Director - Center for Law and Public Service, College of Law

The Center for Law and Public Service in the College of Law at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Director.

About the Opportunity

The Director for the Center for Law and Public Service provides opportunities for students to engage in public interest law, while fostering dialogue about current legal services and policy issues. Supports students in building career experiences in serving the public through externships and fellowships. Serves as the Colleges representative on the WV Access to Justice Commission. This is a part-time position reporting to the Assistant Dean of Student Services and Engagement.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits at a pro-rated basis, including:

• Paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• Annual leave (vacation) days per year
• Sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range ofhealth insurance and other benefits(this position is a benefits-eligible, staff position)
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking formore retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQs.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Management

Create, implement and manage all public interest activities at the WVU College of Law.

• Public interest activities include (but are not limited to) managing the activities of the Public Interest Advocates (PIA) and the West Virginia Fund for Law in the Public Interest (the Fund)
• Serves as Executive Director of the Fund with reporting to the Funds Board of Directors.
• Serves on the IOLTA advisory committee and prepares reports for IOLTA.
• Manages the annual development campaign for the WV Fund, including developing and creating promotional materials, coordinating donor relations, and keeping records.
• Assists as needed with PIA meetings and WV Fund Board meetings.
• Assists with preparing and placing advertisements for before and after WV Fund and PIA events.
• Manage development activities for Fund, including participation in the Neighborhood Investment program and IOLTA program, develop relationships with major donors and coordinate class action residue programs.
• Public interest and government career counseling, programming, and employee development.
• Create and implement the Careers in Public Service and Careers in Public Interest programs; create and maintain program webpage.
• Work collaboratively with the Assistant Dean of Student Services and Engagement to create pro bono opportunities for students; work with students and employers to facilitate opportunities; promote program; set goals.
• Draft and disseminate a pro bono handbook and guidelines.

Student support and success

Manage the externship and fellowship programs in public service to provide opportunities to students to build career experience while serving the community.

• Identify and develop public service and public interest summer and full-time job opportunities for students.
• Coordinate student and College of Law participation in national career fairs, conferences and retreats.
• Conduct informational workshops for students on public interest jobs, public service and other related opportunities.
• Track student participation in program for graduation and honors
• Assists in coordination of the annual PIA auction event and supports the Center for Law and Public Service in its work with annual externships and fellowships for students.
• Counsel students individually and in groups
• Manage post graduate fellowship program and summer fellowship program; manage summer stipend program; oversee summer fellows.
• Manage relationship with national public interest organizations to facilitate students' public interest careers.
• Serve as advisor to student leadership of the PIA; meet regularly with student leadership; advising
  organization on organizational meeting, and any fundraising and member-development activities of the PIA.

Administrative and Financial Oversight

Manage day to day financial operations of the Fund, including investments, management and monitoring of financial resources while maintaining safeguards on financial records.

• Handling and organizing incoming donations and cash. Maintains records of accounts receivable and submits reports as needed. Ensures that accounting procedures are followed and that deposits are accurately processed.
• Prepares the annual report, charitable business renewal, and the business registration forms for the Secretary of State.
• Serves as signatory on checking and money market accounts for the WV Fund.
• Prepares and submits all needed information for the annual IRS filing to the accountant. Reviews final tax forms received from the accountant.
• Balances checking and money market accounts on Quicken software. Monitors CD and multiple investment accounts. Assists in managing finances for payments and fundraising of up to $100,000 annually and maintains endowment.
• Assists in maintaining and updating the WV Fund website to receive donations, promote the program and support the fellowship program.
• Manages the West Virginia Development Office Neighborhood Investment Tax Credit Program and completes all necessary quarterly and annual filings with the WV Development office.
• Prepares correspondence and necessary paperwork for each donor who receives tax credits to be filed with the WV Development Office.
• Represents the WV Fund at the NIP Voucher Distribution meeting and other meetings that arise pertaining to tax credits.
• May supervise student assistant if funds are available for a part time student assistant.

West Virginia Access to Justice Commission

Serve as the College of Law representative on the West Virginia Access to Justice Commission.
The Commission seeks to identify, study, and promote measures that will increase the ability of the poor and others facing substantial financial, educational, and/or geographic hurdles to gain access to quality legal services.

The Dean of the College of Law is the chair of the Commission. The College Representative works at the direction of the Commission and the Dean of the College of Law to execute projects established by the Commission, coordinate work with law students and law faculty in completing projects, maintain responsibility for the Commission's records and accounts, work with law school development staff to acquire needed funding, apply for grants to support the Commission's work, propose new initiatives to the Commission, and complete additional duties as assigned by the Commission and/or the Dean.

• Providing coordination of activities and meetings of the Commission, reports to the Commission Chair, Commissioners, any volunteer staff, and various Commission committees and members.
• Coordinating and creating partnerships with legal services organizations, the West Virginia State Bar, all Commissioners, Chair, and volunteer staff.
• Developing meeting agendas for Commission and Commission committees.
• Working collaboratively with volunteer staff and other Commission partners to advance the work of the Commission and its Committees.
• Coordinating presentations and listening conferences across the State involving bar associations, law students, law firms, government agencies, lawyers and the general public interested in the development of and participation in access to justice programs.
• Managing any consultants retained by the Commission.
• Collaborating with and providing information to national organizations.
• Developing and maintaining the Commission website.
• Acting as the point person for all inquiries to the Commission.
• Coordinating and managing Commission events.

Work Hours: 30 hours per week

• Juris Doctorate.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience involving:
  
  
  
  • Experience in legal profession, including public interest and public service opportunities.
  • Professional speaking and writing experience.
  • Professional experience with entity or project promotion.
  • Professional experience creating and implementing large projects.
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent ability to create, implement, and manage long term and short-term projects.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Marketing and communication experience. Ability to develop marketing materials essential to the Center's mission.
• Willingness to travel and promote the College of Law and Center's mission.
• Ability to work cooperatively in conjunction with the Center for Law and Public Service, the faculty, and the Law clinics to coordinate pro bono projects.
• Organizational and planning experience.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously and work independently with limited supervision.
• Ability to articulate a clear vision for program direction.
• Demonstrated commitment to social and economic justice.
• Experience working with Quicken and Microsoft Office Programs.
• Able to supervise, train, and provide feedback to subordinates.

Preferred Qualifications

• J.D., with experience practicing law.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.