Director of Bar Exam Success

The Director of Bar Exam Success leads the Law School's Bar Exam Success Program, including developing curricula and providing personnel oversight and mentorship to Bar Exam Success Professors of Practice and coaches teaching in the Program. The Director will also teach courses in the Bar Exam Success curriculum, counsel students, assess and grade written work, manage data systems, and report bar passage statistics to the law faculty and administration.

The Director of Bar Exam Success will have considerable latitude to develop the bar passage program at St. Mary's University School of Law, consistent with best practices in nationally-recognized Bar Exam Success programs.

Along with the employment application, please submit: (1) a cover letter addressing your interest in the position and how your experience would contribute to student success; (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) a graduate transcript confirming the Juris Doctor degree, and (4) a list of three references.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Creates and develops curriculum for the Bar Exam Success Program, in collaboration with Bar Exam Success Professors of Practice and coaches, and School of Law Faculty.
• Prepares and oversees the implementation of budgets, and statistical analyses and reports for institutional assessment of the program; prepares reports in compliance with ABA Standards 504 (qualifications for admission to the bar) and 509 (mandatory disclosures)
• Hires, supervises, and evaluates Bar Exam Success Program Professors of Practice and support staff, with consultation from law faculty and administration; plans and executes department onboarding and professional development activities.
• Chairs the Bar Exam Success Committee, and contributes to faculty and cross-departmental discussions regarding development of students' bar preparation skills
• Provides structured writing, studying, organizational, and analytical assistance to current students, including through workshops and presentations; teach one or more sections of Bar Exam Success courses, as needed
• Serves as a liaison to the Professional Responsibility faculty to help prepare students for the MPRE Multistate
• Acts as a liaison for students and faculty with bar vendors and institutional bar partners.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school required; must have admission to practice in at least one state.
• Must have minimum of 3 years work experience after bar admission. Experience directing a Bar Exam Success program preferred. Post-law school work experience involving legal writing and analysis, including as an instructor or professor at a law school, and/or as a judicial law clerk at the federal or state level preferred.
• Must clear and maintain a favorable background investigation and clearance.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong public relations and customer service skills with an ability to implement diplomacy and discretion at all times; an ability to work effectively with communities across the university.
• Must have high ethical standards and a strong sense of confidentiality; ability to prioritize and manage multiple deadlines; thrive in a complex work environment; display solid problem solving and interpersonal skills; work well independently and as part of a team.
• Must have strong self-judgment abilities, and use discretion to complete work assignments. Initiative is frequently required to complete work assignments, including policy interpretation and individual work priorities.
• Must have the ability to demonstrate a capacity for leadership, the desire to lead and motivate a team of instructors and administrative personnel, and the commitment to work collaboratively with a diverse and dynamic community.
• Must have a high attention to detail and be able to organize workflow, coordinate activities, balance simultaneous projects without loss of efficiency in a multi-tasked environment, and manage multiple priorities to meet deadlines.
• Fluency in English is required; Multilingual Highly Preferred (language other than English with the ability to understand and to make one's self understood to non-English speaking individuals); Spanish-speaking fluency preferred, or experience working with a diverse or Hispanic serving community;
• Must respond professionally to inquiries and provide services to students requiring academic counseling and advising.
• Must have the ability to demonstrate advanced skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Must be able to work extended hours, evenings and weekends during peak times and for special programs, projects, events and to travel as needed. Be available, as necessary, for day and night appointments and programming to serve the needs of both day and evening students.
• Must be prepared and willing to provide leadership in a Catholic and Marianist institution committed to fostering quality education in a family spirit; the pursuit of service, justice, and peace; and the preparation for adaptation and change, while encouraging each person in their own way in their formation in faith.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and train other Bar Exam Success Professors of Practice and coaches in teaching methods and curriculum development
• Strong knowledge of legal theory, analysis and writing, and other academic skills necessary to succeed on the bar exam

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Working conditions are in an office environment and university campus setting. Must be able to move across the university campus to conduct day to day business.
• While performing this role, the employee will be regularly required to sit, walk, and stand; talk and hear, both in person and by telephone; and use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment; and occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Frequently communicates with others using approved technological resources; must be able to exchange accurate information through designated systems within a timely manner.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

St. Mary's University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages all qualified candidates apply.