Clinical Teaching Fellow – Criminal Defense and Advocacy Clinic
- University of Baltimore School of Law
- Baltimore, MD, USA
- Jan 08, 2025
Job Description
Position is open until filled, and applications received by February 1, 2025, will receive priority consideration.
Salary: $70,000
Position is open until filled.
The University of Baltimore School of Law invites applications for a Fellowship to start on or about July 1, 2025, in the Criminal Defense and Advocacy Clinic. This full-time, year-round, 3-year public interest fellowship program, offers superb mentorship and training as Fellows transition from law practice to law faculty, providing intensive support in areas of pedagogy, academic writing, and more. Many former Fellows are now in long-term teaching positions at other institutions. (https://law.ubalt.edu/clinics/docs/080421%20Fellow%20alumni%20for%20webpage.pdf).
The Criminal Defense and Advocacy Clinic represents indigent individuals on criminal matters in Baltimore City District Court. In addition, the clinic takes on post-conviction projects, which may include motions to modify sentences, and other policy and advocacy initiatives. Students in the clinic are the primary counsel on these matters, acting under the close supervision of law faculty, including the Fellow.
The Fellow will not only supervise the student-attorneys but also co-teach and co-plan the seminar and have opportunities to engage in scholarship and with other facets of academia. The Fellowship focuses its first year and a half on the skills of teaching, from crafting and leading seminars, to facilitating supervision meetings with student-attorneys. The second year of the fellowship focuses on developing legal scholarship. The third year, we support the Fellow to go on the clinical teaching job market. In addition to teaching, supervision, and legal scholarship, the Fellow is responsible for case coverage over the summer and during the winter break.
This position is a 3-year contractual appointment.
Qualifications: At least three years of experience as a practicing lawyer primarily in criminal or juvenile delinquency defense, with a preference for indigent defense; excellent oral and written communication skills; a strong academic record and/or other indicia of high-performance ability; a commitment to work for low-income, justice involved individuals; and a strong interest in teaching and mentoring. Fellows must be members in good standing with the Maryland Bar or another State bar and willing to complete the necessary documentation to be permitted to supervise law practice by students.
Salary: The current salary is $70,000 per year. The position includes full benefits, including retirement, research support, and a travel allowance to attend relevant conferences and workshops. Benefits are listed here (see under “Faculty and Regular Employees”): https://www.ubalt.edu/about-ub/offices-and-services/human-resources/benefits/index.cfm.
We look forward to receiving your required electronic application, including a letter of interest, resume, and brief statement about how your candidacy would support traditionally underrepresented communities in the legal profession and academia.
The position is open until filled with a preference for applications submitted February 1, 2025. For more details about the Fellows’ Program, please view our website at https://law.ubalt.edu/clinics/fellows/.
The University of Baltimore ("UBalt" or "University") does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, race, religion, age, disability, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other legally protected characteristics in its programs, activities or employment practices. UBalt is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/ADA Compliant Employer & Title IX Institution.
The University of Baltimore School of Law annually provides nearly 200 students the opportunity to participate in clinical programs and externships. These programs provide both day and evening students a broad range of experiential learning opportunities as licensed student-attorneys (clinics) and closely supervised law clerks (externships).
While students in the clinical program at the University of Baltimore School of Law -- ranked 14th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report -- receive unmatched, real-life practical experience, they also generate significant results that benefit the Baltimore region and Maryland. In addition, the school's proximity to Washington, D.C., allows students to participate in externships in a wide range of governmental, public-interest and private-sector placements. Clinics represent, on average, 200 low-income clients every year, including adults, children, neighborhood associations and other nonprofit organizations.
Under the supervision of faculty, most clinics allow students to provide the full range of representation to clients. Clinic work includes interviewing, counseling, planning case strategy and appearing in court or before administrative agencies. Certain clinics, such as the Community Development Clinic, provide experience in transactional work.
Finally, most clinics also allow students to engage in more systemic work, including drafting and testifying in support of legislation and participating in state and national task forces on issues such as child neglect, domestic violence, protection for consumers and the promotion of affordable housing.
The clinic facility is run as a law office with a teaching and a public-service mission.