University of Detroit Mercy School of Law - Director - Online JD Program
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY SCHOOL OF LAW is seeking candidates for Director of its new Online Juris Doctor (OJD) program, which is scheduled to launch in the Fall of 2026. The Director will also be expected to teach (with a reduced load) in the OJD Program as a tenure-track faculty member. We therefore are interested in candidates who could teach a first-year course in the OJD Program while serving as Director. We anticipate that faculty who work in the OJD Program could also teach in our residential JD programs, though that is not a condition for hire.
The OJD Program will be a fully online program of legal education – the first of its kind among Michigan’s law schools – and has already received the American Bar Association’s acquiescence. The OJD Director will report directly to the Dean of the School of Law, and will be responsible for working with faculty and instructional design consultants on course design and development. The Director should possess a Juris Doctor degree and have substantial experience in online legal education, including experience with online course design, synchronous and asynchronous instruction, and online assessment. This position may include pre-scheduled campus visits for key milestones; timing and frequency will be set collaboratively.
Although the OJD program is set to officially launch in Fall 2026, the start date for a Director is negotiable and we welcome candidates who could begin as soon as possible. As OJD courses will be offered only remotely, the OJD Director is not expected to have an immediate, permanent physical presence at the School of Law in Detroit. The position may be expected to have some physical presence in Detroit eventually, as negotiated with the Dean.
Candidates should send a current CV or resume, along with a cover letter expressing their interest and qualifications, to Professor Richard Broughton, Chair of the Faculty Recruiting Committee, at broughjr@udmercy.edu. Candidates may also submit additional materials such as research statements, prior publications, and teaching evaluations. Applications will be reviewed immediately. We welcome and encourage applications from women, from members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and from any other candidates who will further enhance the diversity of our faculty.