POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of Licensure at Willamette Law advances the law school’s commitment to student success by supporting law students and recent graduates as they transition from law school to fully-licensed attorneys, with a focus on helping students to develop the academic, professional, and personal skills necessary for success in law school, on the bar exam, and in the practice of law. The school’s Academic Support and Bar Preparation program provides comprehensive support through workshops, courses, small-group programming, and individualized coaching. The Director will play a central role in designing and delivering programming that meets students’ evolving needs, with a focus on students who may encounter barriers to bar passage. The Director will cooperate with internal personnel and external institutional partners in the bar preparation and licensure spaces.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work closely with the Dean and Associate Deans to redesign and implement the Law School’s bar preparation and licensure support program.
- Work with institutional commercial provider of bar preparation and academic success services to ensure students and graduates are taking full advantage of resources and support opportunities.
- Assist with development and support of academic support programs in order to improve student readiness for licensure success.
- Develop and present skills-based workshops and information sessions relating to licensure, bar readiness and preparation, and general academic success.
- Organize and maintain faculty bar mentor program and coordinate other faculty licensure support events and opportunities.
- Provide individual academic and licensure counseling and coaching for students and graduates, with a particular emphasis on students preparing for the bar exam as well as at-risk students.
- Offer tailored feedback on analytical writing, learning strategies, and test-taking approaches.
- Support students in planning for and navigating the transition from law school to bar study and/or other pathways to full licensure.
- Work with students, Professional Responsibility faculty, and institutional commercial provider to support students as they prepare for the MPRE.
- Lead February and summer bar exam preparation support program; work with faculty and staff to support students throughout the bar preparation period.
- Coordinate bar exam day logistics with Oregon State Bar.
- Collect, track, and analyze data related to academic support engagement, bar prep, and bar passage / licensure outcomes; prepare ABA Bar Questionnaire for completion on an annual basis.
- Maintain student records regarding licensure and bar passage.
- Prepare reports and recommendations to inform faculty, staff, and administration about program impact and student outcomes.
- Teach substantive bar exam, licensure support, and, as needed, academic support courses.
- Work with Office of Career Planning and Development to develop support for position-based alternative pathways to licensure, such as Oregon’s Supervised Practice Pathway Examination.
- Remain current on best practices, pedagogy, and trends in academic success, bar preparation, licensure, and legal education reform, including on the NextGen Bar Exam and alternative pathways in Oregon and other states.
- Serve as the law school’s point of contact with state, national, and other licensure and bar preparation and support entities.
- In cooperation with the Dean and other staff and faculty, identify, apply for, and implement grant-based or other funding opportunities to support core responsibilities.
- Where appropriate, assist with other Law School assessment and academic support work.
- Perform additional responsibilities as assigned throughout the law school by the Dean.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum
- Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
- Admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
- Professional experience in the practice of law.
- Demonstrated interest in academic support, bar preparation, teaching, or equivalent professional legal practice/training.
- Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to encourage, motivate, and support diverse student populations.
- Proven organizational and project management skills.
- Familiarity with the Uniform Bar Exam and emerging NextGen Bar Exam.
- Commitment to working with students from varied backgrounds, including those with diverse learning styles and abilities.
- Demonstrated proficiency with educational technology and a willingness to adopt new tools.
- Familiarity with, or ability to learn, software systems necessary for student record maintenance and tracking.
Preferred
- Prior law school academic support and/or bar preparation experience.
- Two years of experience in the practice of law.
- Experience teaching in higher education.
- Knowledge of learning theory and evidence-based strategies for legal education.
- Experience with data collection, interpretation, and reporting to guide program improvement.
