Director of the Legal Commons

Job Title

Director of the Legal Commons

Agency

East Texas A&M University

Department

Dean - CHSSA

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Commerce, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT:

During the application process the “My Experience” page has a section provided “Attachments (Resume/CV, References, Cover letter, etc.)” to upload required documents.

• Use the Upload button to add each document.
• You will be able to upload up to 5 documents. Be aware that the maximum size allowed for any one document is 5MB.
• All documents must be electronically submitted through the Texas A&M Online Employment Services website to be considered.
• Incomplete or improperly submitted applications may be excluded from consideration.
• Please do not withdraw your application in an attempt to upload a missing document, instead please email HR for help.

Please provide the following documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume/CV
• Three professional references with complete contact information (Unsolicited letters of recommendation will not be considered).
• Transcripts (Unofficial will be accepted with application. Official transcripts are required upon acceptance of verbal offer).
  If transcripts are from an international institution, it is the responsibility of the prospective faculty member to have the transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved credential evaluator.

If you need assistance, please contact us at [email protected]

A Presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, imposes a $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025. Please be advised that Texas A&M University will NOT pay this fee. Therefore, if you need immigration sponsorship for your employment, we recommend that you consult with your private immigration counsel at your own expense to ascertain whether your current immigration status would make a potential offer of employment from Texas A&M University subject to this fee.

In addition, on January 27, 2026, Texas Governor Abbot issued a moratorium on the filing of any new H-1B unless approved by the Texas Workforce Commission. Accordingly, if you will now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status this moratorium may affect our ability to employ you should you be selected as the final candidate.

SUMMARY:

East Texas A&M University invites applications for the position of Director of the Legal Commons, a nine-month staff position within the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts (CHSSA) with an assigned teaching responsibility. The Director will serve as the founding leader of the Legal Commons of East Texas A&M University, a coordinating initiative, housed in the Office of the Dean, designed to organize and strengthen the University's undergraduate pathways into law and legal-adjacent professions.

This is a nine-month staff position, aligned with the academic year, which carries administrative leadership of the Legal Commons as a primary responsibility, oversight of Paralegal Studies as the initiative's core academic program, and a 2/2 teaching assignment in the long academic terms. The Director reports to the Dean of CHSSA and works in close coordination with the Department Head of Social Sciences on matters related to the Paralegal Studies curriculum, scheduling, compliance, adjunct coordination, and program review. Applications must be submitted electronically through the East Texas A&M University employment portal. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2026.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Legal Commons represents a new and distinctive institutional commitment at East Texas A&M, one that builds on existing programmatic strength across the College without displacing departmental ownership of academic programs. The Director will have the rare opportunity to build something from the ground up: a coherent, visible, and student-centered infrastructure for pre-law education that the University has not previously had.

The Paralegal Studies program, housed within the Department of Social Sciences and carrying ABA accreditation obligations, provides the academic foundation on which the Legal Commons is built. From that foundation, the Director will expand outward by aligning pre-law pathways across disciplines, convening co-curricular programming, and developing external relationships with law schools, courts, legal professionals, and community partners.

This is a university-facing leadership role. The right candidate will bring administrative energy, a genuine connection to legal education, and the collaborative instincts needed to work effectively across departments and with external partners, while also contributing to undergraduate teaching in Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, or a closely related field.

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience and consistent with the applicable staff Director profile and salary guidance at East Texas A&M University (see further below).

ABOUT THE LEGAL COMMONS:

The Legal Commons of East Texas A&M University is a dean-level coordinating initiative established within CHSSA to support and organize the University's undergraduate pathways into law and legal-adjacent professions. It is not an academic unit, center, or budgetary entity, and carries no degree authority or assigned faculty lines. Its function is coordinating and convening in nature: aligning pre-law curricula and advising across participating programs, organizing co-curricular activity, and facilitating external engagement with law schools, legal professionals, courts, and community partners.

The Director of the Legal Commons is its founding administrative leader. The initiative is supported from within existing CHSSA resources during its initial implementation phase, with budget and resource needs evaluated on an ongoing basis as activity develops and demand is demonstrated.

GOVERNANCE AND REPORTING:

The Director of the Legal Commons reports to the Dean of CHSSA, who provides direction for the Legal Commons initiative, oversees the Director's administrative performance, and serves as the primary institutional sponsor of the role.

