Description

Position Details

Position Information

Working Position Title
Director of Law School Academic Success and Bar Programs (38738)

Classification Title
Instructor

Position Number
00038738

Posting Date
06/27/2025

Closing Date

Priority Review Date
09/30/2025

Business Unit Description
Faculty

Full-Time/Part Time
Full-Time

FTE
1.00

Position Status
Regular

FLSA
Exempt

Job Code
2070

Union Representation
Non-Union

Union Code
UPI - Univ Prof of Illinois, #4100

Unit/Department
College of Law Faculty

College/Unit
College of Law Dean

Division
Academic Division

Location
SP 270

Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page
https://www.niu.edu/law/index.shtml

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview

The Northern Illinois University College of Law is a public institution dedicated to providing an excellent, affordable, legal education to the approximately 300 members of its student body. Northern Illinois University College of Law is located in DeKalb, IL approximately 60 miles west of Chicago

College of Law Mission:The mission of the Northern Illinois University College of Law is to provide a high-quality and affordable legal education that

• Prepares students to become effective, creative and ethical lawyers, ready to serve the legal needs of their communities
• Engages faculty and students in a broad range of legal and interdisciplinary research and scholarship
• Fosters access to law school and the legal profession by traditionally underrepresented groups
• Inspires students to serve the public interest throughout their legal careers
• Builds a unique atmosphere of collegiality and cooperation within the law school community

Position Summary

The Director of Law School Academic Success and Bar Programs is responsible for the academic support programs for College of Law students from admission through bar passage, including support for students in a future potential part-time program. The College of Law's philosophy is that bar success is achieved through a comprehensive program of academic support beginning at admission. As a small law school with a strong commitment to its students, the Director of Law School Academic Success and Bar Programs will often work with students who are struggling with bar passage through multiple attempts.

The ASP Director of Law School Academic Success and Bar Programs is a member of the full-time faculty voting on most matters, except for Promotion and Tenure and tenure-track hires. The ASP Director of Law School Academic Success and Bar Programs is supported in professional development including participation in the ASP and the Legal Writing communities.

There are no publication requirements tied to retention. At the completion of the initial one-year contract term, the Director will be eligible for two additional one-year contract terms, for a total of three one-year contract terms, upon a satisfactory review of their performance. At the conclusion of the third one-year contract term, the Director will be eligible for a five-year, presumptively renewable contract upon a satisfactory review of their performance. Instructors attend faculty meetings, vote on curriculum and other academic matters, and serve on committees. They are integral contributors to our law school community. Instructors have service and professional development requirements that may be fulfilled, for example, by presenting at conferences and serving on law school and university committees and as faculty advisor to student organizations. All faculty are allocated travel funds for the year to attend conferences.

This is a twelve-month contract position as a non-union Instructor in the College of Law.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The College of Law's Academic Success Program ( ASP ) is among just a few ASPs that are intentionally combined with the Legal Writing Program. In addition to academic success responsibilities, the Director of Law School Academic Success and Bar Programs is a regularly rostered instructor in the Legal Writing program. All Legal Writing instructors, including the rotating Legal Writing Director, are also Academic Success Instructors. Because of the joint nature of the program, it is imperative that the Director of Law School Academic Success and Bar Programs be able to work collaboratively with the Legal Writing Instructors.

The Director of Law School Academic Success and Bar Programs must have an in-depth understanding of the skills law students need to be successful in both law school and on the bar examination. The Director must develop and maintain substantial knowledge about academic support, including but not limited to, notetaking, outlining, case briefing, exam writing, etc., bar preparation, bar preparation strategies, and the bar exam, including the UBE and the NextGen exam. The Director will work closely with the administration, faculty, and, most importantly, with College of Law students, implementing and evaluating the ASP /Bar programs.

Programmatic Planning -

• Develop, implement, and assess short and long-term goals for the Academic Success and Bar Preparation programs in collaboration with the Dean, Associate Deans and Faculty.
• Develop, implement, and assess existing and new curricular programming for the ASP and Bar Prep programs in collaboration with the Dean, Associate Deans, and Faculty.
• Develop, implement, and assess the Legal Writing Curriculum in collaboration with the Dean, Associate Deans, and Legal Writing Faculty.

