The Northern Illinois University College of Law anticipates having an opening for one Legal Writing/Academic Success Program Instructor:
The Legal Writing and Advocacy Course is a core course in the first and second-year curriculum at Northern Illinois University College of Law. The four-credit, two-semester course is structured to help first and second-year law students acquire and refine the basic legal writing and analysis skills fundamental to the successful completion of law school and to the competent practice of law. As a secondary goal, students in Legal Writing and Advocacy are also introduced to other skills and topics important to the practice of law, including oral communication of legal issues, interviewing and counseling, professional responsibility, and motion practice.
In addition to, and in conjunction with the Legal Writing Program, Northern Illinois University College of Law assists law students in achieving their greatest potential through the Academic Success Program (ASP). There are numerous components to ASP throughout the course of the students’ academic career at NIU Law. As part of ASP, all 1L students participate in the Introduction to Legal Skills course during the second seven weeks of the fall semester. This course is taught by the Legal Writing/ASP faculty and introduces students to exam-preparation, study skills, synthesis, and analytical writing. Further, as part of ASP, select incoming 1L students are required to participate in a Jump Start Orientation program the week prior to the 1L Orientation. These students are instructed in basic analytical and rule development skills during a week of writing-intensive course work taught and implemented by the ASP Instructors. Further, select admitted students are invited to participate in the 1L ASP based on objective criteria including undergraduate GPA and law school admission test scores. Participation is a mandatory condition of admission for students who meet certain criteria determined by the faculty. Students participating in the program attend weekly mentor and study sessions conducted by upper-level student Graduate Assistants for their four doctrinal courses. 2L students with a GPA of 2.4 and below are required to participate in Upper-Level ASP, semester-long, one-hour, weekly, ungraded course taught by the ASP Instructors. The writing-intensive Upper-Level ASP focuses on exam-writing, outlining, and study skills.
The Legal Writing/ASP Instructors, together with the Co-Directors of Legal Writing and Academic Success, are responsible for the delivery of the legal writing and academic success programs at Northern Illinois University College of Law. The Legal Writing/ASP Instructors report to the Co-Directors of Legal Writing and Academic Success. This is a ten-month position within the University.
The responsibilities of a Legal Writing/ASP Instructor include:
- Teach the required Introduction to Legal Skills Course to first year law students
- Teach the required Legal Writing and Advocacy Course to first and second-year law students
- Plan and develop legal writing and legal skills problems for these courses
- Provide individual instruction to first-year students
- Grade and comment on legal writing and legal skills assignments
- Assist in the planning, development, and delivery of programs tailored to help ASP students reach their full potential
- Provide academic counseling to ASP students
- Assist in the hiring, training, and oversight of upper-class students who serve as Graduate Assistants for ASP students
- Assist in the planning and delivery of meetings geared toward developing general study and exam skills for the entire first-year class during the fall semester
- Assist in the planning, development, and delivery of the week-long academic orientation program for select incoming 1L students participating in the NIU Law Jump Start Program
- Assist in the planning, development, and delivery of the orientation program for the entire first-year class
- Cooperate and assist with other programs involving oral and written communication skills, including the second-year moot court competition and third-year external moot court teams
- Provide individual instruction to students selected to participate in upper-level ASP during fall semester
- Provide individual instruction to first-year students selected to participate in the exam-writing seminar during spring semester
- Assist in the planning, development, and delivery of Bar programs for upper-level students and alumni
- Assist in the continuing in-depth evaluation of both the legal writing and academic success programs and identify and implement program improvements
- Other responsibilities that may become necessary as determined by the Deans and program directors
NIU Law seeks applicants for one anticipated Legal Writing/ASP Instructor position.
Required qualifications include a J.D. from an ABA accredited law school, a valid license to practice law, strong writing skills, strong academic credentials, and a minimum of two years of teaching and/or practice experience.
Preferred qualifications include the ability to work well within a coordinated program structure, background or training in counseling or educational theory, the ability to work with a diverse student population and strong organizational skills.
MATERIALS
Applicants please send a letter of application addressed to Interim Dean Mark W. Cordes stating qualifications, transcripts, current curriculum vitae, writing sample, and contact information for two professional references to:
Tita Kaus
Administrator, Office of the Dean
Applications will be received until the end of business day, Thursday, November 5, 2015.
In compliance with the Illinois Campus Security Act, before an offer of employment is made, the university will conduct a pre-employment background investigation, which includes a criminal background check.
In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action. NIU recognizes Dual Career issues.
