VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law (the “Law School”) has an immediate opening for a Visiting Assistant Professor of Academic Success for a one-year term covering Academic Year 2018-2019.
The Visiting Assistant Professor of Academic Success will have the responsibility of working with the Executive Director of Bar Preparation and Academic Achievement (“Executive Director”) to provide a holistic, comprehensive program of academic support and bar preparation that encompasses law students’ entire academic experience at the Law School, from Orientation through the Bar Exam.
Specifically, this responsibility includes the following duties:
- In conjunction with the Executive Director, conduct classes outlining the Academic Support Program and Case Briefing during Orientation;
- Conduct and present four (4) 1L Workshops in the first six (6) weeks of the 1L academic year covering the following topics: (1) Class Preparation and Participation, including further work on Case Briefing; (2) Time Management; (3) Outlining; and (4) Introduction to Essay Writing;
- Conduct essay workshops in each of the three Tracks so as to cover essay writing in all substantive 1L classes both first and second semesters;
- Select, in conjunction with doctrinal and LRW professors, teaching assistants (called Academic Fellows) for all 1L classes and LRW sections, and for selected upper-level courses, not later than July 10 of each year, and coordinate the rooms and times for each Academic Fellow to conduct weekly review sessions and office hours;
- Supervise Academic Fellows as follows: (a) Conduct a training session prior to Orientation in each Academic Year; (b) Develop a rubric for evaluating Academic Fellows; (c) Observe their review sessions, using the rubric; (d) Supervise time sheets; and (e) provide feedback to Academic Fellows for improvement;
- Require Academic Fellows to create assignments to improve student writing and issue-spotting, and revise and approve such assignments;
- Work with students to: help students problem solve issues regarding legal analysis, stress and time management, class preparation and participation, and exam preparation and performance; diagnose writing and analysis problems affecting academic performance by identifying the misunderstanding or habit that causes the student to engage in ineffective writing or analysis; and prescribe solutions that identify what steps the students can take to improve academic performance;
- Meet regularly with students who are at-risk, on probation, or otherwise are having academic difficulty, require written assignments of them, and provide thorough written feedback on such practice exams in terms of both structure and substance (copies of which feedback should be retained to develop data on student challenges for reporting to the faculty);
- Develop a culture among 1L students and 2L students of regularly writing practice exams before taking actual exams, and supplying such practice exams and thorough written feedback on such practice exams in terms of both structure and substance;
- Teach courses assigned by the Executive Director and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, including, without limitation, the courses entitled, “Legal Writing Skills” and “Legal Analysis Workshop”; and
- Assist the Executive Director with the Bar Preparation Program as he or she directs.
Applicants should send a CV and grading sample showing comments directly to to Prof. Mario Mainero by email at the following contact:
Prof. Mario Mainero
Professor of Academic Achievement and
Executive Director of Bar Preparation and Academic Achievement
Chapman University
Fowler School of Law
(714) 628-2518