Assessment -

• Assess the success of the academic success and bar support programs through data collection and analysis and through collaboration with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the Deans and Faculty.
• Participate as needed and directed in institutional assessment programs, including, but not limited to ABA reports, NIU assessment programs, COL assessment programs, AALS reports, and other independent or external studies, etc.

Teaching and Other Program Delivery -

• Implement the day-to-day Academic Success and Bar Preparation programs in cooperation with deans and faculty, including organizing and delivering ASP oriented seminars, classes, orientations, and other sessions as needed to assist students in reaching their full potential. Programs may include but are not limited to:
• Individual student study skill and exam preparation (one to one critique and review of written work).
• One-on-one academic counseling and voluntary advising meetings with 1L, 2L, and 3L students.
• Teach a four to six-hour regular course load each semester potentially consisting of two or more of the following courses: Legal Methods, Legal Writing I, Legal Writing II, Advanced -Legal Analysis: Skills and Strategies, Bar Fundamentals, or other courses as identified including overseeing or teaching bar preparation courses such as Bar Fundamentals
• Collaborate with the Legal Writing faculty to provide a COL pre-orientation (currently five-days) orientation for a select group of students.
• Develop, deliver and assess materials for this orientation and assess its effectiveness.

Academic Success Programs -

• Plan/develop, schedule and supervise the delivery of 1L, 2L, and 3L Academic Success services through the Academic Success Program including hiring, training, and supervising ASP Graduate Assistant tutors, if applicable, or training and coordinating with an assistant director, if applicable, and planning and delivering seminars or other sessions, and coordinating with other faculty as needed:
• Coordinate with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs to identify and assist first, second, and third-year students on academic probation or at academic risk.
• One-on-one tutoring for 1L, 2L, and 3L students as needed.
• Provide individual instruction for third and fourth-semester students selected to participate in upper-level Academic Success Programs.
• Provide individual instruction to students selected to participate in 1L exam-writing seminars.

Bar Programs -

• Assist in the planning, development, and delivery of Bar programs for upper-level students and alumni.
• Deliver winter and summer bar supplement courses for both first-time takers and retakers in coordination with doctrinal faculty if possible.
• Offer and deliver one-on-one writing and other skills critique and review for students studying for the bar examination during both the February and July study periods.
• Offer and deliver individual assistance to alumni retaking the bar examination.

Additional Duties -

• Cooperate and assist, as needed, with other programs involving oral and written communication skills including the second-year moot court competition and third-year external moot court teams.
• Cooperate and assist as needed, with faculty members who are working to develop and integrate bar exam-related materials into their courses including, but not limited to, providing outlines of bar-tested materials, sample bar problems, and other related materials.
• Attend faculty meetings, serve on faculty committees, and complete other community service as assigned.
• Additional related duties as assigned.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an ABA -accredited law school
• Admission to any state bar where a bar exam is required.
• An exemplary academic record which indicates a comprehensive grasp of core and ancillary law school curriculum.
• At least 2 years of experience teaching at the law level in skills programs, academic success programs, and/or bar support programs

Additional Requirements

None

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 2 - 5 years teaching experience in legal writing, appellate advocacy, other skills courses
• Minimum 2 - 5 years of experience teaching in an Academic Support Program, counseling, and tutoring
• Minimum 2 - 5 years of experience teaching in a bar support program, including work with first-time takers and repeat takers
• Experience working with a diverse student body, including students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, first-generation students, and neurodivergent learners

Physical Demands Summary

General Office

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date
01/01/2026

Anticipated Appointment End Date
06/30/2026

Percent of Staff Year
1.00

Standard Hours Per Week
37.50

Salary
$100,000 - $110,000/Annually; NIU offers a robust benefits package.

Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range
$4,166.67 - $4,583.34/Semi-Monthly

Earn Type
Salary

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

For fullest consideration, please visit https://employment.niu.edu/postings/83432 to create an application profile or login to an existing one and submit the following materials by 9/30/2025:

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter
• List of three professional references
• Unofficial transcripts (official transcripts required upon hire)

Screening interviews may occur before 9/30/2025. Applications received after this date are welcomed but will be considered as needed.

Special Instructions

Quick Link to Applicant
https://employment.niu.edu/postings/83432

Is Background Check Required
Yes

EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services Building Room 230
[email protected]
815-753-5560

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form . For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity ( AAEO ) at [email protected] .

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.
Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report .
Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter
3. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
4. List of at least 3 Professional References

Optional Documents

1. Other

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).