Director of Advocacy Programs (12-Mo-NTT)

REVISED:  Deadline for submitting applications is extended to May 31, 2023.

Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law invites individuals interested in serving in a Christian university environment to apply for the position of director of advocacy programs for its nationally ranked advocacy program. The director reports to the Dean of the Cumberland School of Law. This is a full-time twelve-month non-tenure track (administrative) faculty position.

Position Summary

The Director will be responsible for the administration and maintenance of all aspects of the Advocacy Program. The successful candidate will work with the Assistant Director of Trial Advocacy, the Director of National Trial Teams, advocacy adjunct faculty, and Moot Court and ADR National Team coaches to lead, develop, and further enhance Cumberland’s advocacy program.

Responsibilities

• Teaching Basic and Advanced Skills in Trial Advocacy; Recruiting, training, and supervising adjunct faculty for all upper-level Trial Advocacy courses; Monitoring and ensuring ABA compliance with all Trial Advocacy courses; Teaching other appropriate doctrinal courses as needed; Identifying curricular changes or programmatic possibilities ensuring compliance with ABA Standard 304 for experiential courses; Supervising practicum study and independent research and writing as needed; Administering the Certificate in Trial Advocacy; Developing and administering advocacy conferences hosted by Cumberland; Organizing and executing advocacy competitions hosted by Cumberland (supervising in-school competitions as well as the organization and execution of national interschool competitions hosted by Cumberland in the areas of trial advocacy, appellate advocacy, and alternative dispute resolution); Advising the student-run Cumberland Trial Advocacy Board, ADR Board, and Moot Court Board; Advising Moot Court and ADR National Team Coaches and Faculty Advisors on the selection of National Team members and on competition selection; Participating in National Trial Team selection, training, and coaching, in support of the Director of National Trial Teams; Overseeing and managing the distribution of advocacy funds among Cumberland’s various advocacy programs; Participating on Law School committees as assigned; Directing and supporting external education/training activities (such as programs for judges, lawyers, advocacy educators and experts); Maintaining and expanding Cumberland’s Advocacy Program’s digital presence on LinkedIn, Twitter, alumni listservs, and other appropriate social media platforms, and the Cumberland website; Executing all internal and external marketing of the advocacy program; Interfacing with Cumberland’s Director of Marketing to promote the trial advocacy program; Participating in fundraising for the trial advocacy program in conjunction with Cumberland’s Director of Advancement.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school. The candidate will also have a minimum of three years of experience in legal advocacy work. The ideal candidate will have excellent leadership, strategic planning, and organizational skills with an ability to lead and manage in a challenging and changing environment. A successful candidate will also have a proven track record of working effectively and collaboratively with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students.

Cumberland School of Law prides itself on its commitment to teaching and to ensuring not only the success of its students upon graduation but their recognition of the ethical obligations that flow from being an officer of the court and a servant of the community. The ideal candidate will thus demonstrate the ability and motivation to develop meaningful mentoring relationships with students both in and out of class.

About Samford

Samford University (www.samford.edu) is the largest privately supported and fully accredited institution for higher learning in Alabama. Located in suburban Birmingham, the University was founded in 1841 and has 430 full time faculty and more than 5,600 students representing 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 18 countries. Samford has been nationally recognized for academics, affordability and value by a number of prestigious publications and rankings. The Wall Street Journal  and Times Higher Education ranks Samford 1^st nationally for student engagement and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranks Samford 34^th among private universities in the U.S. for value and affordability. The University is dedicated to the promotion of rigorous academic inquiry in a Christian setting. The University seeks and prefers employee applicants of the Christian faith and offers competitive salaries with a generous benefits package.

Application Process

Review of applications will begin on April 6, 2023, and applications will be accepted until May 31, 2023. Application materials must include a letter of interest, curriculum vita, application for faculty position and the faculty applicant Christian Mission statement. Salary is dependent upon qualifications and experience. The successful candidate must pass a background check. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, as Samford will not sponsor any employment visas for this position. Samford University and the Cumberland School of Law embrace diversity in their faculty, students, and staff and encourage applications from those who would add to the diversity of our academic community.  

“Application for Faculty Position” can be found at:

https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/Human_Resources/application-for-faculty-employment.pdf

“Faculty Applicant Christian Mission Statement” can be found at:

https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/academic-affairs/Faculty-Applicant-Christian-Mission-Statement.docx

Please submit all materials in PDF format to:

FACAPP@samford.edu

Subject:  Law, Director of Advocacy Programs 

For questions about the position please contact:

Professor Ramona Albin, Faculty Appointments Committee Chair

ralbin@samford.edu

205-726-2866

Except as specifically exempted by federal law requirements, Samford University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability or age in the administration or application of its educational programs and policies, admissions policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs. Consistent with its Christian mission and organizations, Samford is exempt from the religious provisions of Title VII pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sections 2000e-1(a) and 2000e-2(e).