Assistant Director of Paralegal and Graduate Legal Programs

Hamline University•Saint Paul, IN

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Founded in 1854, Hamline was the first university in Minnesota and among the first coeducational institutions in the nation. Hamline University provides a world-class education for undergraduate and graduate students. Our faculty, staff, and students cultivate an ethic of civic responsibility, social justice, and inclusive leadership and service. Hamline University is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law in its education or employment programs or activities. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. The Division of Social Sciences at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, invites applicants for a full-time staff position with administrative responsibility for the graduate legal programs at Hamline, specifically management of the Graduate Paralegal Program as the Paralegal Program Director for the purpose of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegal Education (the ABA), which approves the program. Candidates should have a clear understanding of the paralegal profession, including its current developments and the expansion of legal paraprofessional programs nationally. Demonstrated experience working in paralegal education, in the role of a paralegal, or in close collaboration with paralegals is required. In collaboration with the faculty Paralegal Program Director and the Social Sciences division faculty, the successful candidate will maintain the paralegal program’s approval with the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals which requires implementing the ABA Guidelines and networking in the local legal community.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Paralegal Certificate from an ABA-approved paralegal program and 5 or more years of experience in the administration of paralegal or legal education
5 years or more of experience working with or as a paralegal or in recruiting, training, or supervising paralegals in a team environment
Familiarity with academic institutions, assessment and accreditation processes, and legal education, specifically for paralegals and other non-lawyer legal personnel

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in a legal, business, administrative, or education field
Interest in emerging technologies and the evolving expectations of the paralegal profession, including the Minnesota Legal Paraprofessional program

Responsibilities

Manages processes with ABA guidelines in coordination with the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals; staying current with compliance requirements; and gathering, creating, and reporting all required information to maintain program approval.
Manages all events and activities required by or supportive of an ABA-approved paralegal program including assessment activities, faculty meetings, adjunct faculty recruiting and development, alumni events, paralegal student organizations and events, honor society induction, and certificate and awards ceremony; and recruits, coordinates, and facilitates Paralegal Program Advisory Board and its meetings.
Supports and collaborates with Legal Studies program faculty to identify curricular needs for graduate programs and to ensure compliance with the ABA guidelines.
Supports and collaborates with Graduate Admissions and Graduate Advising to respond to and resolve program-related inquiries; participating in on-campus visits and information sessions; organizing and facilitating orientation sessions; and any other related activities.
Coordinates the application, review, and award processes of departmental scholarship opportunities.
Coordinates recruitment of qualified adjunct faculty and collaborates with full-time faculty to support adjunct development in teaching and learning, per ABA requirements.
Maintains applications for undergraduate students seeking to complete the Graduate Paralegal Certificate pathway.
Collaborates with Registration and Records to confirm student compliance with program requirements for graduate legal programs and authorizes issuance of certificates; orders and delivers Graduate Paralegal Certificates.
Reviews, revises and documents all relevant administrative processes in conjunction with appropriate departments for greater efficiency and improved student experience.
Coordinates with admissions, web, and marketing personnel to promote programs through the development, implementation, and creation of marketing materials and activities.
Reviews and maintains legal research database requirements (e.g. Westlaw) to ensure that paralegal students have appropriate access to legal research materials, consistent with ABA requirements.
Participates in educational organizations specific to paralegal education, including, but not limited to American Association for Paralegal Educators (AAfPE).
Develops and maintains program relationships with external audiences, including relevant professional associations, potential volunteer sites, internship hosts and employers, and other ABA-approved paralegal programs.