mark.kende@drake.edu