SEATTLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW invites applications and nominations for Director of the Ronald A. Peterson Law Clinic to begin in the 2021-22 academic year. The Law School is looking for an outstanding teacher, lawyer, scholar, and leader who will advance our vision of a fully-integrated experiential learning curriculum at the forefront of our institutional commitment to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and to combat structural inequality, including racism, within the academy, the legal profession, and society. We are seeking candidates who either currently meet or will soon meet our unitary tenure standard. Salary, rank, and title (i.e., Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor) will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Director’s responsibilities will include: (1) administration and oversight of all clinics and the Externship Program (which has its own faculty Director); (2) supporting full-time and adjunct clinical faculty; (3) supervising administrative staff; and (4) developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure the clinic meets all professional and academic standards. The Director’s faculty responsibilities will include teaching at least one clinical course each year in their area of expertise as part of a 0.5 FTE teaching assignment and producing scholarship consistent with our faculty tenure standards. We will look to the Director to sustain our long tradition of regional and national leadership in clinical education and to be a powerful voice for clinical education within and beyond our institution.

Consistently ranked one of the Top Twenty programs by US News and World Report, the Peterson Law Clinic typically offers courses in as many as twelve different subject areas in a single academic year. We regularly offer clinics in civil-rights litigation (in conjunction with the Korematsu Center for Law and Equality), juvenile criminal defense, workers’ rights advocacy, estate planning, small business advising, international human rights, immigration practice, and patent matters before the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Seattle University School of Law is committed to preparing great lawyers and leaders who make a difference for their clients and communities. We proudly and consistently attract the most diverse student body of any law school in the Pacific Northwest region (40% students of color in this year’s 1L class). Our commitment to academic distinction is grounded in our Jesuit Catholic tradition, one that encourages open inquiry, thoughtful reflection, and concern for personal growth. Innovation, creativity, and technological sophistication characterize our rigorous educational program, which prepares lawyers for a wide variety of successful careers in law, business, and public service.

Minimum Qualifications:  JD from an ABA-accredited institution, a strong academic record, a current license to practice law, at least five years experience in practice, with experience as a clinical teacher strongly preferred. (We will consider applications from individuals without clinical teaching experience who have exceptional records of professional excellence, administration, and leadership.) The successful candidate will be expected to promptly obtain a license to practice in Washington once hired.

Founded in 1891, Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located on a beautiful campus of more than 50 acres in the dynamic heart of Seattle. Our diverse and driven population is made up of more than 7,200 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools and colleges. 

In support of its pursuit of academic and scholarly excellence, Seattle University is committed to creating a diverse community of students, faculty and staff that is dedicated to the fundamental principles of equal opportunity and treatment in education and employment regardless of age, color, disability, gender identity, national origin, political ideology, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. The university encourages applications from, and nominations of, individuals whose differing backgrounds, beliefs, ideas and life experiences will further enrich the diversity of its educational community.

For best consideration, submit application, including cover letter, curriculum vitae, and a list of references, to https://www.seattleu.edu/careers/ by the close of business on January 15, 2021. Questions about the search process should be directed to Professor Paul Holland, hollandp@seattleu.edu, Chair of the Faculty Appointments Committee.