Details
Posted: 19-Jan-25
Location: Palatine, Illinois
Type: Full-time
Harper College is one of the nation's premier community colleges and one of the largest, serving approximately 30,000 students annually in Chicago's northwest suburbs. The College's academic programs prepare students for rewarding careers and for transfer to four-year universities. Harper offers associate degree and certification programs, advanced career programs, workforce training, professional development, continuing education classes, accelerated degree options for adults and developmental education programs. In 2022, Harper also received the distinction of being recognized as a Top 25 semifinalist for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
Harper College invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position. Candidate needs to be skilled in providing high-quality instruction in legal studies courses, which may include Introduction to Law, Legal Research, Criminal Law, Business Law, or other related topics. The faculty member will foster student success through innovative teaching methods, engagement, and a commitment to equity and inclusion in education. This position will be involved in all Legal Studies workshops, meetings, event planning, and recruitment. Candidates should be able to thoroughly cover concepts of the legal studies profession. The successful candidate should be able to guide students through implementing industry standards, regulatory requirements and best practices in and out of the classroom.
Successful candidate will be able to create an effective learning environment that promotes and enhances the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities for students enrolled in the courses. Troubleshooting and classroom management in a technological environment is necessary. Knowledge of and prior experience with the Blackboard Learning Management system is ideal.
Within this program, students can earn an AAS Degree and/or a certificate in Legal Studies.
Responsibilities of the position:
- Design, prepare, and deliver course content that aligns with the college's curriculum standards and student learning outcomes.
- Develop syllabi, assignments, and assessments that reflect current industry practices and legal concepts.
- Foster an inclusive and engaging learning environment that accommodates diverse learning styles and promotes student success.
- Use technology and other resources to enhance course delivery and student engagement, including online, hybrid, or face-to-face modalities.
- Advise and mentor students regarding academic and career pathways in the legal field.
- Stay current with developments in the field of law and legal education, incorporating relevant trends and updates into the curriculum.
- Collaborate with colleagues to assess and improve program effectiveness and student learning outcomes.
- Participate in college activities, including department meetings, professional development opportunities, and community outreach initiatives.
- Maintain accurate records of student attendance, progress, and grades.
- Adhere to institutional policies and procedures, including those related to academic integrity and accessibility.
Departmental Duties:
- Collaborate with local high school partners to promote program and assist with recruiting prospective students; manage dual credit.
- Assist in the development of print and digital marketing materials.
- Provide overall management of classroom instructions and activities.
- Maintains good communication with Dean, Program Coordinator, colleagues, industry partners and students.
- Knowledge and familiarity with technology and software including computers, and web-based sources such as Blackboard.
- Deliver learner-centered instruction at a variety of times and locations in response to institutional needs and meet student data reporting deadlines.
- Must be skilled in: Rules, regulations and guidelines to which paralegals must adhere, Legal and Ethical Considerations, and Communication; willing to work with legal community to establish and maintain relationships.
- Assess using rubrics, standardized curriculum across sections, teach course sections in different modalities; attend divisional and departmental meetings.
- Work with industry partners to offer experiential courses to meet learning outcomes.
- Participate in ongoing student success initiatives in the paralegal industry and other events to engage current and new students. Host events to assist in continuous feedback and improvement.
- Strong understanding of foundational legal principles and their application in professional contexts.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency with educational technology and online learning platform (e.g. Blackboard).
- Use Starfish and work with Access and Disability Services to identify student needs.
- Other duties as assigned
Educational Requirements: Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
Experience Requirements: Relevant professional experience in legal practice, research, and/or related fields.
- Previous teaching experience, preferably at the community college level, is highly desirable.
Preferred Requirements: Juris Doctorate Degree and 5 years of teaching and/or work experience as a legal professional within this industry.
- Experience teaching a diverse student population in higher education.
- Familiarity with community college missions and goals.
- Active involvement in professional organizations related to legal studies or education.
The pay rates are aligned with the terms outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.
https://www.harpercollege.edu/about/directory/hr/index.php