About the university:

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.

About Lubbock:

Referred to as the “Hub City” because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock’s Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.

About the School of Law:

The School of Law has approximately 440 students and 38 full-time faculty members. The School of Law is an integral part of the University and offers 10 dual-degree programs with other Texas Tech schools and colleges. The School of Law has a strong focus on students and is committed to a practical education to produce practice-ready graduates.

Texas Tech University School of Law invites applications to serve as Clinical Lecturer and Immigration Law Clinic Director, responsible for managing all operations and administration of the School of Law’s newly-established Immigration Law Clinic through a generous donation from Jim ’87 and Leah Finley.

Major/Essential Job Functions:

Contributes to the University and School of Law’s mission through teaching and service;

Directs, plans, manages the operation of the Immigration Law Clinic and supervises the daily work activities of law students and support staff; develops and implements policies and procedures for operation of the Clinic;  

Communicates with the Law School Dean and the Director of Clinical Programs;

Engages in client development and community outreach to promote the services offered by the Immigration Law Clinic.

Performs the duties of a lawyer and provides high-quality and ethical legal advice to clients of the Clinic, ensuring effective representation of all clients including representation in immigration courts, federal courts, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Supervises law students in the Immigration Law Clinic and teaches the classroom component of the Clinic course, providing a rich educational experience in line with established educational requirements, techniques, and best practices to promote the development of the skills necessary to practice law ethically and effectively;

Monitors receipt of and makes all case assignments to students; screens all cases for conflicts of interest; makes temporary adjustments to caseload policies depending on the overall complexity of certain cases, the type of cases, student experience, support staff experience, or other factors affecting the delivery of high-quality services;

Maintains a regular caseload and provides backup on caseloads of law students who are not available or are unable to complete specific assignments or who graduate;

Trains, monitors, and evaluates staff in a manner consistent with the standard personnel policies and procedures of Texas Tech University;

Administers the annual operating budget for the Immigration Law Clinic;

Pursues and administers grant funding in cooperation with the Law School’s Budget Office and Dean’s Office;

Abides by any contractual agreements or grant award terms, conditions, and reports approved by Texas Tech University and the School of Law.

Faculty Required Qualifications:

1. Holds a JD from an ABA-accredited law school or a JD equivalent from an international school;
2. Member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any U.S. state or the District of Columbia and registered (or will be registered) with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR);
3. Demonstrated excellence in legal research and writing skills;
4. Ability to communicate effectively with various audiences, including clients, students, staff, faculty, court and agency staff, and the public;
5. Exhibits proficiency and commitment to providing quality representation to immigration law clients;
6. Ability to independently manage a caseload and quickly assume caseload responsibilities;
7. Strong commitment to teaching and supervising law students in a clinical setting;
8. Familiarity with immigration legal issues;
9. At least three years of law practice experience related to immigration legal issues;
10. Commitment to or demonstrated record of institutional or public service; and
11. Commitment to or demonstrated record of teaching related to immigration law.

Preferred qualifications:

1. Extensive knowledge and experience with immigration legal issues.
2. Skill in communicating effectively and civilly with diverse groups of individuals;
3. Experience interacting with diverse student populations including first-generation students;
4. Experience teaching law courses including immigration law;
5. Skill in preparing and administering budgets;
6. Skill in preparing and administering grant applications;
7. Commitment to service to the legal profession and to pro bono activities;
8. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, co-workers, employees, governmental department heads, elected/appointed officials, outside organizations, attorneys, the news media, and the general public;
9. Experience supervising students in a law school clinical program and/or supervising law students/lawyers in practice; and
10. Member of State Bar of Texas or capable of being admitted on motion.

To apply for this position, please include a curriculum vitae, cover letter and list of references in your application at the Texas Tech Jobs website:  https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/workattexastech/.

Application deadline is February 28, 2025.

Questions about this position should be directed to Jarod Gonzalez, J. Hadley and Helen Edgar Professor of Law and Chair, Faculty Appointments Committee at jarod.gonzalez@ttu.edu.  For your application to be considered, you must submit it at the Texas Tech Jobs website.