Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Health Advocacy Clinic

Northern Illinois University (NIU) College of Law invites applications for an opening for an Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor of Law who will serve as Director of our Health Advocacy Clinic.

As the oldest public law school in Northern Illinois, NIU College of Law has been named a top law school nationally for diversity, value, and careers in public interest/government service. NIU Law provides unique opportunities for its students, beginning with its highly accomplished faculty who are personally invested in the success of every student throughout their professional lives. Although many alumni serve as public interest attorneys, prosecutors, defenders, elected officials, and judges, they are equally prepared for careers as solo practitioners or lawyers in multinational firms. NIU Law is at the heart of a diverse and active university campus of over 16,000 students in DeKalb, Illinois, located near the western suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan area.

The Health Advocacy Clinic (HAC), is a medical-legal partnership clinic based at Hesed House, a homeless shelter located in Aurora, Illinois (approximately 40 miles from downtown Chicago and 30 miles from DeKalb). This is a full-time, 12-month position; except as noted below, the Director is expected to be on-site at the Aurora location during regular business hours to serve students, clinic clients, and the broader community or at the College of Law in DeKalb where the clinic seminar is taught and other service activities may be performed.

The goal of the clinic is to work in partnership with health care providers from Aunt Martha's medical clinic and social workers from Hesed House to identify and remedy socio-environmental issues that may be contributing to a patient's poor health outcomes. Issues facing homeless and indigent patients are multifaceted and complex. Poverty-along with poor health-may increase the level of stress a person is dealing with on a daily basis. Health issues lead to other stressors, such as insurance problems, missed work, and difficulties performing everyday activities. Likewise, socio-environmental issues (homelessness, food insecurity, violence) can contribute to poor health outcomes. These issues are often beyond the scope of a medical doctor, who likely only has the time and resources to treat the underlying medical condition. Yet it is these very issues that directly affect a person's health and well-being. A team of people-medical, legal, and social work professionals-working together in an integrated fashion can begin to address the unmet needs of clients. Providing more holistic care will not only improve health outcomes but may also improve life circumstances.

The preferred application date is August 15, 2026, with an expectation that the successful applicant would begin teaching in Spring 2027. The start date is negotiable. The priority deadline for the submission of the applications is August 15, 2026. Applications after August 15th are welcome, but will be considered on a rolling basis and as needed.