About the Department:

The School of Law has two fundamental missions. First, it prepares students to practice law in a broad range of public and private sector organizations with the Commonwealth and around the country. Second, it produces academic scholarship that expands society's understanding of law and legal institutions with a special focus on using economic tools and methods to do so.

About the Position:

The Director of Bar Support works within the Student Affairs Department, in tandem with other academic skills and support colleagues, to provide general informational and academic support to law students directly related to their preparation for the bar exam (both while they are in law school and after they have graduated). This position develops, coordinates, and implements school-wide initiatives to maximize Scalia Law graduate bar passage, including informational bar sessions, bar preparation workshops and courses, and group and individual meetings with students, graduates, academic support professionals, and faculty.

Responsibilities:

Curriculum Design and Teaching:

• Refines, improves, coordinates, and directs the Bar Support program from orientation to post-graduation, continually evaluating and enhancing the Law School’s bar exam support efforts;
• Coordinates and teaches the existing bar preparation course that provides feedback on individual performance to students and develops additional bar preparation courses as needed to prepare students for the NextGen bar exam;
• Coordinates and provides tutoring to students and graduates in one-on-one and group settings;
• Updates and maintains informational resources for all students and graduates taking the bar, including maintenance of the Bar Support website, bulletin boards, flyers, and emails;
• Provides support to faculty members regarding topics tested in the faculty member’s area of teaching; and
• Stays up to date on bar exam developments in Virginia, Maryland, DC, and nationally, and makes recommendations to faculty and senior administrators regarding Law School curriculum related to bar exam developments, including those related to the NextGen bar exam.

Administration and Counseling:

• Provides counseling and mentoring to students and graduates to help them develop and execute bar study plans, including providing information about the bar exam application and character and fitness requirements, study habits, skills, tools for improvement, time management, exam preparation, institutional and community resources, and other bar-related issues;
• Collaborates with the Academic Support and Legal Skills teams to identify students who need additional bar exam support and coordinates needed support;
• Works with third party vendors on special programming and pricing for students and graduates; and
• Attends bar exam administrations to support students and attend post-exam meetings with bar examiners.

Tracking and Data Analysis:

• Tracks student preparation and performance on the bar exam as a key performance indicator for the law school;
• Supports Assistant Dean for Legal Skills with analysis of bar exam results;
• Provides reports regarding bar exam results to senior staff, faculty, and accreditors; and
• Other duties related to the position as assigned. 

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in related field;
• J.D. is required;
• Some previous experience (typically 1 to 3 years) teaching law students;
• Prior bar exam support and programming experience;
• Knowledge of academic programs pertaining to law school students;
• Knowledge of educational theories and effective teaching styles;
• Ability to perform research and statistical analysis;
• Ability to develop and manage higher education programs;
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate initiative; and
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and public speaking skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience as instructor of record for doctrinal law courses in a JD program;
• Experience instructing bar preparation courses;
• Knowledge of MPRE and bar exam requirements across US jurisdictions;
• Knowledge of bar preparation companies and their offerings; and
• Knowledge of forthcoming NextGen bar content and requirements.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Director of Bar Support at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date:  December 13, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  January 10, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes