Assistant Dean for Public Interest & Pro Bono

The Assistant Dean for Public Interest and Pro Bono leads and advances the law school's public interest, public sector, and pro bono initiatives. The Asst Dean oversees and tracks pro bono efforts; develops programming to educate students about careers in federal, state, and local government and public interest; and collaborates with the Public Service Committee while facilitating faculty pro bono service and supervision of student pro bono work. This position advises students pursuing public service careers, assisting with applications for government honors programs and competitive fellowships.The Asst Dean also oversees the annual public service career fair, advises student groups, teaches and coordinates the Government and Public Interest Externship Course, builds relationships to expand externship and employment opportunities, and works closely w/ the Dean, Associate Dean for Experiential Learning, and Asst Dean for Career Services.

Key Responsibilities

• Govt and Public Interest Externship Program (experiential): teach the government and public interest externship class every fall, spring, and May term semesters (3X/year) and oversee the program; expand placement offerings and recruit students to participate; provide training and supervision to field placement supervisors; continue to innovate the curriculum as needed to stay current in the field.

• PI Student Support: develop and execute student programming (1) exploring PI careers, (2) exploring postgraduate PI fellowships and govt honors programs, and (3) re: student debt and PI loan forgiveness. Counsel, support, and advise individual students; coordinate recruitment programs for PI students such as Public Advocate Day, Equal Justice Conference and Career Fair, and Texas PI Fair.

• Promotion and Career Services Collaboration: partner with OCS to identify students seeking PI careers and work w/ OCS designated career counselor to strategize internship/externship/clerkship experiences and programs; educate students PI/PS pathways through comprehensive program development; generate PS employment opportunities for 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls for summer, semester, and post graduate employment.

• Pro Bono Efforts: collaborate with the Public Service Committee, facilitate faculty pro bono service and faculty supervision of student pro bono work, create pro bono opportunities and provide student supervision of in-house pro bono projects and pro bono clinics w/ community partners (e.g., Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program) and provide secondary assistance in other pro bono collaborations, which involves data tracking and maintenance as well as reviewing reflection papers from participants. 

• Outreach, and Point of Contact: serve as the primary point of contact for government and public interest employers for externship and employment recruitment; coordinate public sector employer outreach and marketing in alignment with Career Services recruiting initiatives and timelines; work with 3Ls pursuing public sector careers on job placement strategies to help them secure post-graduate jobs.

• Administer the PI service graduation requirement: maintain diverse list of pre-approved placements; counsel students on selection; track and maintain data; expand student participation in PS hours by collaborating with agencies to create new opportunities, exploring remote opportunities, and exploring community partnerships to create collaborative projects.

• PI Project Collaboration: collaborate with law school centers to develop and implement educational, experiential, and mentoring opportunities centered around PI and pro bono and recruit students to participate in PI projects; collaborate with clinics to create pro bono projects and post-grad opportunities; collaborate with other SMU entities outside of the law school on pro bono and PI projects. 

• Supervise PI Student Groups: serve as sponsor and advisor to the Association for Public Interest Law (APIL) and assist with annual programming, event planning, speaker coordination, fundraising for summer stipends, and selection of stipend recipients; assist other student groups seeking PI opportunities geared to the mission of their group by identifying relevant projects, speakers, and other programming. 

• Community and National Outreach: organize orientation community service for first-year students; develop and enhance relationships with bar orgs: AALS, ABA, NALP, EJW, and other local and non-local entities working in PI; position SMU Dedman Law to be a local and national leader; collaborate with Director of Alumni Relations to enhance school's relationship and engagement with alumni working in PI and alumni supporting pro bono work. 

• Employment Outcomes and Reporting: submit all required reporting paperwork; partner with Career Services to ensure accurate and timely employment data collection and reporting for students pursuing public sector employment; oversee public sector job postings both online in Peruna Pro and the student jobs bulletin; work with graduates securing public sector employment after graduation to ensure the required employment survey has been completed.

• Occasional evening and/or weekend work hours are required.

• Occasional travel for work-related events and conferences is required. 

Education and Experience:

A Juris Doctor is required. Licensure is required.  A Texas license is preferred. 

A minimum of 7 years of experience is required.  Experience as a lawyer working the public interest or government sector is required. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.  

Candidate must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite. Proficiency in social media is preferred.