Director of Bar Success & Academic Professional or Academic Professional Senior of Law (Faculty)

Georgia State University is a national model for innovation and opening opportunities for all, among the top five most innovative by U.S. News & World Report, ranked 1st among public universities in undergraduate teaching, the number 1 nonprofit university to award bachelor's degrees to African American students, 4th in the country for its first-year student experience, and highly ranked for enabling the social and economic mobility of its students. Among the most diverse universities in the nation, Georgia State opens global perspectives as the number 1 U.S. public university sending African American students to study abroad.

A regional gateway to higher education, the five suburban Perimeter College campuses provide more than 30 associate degree pathways. The downtown Atlanta campus offers more than 250 degree programs in 100 fields of study at the undergraduate, graduate and first-professional degree levels.

With five university-wide research centers and numerous centers and institutes at the college and school levels, Georgia State's interdisciplinary, dynamic and productive research enterprises address major health and societal challenges. It is one of only 146 universities with an R1 designation from the Carnegie Foundation, an honor reserved for the nation's most active research institutions. Outgoing research expenditures have doubled in the last decade and topped $1.2 billion over the last six years, an indication of the University's rapid research growth.

Georgia State is vital to the regional economy, with a more than $2.9 billion economic impact, and is also a vital part of Atlanta's vibrant arts and entertainment community, with highly regarded programs in music, art, creative writing and film, the Rialto Center for the Arts, and the Creative Media Industries Institute that contributes to innovation and the workforce for interactive media and media entrepreneurship.

General information on faculty roles and responsibilities can be obtained from the Faculty Handbook https://faculty.gsu.edu/faculty-handbook/ and the Office of Faculty Affairs website https://faculty.gsu.edu/. All faculty at Georgia State are, as part of their essential job duties, expected to: (1) be physically present on-campus as needed to contribute to Georgia State's in-person educational experience, and (2) be able to teach in each of the following instructional modalities - in-person, online, or blended/hybrid - as determined by their Department Chair or Dean.

Located in the heart of Atlanta, the Georgia State University College of Law is a dynamic, urban-centered law school dedicated to producing practice-ready legal professionals. With a student body of approximately 650 full- and part-time law students, the College is recognized for its value and renowned for its excellent bar passage and post-graduate employment rates. The College fosters a commitment to diversity, innovation, and experiential learning.

The Externship Program is an integral part of the College of Law's experiential learning curriculum. The Externship Program provides opportunities for GSU Law full-time and part-time students to work with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, corporate in-house departments, law firms, and judges while earning academic credit. For more information about the GSU Law Externship Program, visit the webpage at: https://law.gsu.edu/student-experience/experiential-learning/externships/.

The Director of Bar Success will lead the College of Law's bar preparation and licensure support efforts, assisting J.D. students and graduates in developing the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to pass the bar exam and enter the practice of law. This position will design, implement, and assess a comprehensive bar success program extending from the law school curriculum through post-graduation bar study, and will serve as the College of Law's primary point of contact on bar examination and admission matters.

RESPONSIBLE TO: Assistant Dean for Student Success

DUTIES:

* Designs, implements, and evaluates a comprehensive bar success program that spans the law school experience, from introducing 1L students to the bar exam through structured support for graduates during post-graduation bar study. Ensures programming is accessible to both full-time and part-time students, including evening and remote options.

* Teaches or co-teaches for-credit bar preparation courses and creates content for and delivers workshops on bar-tested subjects and skills, including multiple-choice, essay, and performance test components.

* Meets one-on-one with students and graduates to assess bar readiness, develops individualized bar study plans, and provides detailed feedback on practice essays and performance tests; maintains appropriate records regarding student consultations.

* Identifies students and graduates at elevated risk of bar exam difficulty using academic performance and other predictive indicators; designs and implements targeted outreach and intervention strategies in collaboration with academic success and advisement and student life team members.

