Directed Study Faculty Supervisor

The Colleges of Law•Ventura, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Faculty Supervisor for Directed Study provides individualized academic mentorship to students completing approved directed study projects. The faculty member supports the student’s independent legal research and writing while ensuring the work meets rigorous academic, scholarly, and professional standards. This role reports to the Program Dean. The Faculty Supervisor works directly with students to guide the development of directed study projects, review research and written work, and provide substantive academic feedback. The position contributes to the institution’s mission by supporting independent scholarship and fostering deeper engagement with legal doctrine and research. Faculty supervisors typically engage with students for approximately 10–15 hours over the course of a semester, including meetings, review of written drafts, and substantive feedback throughout the project. If a faculty supervisor anticipates that engagement will exceed 15 hours, prior approval from the Program Dean is required. Students typically complete 12–15 pages of double-spaced writing for one (1) unit of directed study credit and 24–30 pages for two (2) units. Unless otherwise approved, papers should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to mentor and guide students in legal research and scholarly writing.
Strong knowledge of legal doctrine, research methodology, and analytical writing.
Ability to provide constructive written and verbal feedback on student work.
Strong organizational and time-management skills to monitor student progress.
Commitment to maintaining academic rigor and scholarly integrity.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
Admission to practice law in at least one jurisdiction required.

Nice To Haves

Experience teaching or mentoring students in legal research, writing, or doctrinal coursework.
Prior academic or professional legal research experience.
Experience supervising student research projects, scholarly writing, or independent study.

Responsibilities

Review and approve the student’s Directed Study proposal to ensure the topic, scope, and research plan are appropriate.
Complete all required institutional documentation and approval forms related to the directed study project.
Meet with the student to discuss the scope, objectives, and research plan for the project.
Advise students on legal research strategies, sources, and authorities relevant to the topic.
Review and provide feedback on drafts of written work, including substantive analysis, organization, and writing quality.
Guide students in the application and analysis of relevant legal principles, doctrine, and policy considerations.
Monitor student progress to ensure the project proceeds in a timely and academically rigorous manner.
Evaluate the final paper or project and assign a Pass/Fail grade consistent with institutional standards.
Serve as an academic mentor while ensuring the work remains independent student scholarship.