How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
Summary
The University of Michigan Law School is seeking applications for a newly created full-time position as an assistant director for the MDefenders program a program designed to provide education and support for current students considering careers in indigent defense as well as support and assistance to alumni who work as public defenders. The MDefenders program is an umbrella organization responsible for overseeing a faculty-sponsored student group for aspiring public defense students; an active alumni listserv with more than 300 members; the Public Defender Training Institute; and the Data for Defenders project. The assistant director will work closely with the program director to provide substantive and administrative support for these initiatives and will help plan additional initiatives that align with the overall mission of the group to provide support for and grow interest in indigent defense work.
The appointment will be for two years with the possibility of renewal based on satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.
Who We Are
Founded in 1859, Michigan Law School is one of the world's leading institutions of legal education and enjoys a reputation for academic excellence characterized by a powerful commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Michigan is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the nation and enjoys international renown for its intellectual rigor, stunning physical surroundings, preeminent faculty scholarship, and a community noted for collegiality and warmth. Michigan Law has an exceptional and cooperative community of talented and interesting students, with 1000 in the J.D. and 40 in the LL.M. program. Our commitments to collegiality, constructive and challenging debate, and enabling our students to pursue a wide range of options explain why the Law School has long been committed to diversity along many dimensions. Our graduates serve with distinction in the private, public, non-profit, and academic sectors, in large numbers in every major market in the nation, as well as internationally. The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is considered among the best places in the United States to live and work.
At Michigan Law, we view our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as central to our mission as an educational institution and we seek to ensure that each member of our community has full opportunity to thrive in our environment. We believe that diversity is key to individual flourishing, educational excellence, and the advancement of knowledge and we maintain a deep commitment to fostering a diverse community in which all students, staff, and faculty learn and work in an atmosphere of inclusion and respect.
Responsibilities*
- Social science research and oversight of a team of student researchers to update and maintain the Data for Defenders website while also thinking about ways to expand that program's partners and its reach and impact
- Creating and overseeing an alumni mentorship program for Michigan Law graduates who go into indigent defense
- Maintaining alumni connections through program alumni reunions and crafting monthly newsletters
- Working with the program director and the Office of Career Planning to advise students on indigent defense careers paths and provide substantive support to them in the application process
- Assisting with scheduling of discussions, trainings, and speakers
- Helping maintain and revise course materials and simulations for the Public Defender Training Institute
- Thinking creatively about new initiatives and helping to implement them. Examples may include creating a toolkit to enable other laws school to create similar programs; making Public Defender Training Institute programming available to entry-level attorneys; creating an Appellate Defender Training Institute, an amicus-writing course specific to indigent defense issues/litigation, or a course designed to provide whitepapers outlining possible strategies to indigent defense offices around the country facing systemic obstacles to providing effective representation
- Depending on the person selected, there may also be opportunities to co-teach or publish on subjects relevant to indigent defense
Required Qualifications*
- Juris Doctorate degree
- Minimum of four years of experience working in indigent defense
- Demonstrated project management experience
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a streamlined, highly organized team
- Excellent legal research and writing skills
- Strong administrative, organization, and communication skills
- Highly motivated self-starter who is able to learn and apply new concepts quickly
- Creative vision and ability to implement complex tasks
- Comfortable with and interested in technology
- Experience teaching, training, or mentoring entry-level lawyers and/or law students
Desired Qualifications*
- Experience working on a hiring committee at a public defender office
- Budgeting experience
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.