Trial Advocacy Program Director (17238)

Summary/Objective

The Program Director is responsible for the overall administrative management of the Stephen S. Weinstein Advocacy Program. This position will directly supervise the Associate Director of Training & Competitions and provide oversight for all full-time and part-time program staff. This position will work with the Office of the Registrar, and the Office of Academic Affairs to staff and prepare all advocacy courses each semester, and manage all specialized programs of the Advocacy Program, including the Litigation Skills Summer Program, Certificate Programs, and The LLM in Trial Advocacy Program, and the Diplomado en litigacion Oral Penal.

Essential Functions

1. Provide oversight of the 50+ adjunct faculty members; recruit a diverse faculty of judges and practitioners in the Washington, D.C. area. Establish the curriculum for advocacy courses, provide training for adjunct faculty, and review teaching evaluations each term.

2. Manage the Master of Laws in Advocacy (Advocacy LLM Program), including marketing the program, reviewing applications; making final admissions decisions; and counseling admitted LLM students throughout their degree.

3. Collaborate with the International Legal Studies Program (ILSP) and the Center for Judicial Studies of the Americas (“CEJA”) to host the Diplomado En Litigación Oral Penal, a biennial trial skills program (in Spanish) for jurists from Central and South America.

4. Plan and implement the Litigation Skills Summer Institute, a series of mini courses offered to WCL students and area practitioners.

5. Teach four credits each calendar year.

6. Hire, train, supervise and evaluate the Associate Director for Training & Competitions. Represent the Advocacy Program on WCL and other committees. Oversee the work of the Advocacy Program Coordinators and part-time staff. Assist in the planning, preparation and execution of all Advocacy Program competitions and events.

7. Attend and participate in appropriate conferences and engage with the community of law school advocacy training professionals.

Supervisory Responsibility

• The Program Director will directly supervise the Associate Director for Training & Competitions.

Work Environment

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Full-Time
• Exempt
• Team Leader/Consultant A
• 35 Hours per week
• This is not a union-eligible position.

Required Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor
• 3-5 years of relevant experience

Preferred Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor
• 3-5 years of relevant experience
• Litigation experience and law school teaching and/or legal training experience strongly preferred.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:An ability to welcome, value, and affirm individuals of all identities and experiences, and a commitment to ensure they are understood, appreciated, and fully included in the university community.
• Interpersonal Skills:Ability to relate well to and develop and maintain effective relationships with people from varied backgrounds and situations; demonstrate understanding, concern and empathy for others; effectively relate to people who are displaying hostility or distress; and respond appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
• Program Management:Skill managing and implementing program activities including the development of objectives, action plans and timelines. Ability to develop, manage and evaluate program budgets; coordinate with other functional areas; evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of operations and policies; recommend and implement process improvement efforts; and provide program information and training to internal and external stakeholders. Discretion, Tact and Diplomacy: Ability to exercise discretion, tact and diplomacy while interacting with students, faculty, university staff, management, internship employers and other stakeholders on confidential and/or sensitive matters.
• Student Services Skills:Student-centered orientation and commitment to helping students be successful and experience a sense of belonging. Ability to serve as bridge to services, intervene and/or advocate on students’ behalf with offices across campus to support needs, drive engagement and empower students to achieve their goals.
• Organizational Skills:Ability to organize, carefully prepare, and review one’s own work to ensure completeness and accuracy; clarify priorities, expectations and timelines; manage time effectively; set up procedures to ensure high quality of work and adherence to deadlines; and follow up with others to ensure that agreements and commitments have been fulfilled.
• Marketing Communications:Ability to identify communication needs; develop informational materials that inform appropriate stakeholders of the university's policies, programs, services and activities; plan, execute, and evaluate the effectiveness of information and communication programs used in furthering university goals.
• Team Leadership:Ability to effectively lead a team of employees which includes planning, coordinating, and monitoring the work of others assigned on a project or program basis, providing technical guidance, coaching and feedback, and building effective work relationships. Standard Office Software: Skill using email, word processing, spreadsheet/ data analysis and presentation development software applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint while preparing briefings, reports, and presentations.
• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.

Benefits

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Other Duties

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American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.

Nearest Major Market: Washington DC