The position is a nine-month staff appointment assigned to CHSSA. Summer duties are not part of the base nine-month appointment unless separately assigned and compensated in accordance with University procedures. Because the position includes teaching duties, the Director will coordinate with the Department Head of Social Sciences on teaching assignments, course scheduling, curriculum matters, assessment, and Paralegal Studies program needs.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Legal Commons Leadership

• Serve as the founding Director of the Legal Commons, working with the Dean to establish and implement a coordinating framework for undergraduate pre-law pathways across participating programs in CHSSA and, where appropriate, across the University.
• Develop and sustain a visible, student-centered identity for the Legal Commons, including its programming, partnerships, and presence within the College and University.
• Coordinate pre-law advising across departments, serving as a central resource for students pursuing law school admission, careers in legal services, or legal-adjacent professions.
• Develop 3+3 pathways and other structured agreements between East Texas A&M University and law schools.
• Plan and facilitate co-curricular programming, including pre-law student organizations, mock trial preparation, law school visits, LSAT resources, speaker events, and related enrichment activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with law schools, legal professionals, courts, bar associations, alumni, and community partners to create experiential learning, mentoring, and professional development opportunities for students.
• Convene an advisory group of faculty representatives and external stakeholders to support coordination and communication across participating academic units.
• Contribute to the marketing, recruitment, and outreach presence of the Legal Commons and its affiliated programs.
• Report regularly to the Dean on the activities, outcomes, and development needs of the Legal Commons.
• Attend, as needed, meetings of the Dean’s Leadership Team.
• Other duties as assigned.

Paralegal Studies — Program Oversight

• Serve as the program administrator for Paralegal Studies, overseeing ABA accreditation compliance, curriculum management, learning outcomes assessment, and required reporting.
• Advise Paralegal Studies students and support their academic progress, professional development, and degree completion.
• Coordinate with the Department Head of Social Sciences on scheduling, adjunct hiring recommendations, course coverage, and program review processes within Paralegal Studies.
• Maintain current knowledge of ABA standards and institutional obligations; prepare and submit required compliance documentation in a timely manner.

Teaching

• Teach two courses per long semester (2/2 load) in Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, or a related field, consistent with program needs and the Director's professional expertise.
• Participate in curriculum development and assessment within Paralegal Studies and, as appropriate, within the broader Legal Commons framework.

Professional Activity and Service

The Director is expected to maintain active professional engagement appropriate to the role, including participation in relevant professional associations, continuing legal education, practitioner networks, or legal education organizations. Service to the department, college, university, and profession is expected at levels commensurate with the demands of the staff role and assigned teaching responsibilities.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Education: Juris Doctor (JD), earned doctorate, or terminal degree in legal studies, paralegal studies, law, political science, public policy, or a closely related field.
• Experience / Knowledge / Skills:
  • At least five years of relevant professional experience in program administration, legal practice, legal education, paralegal studies, or a combination of these areas.
  • Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills appropriate to a college-level administrative role.
  • Commitment to student success and to building a comprehensive and professionally oriented learning environment.
• Ability to:
• Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate courses in Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across institutional units and with external constituencies.
• Licensing/Professional Certifications: Valid TX Driver’s license.
• Physical Requirements: N/A
• Other Requirements: N/A

PREFERRED EDUCATION / SKILLS/ EXPERIENCE:

• Experience with ABA accreditation standards or paralegal program compliance and administration.

• Experience advising pre-law students or administering undergraduate legal studies or paralegal programs.

• Established professional relationships with law schools, legal professionals, courts, or legal service organizations.

• Experience designing or leading co-curricular programming, student organizations, or experiential learning initiatives.

• Prior experience in higher education administration or academic program coordination.

• Familiarity with the landscape of pre-law education and law school admissions processes.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS:

Adjunct Faculty

TRAVEL:

The Director will be housed at the main campus in Commerce, TX, but will be expected to build the Legal Commons’ presence at the University’s other sites, including Dallas. The university will not reimburse mileage or travel time for local travel. Compensation has been adjusted upward accordingly.

COMPENSATION:

The Director of the Legal Commons position is anticipated to carry an anticipated 9-month salary of $61,000-$65,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the East Texas A&M University employment portal. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2026.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.