"Director of Externship Programs - Practitioner in Residence"

Description

Suffolk University Law School invites applications for the position of Director of Externship Programs. Suffolk's Externship Programs are a part of our nationally recognized experiential programs, currently ranked among the top 10 such programs nationally by U.S. News & World Report and ranked among the top 20 for more than a decade. Our Externship Programs include non-profit, governmental, judicial, law firm, and corporate placements throughout the U.S and internationally. We also offer a Domestic Semester-in-Practice program, in which students may work full-time domestically doing public interest legal work. Our externship students enroll in one of several specialized externship courses before or concurrent with their placements, which are taught by adjunct faculty or the Director. This position is at the rank of Practitioner in Residence, which is a non-tenure track faculty position.

The Externship Director is responsible for leading and implementing all aspects of our Externship Programs during the fall, spring and summer terms, in close coordination with the leadership of Clinical and Experiential programs, as well as other departments at the Law School. Responsibilities include:

• Developing and executing programmatic policies and procedures to ensure the quality of student learning and compliance with all applicable standards;
• Maintaining relationships with existing externship placements and developing new and diverse placements of interest to, and educationally appropriate for, Suffolk Law students;
• Managing the externship application and enrollment processes;
• Assisting, advising, and supervising students throughout all stages of the externship process;
• Providing oversight over placements, including through regular site visits, emails, and conversations with field supervisors;
• Overseeing and supporting all externship seminar classes, including those taught by adjunct faculty;
• Developing and teaching a new online externship course, and teaching a 1-credit summer "mini-course" for students participating in summer domestic and international externships;
• Conducting regular program reviews and working with leadership of Suffolk's Experiential Programs to ensure Externship Programs achieve best practices, meet relevant accreditation and institutional standards, and satisfy curricular needs and priorities; and
• Promoting Externship Programs internally and externally.

Qualifications: J.D. required; MA Bar membership is preferred. Prior substantial law practice experience in a law firm, corporation, government agency, or public interest setting required. A successful candidate will have a well-established legal network or the ability to effectively network to expand the program; previous experience teaching and/or mentoring new attorneys; and demonstrated skill and passion for working with law students. Prior experience in clinical or externship teaching a plus. Excellent collaborative, organizational, and communication skills required. Excellent administrative, organizational, and leadership skills required.

Timing/Hours: This is a full-time, non-tenure-track faculty position on a year-round (12-month) schedule. The amount of work will ebb and flow during the year. The work schedule may be flexible, including the potential for a hybrid work arrangement, but the position requires work on some evenings and weekends. The position will begin July 1, 2026.

Application Process and Required Materials: Applicants should submit a resume or curriculum vitae and teaching evaluations (if applicable), along with a cover letter addressed to Professor Christina Miller, Co-Chair of the Clinical Committee.

Suffolk University does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, genetic information, or status as a veteran in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs, activities, or employment. As an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, the University is dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive faculty and staff that reflect the broad range of human experience who contribute to the robust exchange of ideas on campus, and who are committed to teaching and working in a diverse environment. We strongly encourage applications from groups historically marginalized or underrepresented because of race/color, gender, religious creed, disability, national origin, veteran status or LGBTQ status. Suffolk University is especially interested in candidates who, through their training, service and experience, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the University community.