Two Lecturer/Practitioner-in-Residence Positions to Begin Summer/Fall 2013 – Human Rights Clinic & Immigration Clinic
The University of Miami School of Law’s Clinical Program is pleased to announce that it is hiring two lecturers/practitioners-in-residence to work in its Human Rights Clinic and Immigration Clinic. The positions will begin in the summer or fall of 2013. The positions are open until filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply before December 14, 2012.
The two positions are described in detail as follows:
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Becky Sharpless, Director of the Immigration Clinic, if they would like additional information about either position.
Position Title: Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer
Start Date: Summer 2013 (flexible)
Duration: 2 years, renewable for 1 year
Miami Law invites applicants for the position of Practitioner-in-Residence and Lecturer in its Human Rights Clinic (HRC). The Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer will have the opportunity to join the vibrant and supportive clinical community at the School of Law. Together with the HRC’s Director, the Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer will help run the HRC, including assisting in the teaching of clinic classes, supervising students, managing cases/projects and representing clients. The position is designed for a lawyer with at least two to three years of practice experience who is interested in human rights law and advocacy at the domestic and international levels and has an interest in pursuing a career in law school clinical teaching.
The Human Rights Clinic includes a critical and a skills-based seminar on human rights law and practice. The Clinic is also engaged in human rights projects and cases before the United Nations, the Inter-American Commission and Court of Human Rights, and other domestic and international fora, as well as other forms of advocacy including human rights documentation/fact-finding, report-writing, legislative initiatives, and community organizing campaigns.
Qualifications: J.D. and/or LL.M. degree from a U.S. law school is required. Applicants must have at least two to three years of legal practice experience. Applicants should have significant experience in the area of human rights and cross-cultural lawyering; enthusiasm for clinical teaching; student development and training; a demonstrated commitment to social justice and public interest law; the ability to work independently and as part of a team; excellent legal, analytical, organizational, and written and oral communication skills; and ability to travel with and without students. English fluency is required; high proficiency in Spanish and/or Haitian Creole, while not necessary, is a strong plus. Experience in creative and community-driven advocacy, clinical education, project management, supervision of student interns is also a strong plus.
Responsibilities: Job responsibilities include:
- Developing, implementing, managing, and supervising all aspects of student work on Clinic cases/projects. The Fellow may have the opportunity to develop new projects that are connected with the Clinic’s objectives.
- Co-teaching Clinic classes on human rights law and practice.
- Assisting withadministrative and operational aspects of the Clinic, including outreach activities to publicize the Clinic’s work; student recruitment and professional counseling; responses to public inquiries regarding the Clinic; participation in strategic planning; liaising with student groups; providing content for the Clinic’s website; assisting with the Clinic application process; and providing support for development activities, including grant writing and fundraising.
- Covering cases/projects during the summer and between semesters. The Clinic will likely run through the summer (depending on student interest and other needs), in which case the Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer would be solely or primarily responsible for teaching and supervising students and cases/projects.
All work will be conducted with the support of the law school’s clinical faculty, and will focus on providing legal assistance to low-income and human rights clients and organizations. The principal supervisor for the position will be HRC’s Faculty Director, Professor Caroline Bettinger-Lopez. The Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer will have the opportunity to participate in the academic life of the law school and in relevant academic and advocacy conferences.
To apply, please email a resume, cover letter, writing sample, law school transcript, and names, addresses and telephone numbers of three references. Position open until filled, but applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by December 14, 2012.
POSITION TITLE: Practitioner-in-Residence and Supervising Attorney
START DATE: Summer 2013 (flexible)
DURATION: 2 years, renewable for 1
The University of Miami School of Law invites applicants for the position of Practitioner-in-Residence/Supervising Attorney in its Immigration Clinic. This is a lecturer position. Together with the clinic’s director, Rebecca Sharpless, the practitioner-in-residence/supervising attorney will help run the Immigration Clinic, including assisting in the teaching of clinic classes, supervising students, and representing clients.
The Immigration Clinic represents low-income immigrants of all nationalities in wide variety of immigration matters. The Clinic works collaboratively with area nonprofit organizations and other law clinics to select cases. Most of the Clinic’s clients are in removal proceedings and many are in detention. The Clinic litigates cases before the immigration court, Board of Immigration Appeals, and federal courts. In addition to individual casework, the Clinic takes on projects aimed at supporting the work of nonprofit organizations that advocate for immigrants and/or engage in grassroots organizing.
Applicants should have practice experience representing noncitizens, a demonstrated commitment to public interest law, strong academic credentials and writing ability, and the potential for a being a successful teacher. Preference will be given to applicants with post-law school practice experience. While a bar license from any state is required, a Florida bar license is not required. Fluency or proficiency in Haitian Creole or Spanish is a plus.
The position will allow the participant to develop strong clinical teaching skills and acquire a deep and broad understanding of immigration law and practice as it relates to indigent immigrants.
Because of the busy nature of the Clinic’s practice, the practitioner-in-residence/supervising attorney should not expect to have time for academic research and writing during business hours. The practitioner-in-residence/supervising attorney will be expected to cover cases during the summer and between semesters. Depending on student interest and other needs, the Clinic may run through the summer, in which case the practitioner-in-residence/supervising attorney would be responsible for teaching and supervising students (for additional compensation).
To apply for this position, please submit the following materials to Rebecca Sharpless, Director, Immigration Clinic: 1) resume/CV; 2) statement of interest including career goals and prior experience providing legal services, teaching, and other relevant experience; 3) a writing sample; 4) a list of at least three references and their contact information; and 5) a complete law school transcript.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled, however applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for this position before December 14, 2012.
The University of Miami offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental benefits, tuition remission, vacation, paid holidays, and much more.