What are the responsibilities and job description for the Appellate Clinician Professor position at ST THOMAS UNIVERSITY INC?
Job Details
St. Thomas University - Benjamin L. Crump College of Law
BENJAMIN L. CRUMP COLLEGE OF LAW AT ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY
Location: Miami Gardens, FL
Subjects: Clinical Teaching – Appellate Litigation Clinic
Start Date: August 15, 2025
The Benjamin L. Crump College of Law seeks to hire entry-level or lateral candidates as Assistant Clinical Professor, Associate Clinical Professor or Clinical Professor and Director of its Appellate Advocacy Clinic. The position is anticipated to start in August 2025. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.
The Clinical Professor and Director will become part of a dynamic and supportive clinical program. Collaborating closely with the Assistant Dean of Experiential Learning, the Appellate Litigation Clinical Professor and Director will outline a vision to elevate the Appellate Litigation Clinic’s solid foundation and enhance its national reputation. Founded in 1992, the clinic is a full- year course that requires teaching and supervising students eligible for Certified Legal Intern Status by having completed four semesters (a minimum of 48 semester hours) and receiving Florida Bar Notice of Registrant Clearance. Clinical Professor and Director will run all aspects of the clinic, including selecting cases from the Appellate Division of the Miami-Office of the Public Defender to be transferred to the Appellate Litigation Clinic, filing notice of appearance as counsel of record for each case, obtaining consent to representation by clinic students, teaching clinic classes, supervising each clinic student as they work on their appeals, prepare students for oral arguments before the Third District Court of Appeals, managing cases and projects, and representing clients. The candidate should have teaching experience or a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in law school clinical teaching. The Clinical Professor and Director will have the opportunity to participate in the academic life of the law school and in relevant academic and advocacy conferences.
Start date: August 2025
Qualifications
Job Qualifications: Successful applicants will hold a J.D. degree, at least five years of legal practice in the field of criminal defense, where at least 3 years are of appellate practice; teaching experience or enthusiasm for clinical teaching, student development, and training; demonstrated commitment to social justice, strong oral and written communication skills, and strong academic profile. The candidate must be either a member of the Florida Bar or capable of admission within one year of hiring.
Job responsibilities include:
- Developing a vision for the Appellate Litigation Clinic to achieve the highest quality experience for students and clients and to advance the cause of immigrant rights.
- Teaching the classroom component of the clinic, including developing a syllabus, designing course materials, and delivering high quality instruction.
- Handling all aspects of the Clinic’s cases and projects and supervising students to ensure the highest standards of representation.
- Managing all aspects of running the Clinic.
- Working closely with the Moot Court Team Faculty Advisor to prepare the team for competition.
- Contributing to law school, legal education, the legal profession, and social justice.
About St. Thomas University College of Law: St. Thomas University is an urban, student-centered, Catholic university with rich cultural and international diversity, dedicated to developing leaders who contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of the regions they serve. To this end, the College of Law remains committed to teaching, scholarship, and service, to fostering a public order of human dignity, to training lawyers sensitive to the needs of the region’s underrepresented communities, and to expanding access to professional opportunities which includes active partnerships with business, government and the South Florida Community. The College of Law offers several joint degree programs, and an LL.M. and a J.S.D. degree in Intercultural Human Rights. It provides a Summer-in-Spain program, and it hosts The Benjamin L. Crump Center for Social Justice. Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Miami, the university is committed to academic and professional success guided by its Catholic identity. Except for the maintenance of Catholic values in the operation of the University and a preference for Catholic faculty in recruitment and hiring, discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, or military status, marital or familial status, or any other category that is or becomes protected by law, is strictly prohibited.
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position is a non-tenure track faculty appointment for one year. Clinical faculty are eligible for promotion and application for longer-term contracts after 2 years. Credit toward this requirement may be given for prior experience. St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental benefits, tuition remission, vacation, paid holidays, and much more.
Accreditation: St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). St. Thomas University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Application Procedure: We are now accepting applications for a start date of August 2025 and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Application materials must include a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to Professor Jeffrey D. Veitch, Associate Dean for Administration, at jeffveitch@stu.edu.