* Provides structured support to graduates during the commercial bar review period, including progress monitoring, regular check-ins, supplemental practice sessions, and feedback.

* Provides individualized support to graduates who are unsuccessful on the bar exam, including score report analysis, revised study planning, and connection to resources for subsequent attempts.

* Advises students on the bar admission process, including jurisdiction selection, bar applications, character and fitness requirements, testing accommodations, the MPRE, and applicable deadlines; serves as the College of Law's primary liaison to the Georgia Office of Bar Admissions and other admitting authorities as appropriate.

* Collaborates with Career Development to counsel students and graduates regarding the intersection of employment, licensure, and bar preparation timelines.

* Manages the College of Law's relationships with commercial bar review companies; oversees vendors' on-campus activities and evaluates vendor offerings, pricing, and student outcomes.

* Collects, analyzes, and reports bar passage data, including first-time and ultimate bar passage outcomes, consistent with ABA Standard 316, ABA reporting requirements, or any other relevant accreditation body; assesses the effectiveness of bar success programming and recommends improvements to leadership.

* Provides input to leadership and faculty regarding curricular alignment with bar-tested subjects and skills and regarding academic policies that affect bar readiness.

* Monitors changes to bar exam content, format, and administration, including the transition to the NextGen bar exam, and adapts programming and communications accordingly; stays current on bar preparation pedagogy, research, and developments.

* Connects students and graduates to financial, wellness, and other resources that support them during bar study, and assists with the administration of bar study grants or stipends as applicable.

* Presents on bar exam and licensure topics at orientations, class meetings, and other College of Law programs; recruits and coordinates faculty and alumni to support bar success programming, such as essay grading and mentoring.

* Supervises teaching assistants or student workers as assigned and serves on College of Law committees as assigned.

Three or more years of experience in bar preparation, academic support, law teaching, or legal practice; Thorough knowledge of the structure and content of bar examinations, including the Multistate components, jurisdiction-specific components, and the NextGen bar exam.

An individual hired at the Academic Professional rank will have three or more years of experience in bar preparation, academic support, law teaching, or legal practice; Thorough knowledge of the structure and content of bar examinations, including the Multistate components, jurisdiction-specific components, and the NextGen bar exam.

An individual hired at the Senior Academic Professional rank will have at least 6 years or more years of experience in bar preparation, academic support, law teaching, or legal practice; Thorough knowledge of the structure and content of bar examinations, including the Multistate components, jurisdiction-specific components, and the NextGen bar exam. In addition, they are likely to have significant faculty-rank experience at another accredited law school.

J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school and admission to the bar in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

Admission to the Georgia bar; experience teaching bar-tested subjects or skills strongly preferred; Experience managing vendor relationships preferred.

Strong writing, research, and analytical skills, including the ability to provide effective written feedback on essays and performance tests. Strong communication and public speaking skills. Ability to build rapport with a diverse population of students, graduates, faculty, and staff, and to support students during periods of significant stress. Familiarity with evidence-based learning strategies, such as retrieval practice, spaced practice, and structured feedback, and the ability to apply them to bar preparation. Demonstrated ability to exercise sound, ethical, and professional judgment. Proficient in compiling and analyzing data for statistical analysis, including using academic data to predict and improve bar passage outcomes.

A criminal background check is required.

Standard work hours are required to support this position's workload.

Georgia State Law faculty may be required to work non-standard hours, including day, evening, online, blended/hybrid, and weekends, as determined by the Dean.

For any questions about this announcement, contact Committee Chair, Assistant Dean, Cody Teague ( cody@gsu.edu )

For additional assistance, you may contact the College of Law Student Success Team

This position's duties will cover 20% of a faculty teaching workload.

This position's duties will cover 80% of a faculty service workload.

Applicants should submit a letter of interest and curriculum vitae for full consideration.

Georgia State University is an equal opportunity employer with regard to veterans and individuals with disabilities and prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or protected veteran status.

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at
https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.