Director of Bar Success

Position Details

Compensation: $80,000 annually
Position Type: Full-time (Exempt)
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Occasional weekend work may be required
Work Location: Chicago-Kent College of Law, Conviser Law Center, 565 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60661
Benefits: Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our competitive benefits package located here

Position Summary

Chicago-Kent College of Law seeks an energetic, innovative, and experienced educator to direct its Bar Success Programs. The Director will design and implement bar-related programming and will be responsible for monitoring, developing, and enhancing a comprehensive bar preparedness program for Chicago-Kent students.

In this role, the Director will work closely with faculty and staff, including the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, the Director of Legal Writing, and other faculty. The position will provide tailored assistance for at-risk students, including advising, coaching, instruction, and referrals to resources. The role will develop and present programming for all JD students concerning bar readiness, provide academic and bar-related advising and support to individual students on matters such as character and fitness concerns or course selection, and track relevant data related to bar passage and other academic success metrics. Scholarly writing, especially on topics related to teaching and learning, is welcome but not required.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

40% - Tailored Support for Individual Students

- Coordinate with faculty, Office of Student Affairs, and others to systematically identify at risk students and develop strategies for providing individualized support to increase bar readiness.Deliver advising, assessment, and coaching support to JD students who present risk factors correlated to lower bar passage rates
- Develop and implement individualized bar success plans to address barriers, refer students to appropriate support resources, and assist students to develop core study, legal analysis, and bar exam-writing skills
- Develop and teach bar-related classes for at-risk students
- Provide strategic advising to individual JD students about bar applications, including but not limited to character and fitness concerns; professional considerations with respect to the location and timing of bar application; and advance planning for the financial and time commitments required for bar success
- Hold regular office hours for students with questions about the bar exam and application process

20% - Bar-Related Programming:

- Develop and present programming, both live and online, to inform all JD students, at appropriate times in their law school career, about important bar-related issues such as bar exam elements, knowledge and skills necessary for exam success, character and fitness issues, and strategic considerations around bar application and preparation
- Conduct direct outreach to recent graduates to promote completion of bar preparation courses and provide assistance addressing barriers interfering with bar preparation
- Develop and present workshops in the months before each bar exam administration date to supplement graduates’ bar study with commercial providers
- Advise the faculty and the administration on relevant matters including bar preparation initiatives and state bar examination and admission policies
- Establish and maintain relationships with bar examiners in Illinois and other jurisdictions to propose improvements in the bar application process and the bar exam
- Attend regional and national academic support conferences
- Maintain Chicago-Kent’s bar preparation web page

20% - Data Tracking, Analysis, and Follow-up:

- Coordinate with the Office of Student Affairs to maintain bar passage records for institutional reporting and analysis, including the annual ABA accreditation-related survey
- Research, track, analyze, and implement best practices for bar exam strategies at other law schools
- Analyze JD student data to identify risk factors
- Coordinate with commercial bar preparation vendors to track graduates’ registration with and progress through commercial bar preparation courses

Service Standards and Performance Expectations

- Demonstrates exceptional written and verbal communication skills, effectively engaging with students, faculty, alumni, and external partners across diverse background.
- Provides high-level, student-centered service, delivering timely and professional support through in-person interactions, email, and virtual communication platforms
- Exercises strong independent judgment, proactively resolving complex issues and managing responsibilities with minimal supervision in a fast-paced academic environment
- Maintains outstanding accuracy and attention to detail, ensuring high-quality documentation, communications, and programmatic deliverables that support BarElevated’s institutional goals

Minimum Qualifications

- JD from an ABA-accredited law school
- Demonstrated success working closely and collaboratively with a diverse student body and university administration
- Experience teaching law students
- Bar membership in a U.S. jurisdiction, which may be inactive

Preferred Qualifications

- At least three years of experience in law practice or teaching
- Experience in academic counseling, administration, or program planning
- Experience working with students with disabilities, including non-apparent disabilities

Additional Qualifications and Skills

- Self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
- Proficiency with word processing, database, and spreadsheet software

Supervision & Budget Authority

- People leadership responsibility may be assigned as needed in alignment with current and future organizational needs.

Physical Requirements

- Works primarily in a standard office setting with extensive use of a computer and other office technology
- Must be able to navigate between floors and offices, including walking up one flight of stairs, and may occasionally attend meetings or events elsewhere on campus
- Spends approximately 90% of the workday at a desk performing administrative, programmatic, and computer- based tasks, with periodic duties performed outside the office
- May occasionally lift and transport materials such as boxes, supplies, or event items weighing up to 20 pounds
- May perform repetitive motions, including typing and related tasks, for up to 20% percent of the workday

EEOC Statement

Illinois Institute of Technology is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer dedicated to building a community of excellence, equity, inclusion, and diversity. It is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and actively seeks applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, regardless of race, color, sex, marital status, religion, national origin, disability, age, unfavorable discharge from the military, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, including gender identity and expression, order of protection status, and/or genetic information. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment.