Faculty Director of the Environmental and

Natural Resources Law Clinic at Vermont Law School

 POSITION DESCRIPTION

Vermont Law School seeks a Faculty Director for its Environment and Natural Resources Law Clinic (ENRLC) to commence in the summer or fall of 2012, or possibly earlier.

Vermont Law School

Vermont Law School’s top-ranked environmental program includes a curriculum of over 60 environmental law courses, as well as two advanced degrees in environmental law – the Masters in Environmental Law and Policy (MELP) and the Environmental LLM degree.  Between a third and a half of our JD students are enrolled as joint degree students in the MELP program.

Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic

The ENRLC forms a key component of the environmental education we offer our students.  The program functions as a public interest environmental law firm and gives students the opportunity to hone their skills in real-world cases and projects.  The ENRLC is organized into four main program areas – Water and Justice, Coal and Climate, Healthy Communities, and Biodiversity – and we retain the flexibility to take on cases and projects outside these areas as well.  The ENRLC’s work includes a mix of litigation, administrative agency proceedings, client counseling, and other forms of environmental advocacy.  Our clients are community groups and conservation organizations, and we partner with a wide variety of organizations at the local, regional, and national level.  The ENRLC offers students three enrollment options during the fall and spring:  part-time (6 credits), three-quarter time (9 credits), and full-time (13 credits).  Students may also participate in a summer session for up to 9 credits toward the JD or MELP degree. The ENRLC staff consists of a director, an assistant director, two staff attorneys, two clinic fellows (LLM students working part-time in the ENRLC while pursuing their LLM degrees), a litigation paralegal, and an administrative assistant.  The ENRLC selects up to 10 students for each of the fall, spring, and summer terms, and it may gradually expand the number of student clinicians as office space and supervisory capacity allow.  The ENLRC Director reports to the Associate Dean for Clinical and Experiential Programs and works in coordination with the Associate Dean for Environmental Law Programs. More information about the program is available on the ENRLC website:  http://www.vermontlaw.edu/x1389.xml.

Duties and Responsibilities

The ENRLC Director is charged with administering the ENRLC and supervising its faculty, staff, and student clinicians, including the following general duties and responsibilities:

  • Evaluating and selecting new cases and projects in consultation with other ENRLC faculty and staff.
  • Consultation with an environmental faculty case selection advisory committee.
  • Serving as lead attorney in several cases and projects and providing close supervision and feedback to student clinicians involved in those matters.
  • Supervising staff attorneys and student clinicians involved in other cases and projects.
  • Overseeing weekly Strategy Sessions (case rounds) and Seminars (workshops on various environmental advocacy topics).
  • Developing the program budget for administrative approval.
  • Monitoring income and expenditures.
  • Raising funds for the program through grants and donations, with the assistance of the administration.
  • Developing and maintaining relationships with other environmental clinics and clinical organizations.

It is highly desirable for the ENRLC Director to participate in the broader academic life of Vermont Law School. For example, past directors and staff attorneys taught courses in the regular academic program or summer program (such as Environmental Law, Watershed Management, and Air Pollution Law & Policy); participated as guest lecturers in other courses; published scholarly articles and book chapters; attended faculty meetings; participated in faculty committees; served on panels at VLS conferences; represented VLS at AALS and ABA meetings and other gatherings; and interacted with new and traditional media on behalf of the school.

Qualifications

Candidates should have at least seven years of environmental litigation experience, substantial experience supervising staff attorneys and other personnel, and experience with office management and fundraising. A demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring is essential. Experience in clinical legal education is desirable.  Doctrinal teaching experience within the legal academy is helpful, but not necessary.

How to Apply

To apply, please send a cover letter, curriculum vitae, writing sample, and references to Diane Hayes, Director of Human Resources, Vermont Law School, PO Box 96, South Royalton, VT 05068.  Electronic applications are strongly preferred and can be sent to jobs@vermontlaw.edu.  Applications will be considered as they are submitted.  The position will remain open until filled.

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