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Clincial Professor of Law - Civil Rights and Racial Justice Clinic (Assistant, Associate, or Full)



The Washington and Lee University School of Law is excited to announce a search for a tenure-track or tenured faculty member to direct a clinic focusing on civil rights and racial justice. A long-time leader in experiential legal education, W&L Law has invested significantly in clinics, externships, and practicum courses, and requires students to complete a number of experiential credits that significantly exceeds the minimum required for accreditation. We seek a legal education professional who will embrace and meaningfully contribute to our close-knit, collegial, and intellectually vibrant community. To that end, clinical faculty at W&L have full voting and governance rights.

Consistent with the desire to address the pressing needs of racial justice in the country, the law school seeks a director to lead a clinic dedicated to the cause of civil rights and racial justice. To complement the work being done by the law school’s human rights and critical theory experts, the law school’s Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice , and the University’s Shepherd Program and Delaney Center , the law faculty created a clinic to foster civil rights and racial justice. We invite interested candidates to imagine this clinic with any substantive focus that will advance the goals of civil rights and racial justice. The clinical curriculum at W&L prioritizes a client-centered approach to clinical advocacy and teaching, but the precise focus of the clinic’s civil rights and racial justice advocacy will depend on the experience and vision of the next director.

We invite applications for a position as Assistant Clinical, Associate Clinical, or Clinical Professor of Law to begin July 1, 2024, or sooner. The ideal candidate will have several years of practice experience in the field of civil rights and racial justice; a demonstrated commitment to fostering diverse and inclusive educational or work environments; experience in clinical pedagogy and excellence in the teaching and supervision of law students; and an interest in contributing to practical and scholarly conversations concerning civil rights and racial justice.

A central aspect of the Law School’s mission is to promote a diverse, equitable, and collaborative intellectual community. Our mission statement is at https://law.wlu.edu/about-wandl-law . We continually strive to foster an inclusive campus community that recognizes the value of all persons regardless of identity. To further our mission, we are committed to enhancing the diversity of our faculty and student body. In that regard, we especially welcome candidates from members of communities that are traditionally under-represented in the legal profession and academia.

A J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school or equivalent is required. Candidates for the position must demonstrate a record of academic excellence and substantial teaching or legal practice experience.

Applicants should submit the following materials through Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/126036 : (1) a letter describing their interest in the position (including a short summary of the applicant’s vision or proposed model for the clinic, their experience promoting the justice issues involved in the clinic’s mandate, and their strategies for promoting inclusiveness in their teaching and service ), and (2) a current curriculum vitae (including a list of references). Additionally, although traditional scholarship is not mandatory for clinical tenure at W&L, it is encouraged and supported. As such, applicants who have scholarly aspirations should submit a research agenda.

Please address these materials to Elizabeth Belmont, chair of the Faculty Appointments Committee. Additionally, please feel free to reach out to her with any questions you may have at:

Elizabeth Belmont
Clinical Professor of Law and Director, Community Legal Practice Center
Washington and Lee University School of Law
Sydney Lewis Hall 234
Lexington, VA 24450
(540) 458-8561
belmontb@wlu.edu

All inquiries will be treated as confidential. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Washington and Lee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As such, we are interested in candidates who are committed to high standards of scholarship, performance and professionalism and to the development of a campus climate that supports equality and diversity in our faculty, staff and student body. Job description requirements are representative, but not all‐inclusive of the knowledge, skill, and abilities needed to successfully perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Statement of Commitment to Diversity

Washington and Lee affirms that diverse perspectives and backgrounds enhance our community. We are committed to the recruitment, enrichment, and retention of students, faculty, and staff who embody many experiences, cultures, points of view, interests, and identities. As engaged citizens in a global and diverse society, we seek to advance a positive learning and working environment for all through open and substantive dialogue.

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