Director, Criminal Justice Clinic - Indigent Defense

Servingschools; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 105,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

Health, Dental, and Vision insurance

Disability insurance (short-term & LT)

Life insurance (employer-paid)

Tuition waiver program

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

The University of Maine School of Law in Portland, Maine seeks a founding Director for its new Criminal Justice Clinic. This on-site, full-time visiting appointment will launch the clinic, supervise student attorneys, and shape its curriculum under a three-year grant-funded project.

The Director will recruit the inaugural cohort, manage approximately 150 cases over the grant, ensure grant compliance, and teach a weekly seminar while coordinating with Maine Law’s clinics and public defenders.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice in Maine or able to obtain Maine license within three months.
• 7–10 years of trial-level litigation experience, including substantial criminal law experience.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or training attorneys, law students, or other staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing high‑quality representation to indigent clients.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to build a new program, manage deadlines, and work independently.

Responsibilities

• Launch the Criminal Justice Clinic: lead design, align with grant goals, and deliverables.
• Supervise six student attorneys each fall and spring, plus two paid interns in summer; oversee ~150 cases over the grant period.
• Design and teach a weekly seminar on lawyering skills and criminal procedure; lead weekly case rounds; create joint learning opportunities with other clinics.

Skills

Trial experience

Supervising/mentoring

Organizational skills

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Tools

Legal Server

Job description

The University of Maine School of Law in Portland, Maine seeks a founding Director for its new Criminal Justice Clinic. This on-site, full-time visiting appointment will launch the clinic, supervise student attorneys, and shape its curriculum under a three-year grant-funded project.

The Director will recruit the inaugural cohort, manage approximately 150 cases over the grant, ensure grant compliance, and teach a weekly seminar while coordinating with Maine Law’s clinics and public defenders.