Non-Resident Research Fellow, Religious Liberty Clinic, Stanford Law School

Stanford Law School seeks an enthusiastic and enterprising candidate to serve as a non-resident Research Fellow in its renowned Religious Liberty Clinic (the “RLC”). The RLC is the nation’s only full-time clinical program dedicated to teaching and training law students in and through litigation and advocacy for clients in support of their religious liberty. The RLC also plays a leading role in a movement of affiliated clinics at other top law schools across the country. The Fellow will support a funded research project in studying and presenting the RLC’s pedagogy, methodology, and work in broader witness to religious liberty as a universal value. The position will be filled as a one-year fixed term, with the possibility of renewal for up to an additional year at the Law School’s discretion.

The RLC launched in August 2012 and has since become a fixture at Stanford Law School. The Stanford clinical program is unique in that its students participate on a full-time basis; the clinic is the only course a student takes during their given term of enrollment. The RLC focuses on developing professional skills in a rich, dynamic, and human way. Its students learn and apply the law, theory, and practice of religious liberty, and they are taught to advise and litigate for clients with excellence, professionalism, and maturity. In seeking to represent clients of all faiths and build bridges among and across people of any or no religious tradition, the RLC advocates for its clients’ religious liberty as a universal value. From this success, the RLC has in turn inspired and helps lead a movement of clinical programs in law and religion at several other elite law schools. The RLC has been hailed by academics, judges, and faith leaders as a landmark achievement in legal education.

Now that its program of clinical education and an associated movement are established and flourishing, the RLC is looking to capture and tell its story through a research and scholarship project for which it seeks the support of a Research Fellow. Specifically, the Fellow will work with and support the RLC’s faculty director in studying, analyzing, and promoting the RLC’s vision, methods, and leadership. The Fellow’s immediate charge will involve empirical and non-empirical research—including constituent and field surveys, interviews, and data collection, as well as interdisciplinary review. From there, the Fellow will assist the RLC’s director in capturing, analyzing, and applying the developed research and its lessons for clinical and doctrinal legal education, the legal profession, the wider law, and society more broadly—through published scholarship or otherwise. Near the end of the term, the Fellow will likely also be expected to help plan and support a capstone conference.

This is a rare opportunity for a recent law-school graduate or particularly distinguished college graduate to conduct and support research in one of the nation’s premier law-school clinics at one of the world’s preeminent institutions for legal education, and to gain valuable professional experience in a dynamic environment while serving the public interest.

Applicants should have a J.D. (preferred) or distinguished undergraduate degree, with experience relevant to the RLC’s work and the described project; a developed interest in religious liberty and commitment to the RLC’s program of clinical legal education; strong and relevant research skills and experience; first-rate writing abilities; a commitment to teamwork and collaboration; sound judgment and integrity; and strong organizational and project-management skills, attention to detail, ownership, and motivation.

The position can be performed remotely, but travel will be required to fulfill its objectives.

Duties:

Among other duties described herein, the candidate will be expected to:

• Oversee and administer research activities for academic project, making recommendations that impact associated policies and programs, and coordinating and implementing project outputs.
• Collect and analyze data, create reports, review and explain trends to determine project effectiveness; formulate and evaluate alternative solutions and/or recommendations to achieve the goals of the project and program.
• Create and/or advise in the development of project methods and output. Make recommendations for program improvements.
• Write and edit content for proposals, peer-reviewed publications, and other project activities under the general direction of the RLC’s director. Summarize data for grant support.
• Represent the project or function as the associated key contact and subject-matter expert within the RLC and develop communications for internal and external constituencies. Organize and/or participate in outreach activities such as events, partnerships, and conferences. Lead facilitation of meetings.

Education & Experience:

As noted above, the candidate should have at least a Bachelor’s degree, with two years of relevant experience or combined education, training, and relevant experience. A J.D. is preferred. Program administration and/or research experience may also be required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Among other knowledge, skills, and abilities described herein, the candidate should have demonstrated oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in the area of specialization required by the project.

Applicants should apply through stanfordcareers.stanford.edu, noting job number 109153 and including the following information:

• A statement no longer than two pages describing the applicant’s: (i) qualifications and relevant experience; (ii) interest in religious liberty generally and the RLC in particular; and (iii) interest in and promise for the contemplated research project.
• A resume
• A list of three professional references
• A law-school transcript, or undergraduate or other transcript for a non-J.D. holder

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

This role is open to candidates anywhere in the United States. The compensation for this position will be based on the location of the successful candidate. The expected pay range for this position is $54,416 to $98,067 per annum.