Assistant Professor of Law (Director of Externship)

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVERSITY•Springfield, MA

1d•$105,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Western New England University School of Law invites applicants for a tenure track assistant professor of law faculty position with primary responsibility serving as Director of Externships starting August 2027. We seek candidates with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. The Director of Externships, who will work collaboratively with the Associate Dean of Experiential Learning, will be responsible for oversight and management of all aspects of the externship program, including: curriculum for the externship seminars; recruiting, training, supervising and evaluating field supervisors; conducting or coordinating site visits; establishing program policies; representing the law school in local, regional, and national externship meetings; and providing counseling and guidance to students about appropriate placements to develop skills and advance professional goals. This position includes responsibility for expanding the current program for the part-time and evening students in the new JD Access distance learning program. This position also includes the opportunity to enhance the current program, such as launching a semester in practice, summer externship program, creating a seminar to accompany second externships, and contributing more broadly to deepening the law school’s commitment to professional development and experiential learning opportunities. The teaching load for this position is 12 credits, which typically include two 4-credit offerings for the externship program, two credits of a required 1L course dedicated to an introduction to the legal profession, and an additional 2-credit course to be determined in consultation with the Dean. Applicants must possess a J.D. or equivalent degree, a record of academic achievement, and the potential to develop a strong program of scholarly research. Faculty members in the School of Law must also commit to teaching courses in-person and in a distance learning format, remaining current in the scholarly life of the discipline and should carry out professional scholarly activities such as attendance at professional conferences, research, and scholarly writing projects within the discipline. All applications should include a letter of application, including areas of teaching interest, and a CV that includes a record of publications and/or a scholarly agenda. WNE offers an excellent benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, 403b retirement plan, and tuition remission. We are a student-centered institution committed to preparing graduates for successful and ethical legal careers. Faculty enjoy a collaborative academic community, opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement, and strong support for teaching, scholarship, and service. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the School of Law offers small class sizes, a diverse student body, and convenient access to Boston, Hartford, Albany, and the broader New England region. Western New England University is a private, independent, coeducational institution founded in 1919. Located on an attractive 215-acre suburban campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England University serves 3,800 students, including more than 2,600 full-time undergraduate students. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs are offered through Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Pharmacy, and School of Law. Western New England University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. To apply for this position please visit https://wne.edu/human-resources/careers.cfm For inquiries about this position, please contact Professor Tim Webster, Chair of the Faculty Personnel Committee ([email protected]) or Dale-Marie Dahlke, Law School Director of Operations ([email protected])

Requirements

J.D. or equivalent degree.
A record of academic achievement.
Potential to develop a strong program of scholarly research.
Commitment to teaching courses in-person and in a distance learning format.
Commitment to remaining current in the scholarly life of the discipline.
Commitment to carrying out professional scholarly activities such as attendance at professional conferences, research, and scholarly writing projects within the discipline.
Distinguished academic record, including a JD from an ABA-approved law school or a foreign equivalent.
Ability to speak to a group of students in a classroom in a residential and distance learning environment.
Ability to interact verbally with students in a classroom environment or with individual students in private meetings.
Knowledge of the field of study that is sufficiently broad to teach most of the basic courses in the discipline.
Sufficient depth of knowledge to teach upper division courses in at least one area of specialization.
Ability to use the telephone and E-mail for communication or to use alternate methods for effective communication, including Learning Management Systems platforms for distance learning courses.
Ability to grade student exams, term papers, reports and other in-class and outside assignments.
Skill in basic computer and web-based technology use and ability to assist students in computer literacy in the field.
Ability to meet classes on schedule and to carry out assignments in a prompt and timely fashion.
Skill in interpersonal communication sufficient to interact effectively with students, colleagues, and administrators.
Skill in reading, analyzing, summarizing and in other ways comprehending and utilizing written academic material.
Ability to write effectively in internal university communications, in interaction with outside constituencies, and in preparing scholarly and professional material.

Nice To Haves

Significant and meaningful practice experience, including a judicial clerkship.

Responsibilities

Oversight and management of all aspects of the externship program, including curriculum for the externship seminars.
Recruiting, training, supervising and evaluating field supervisors.
Conducting or coordinating site visits.
Establishing program policies.
Representing the law school in local, regional, and national externship meetings.
Providing counseling and guidance to students about appropriate placements to develop skills and advance professional goals.
Expanding the current program for the part-time and evening students in the new JD Access distance learning program.
Enhancing the current program, such as launching a semester in practice, summer externship program, creating a seminar to accompany second externships, and contributing more broadly to deepening the law school’s commitment to professional development and experiential learning opportunities.
Teaching courses in-person and in a distance learning format.
Remaining current in the scholarly life of the discipline.
Carrying out professional scholarly activities such as attendance at professional conferences, research, and scholarly writing projects within the discipline.
Course development and classroom teaching.
Advising students on an individual and sometimes confidential basis.
Staying current in the discipline through scholarly research and professional development.
Performing service duties, especially involving membership on committees.
Participation in university governance.
Developing programs, and the overall curriculum in the field.