Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Business Law Innovation Clinic, College of Law (37633)

Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Business Law Innovation Clinic, College of Law (37633) Bookmark this Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job Position Details Position Information Working Position Title Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Business Law Innovation Clinic, College of Law (37633) Classification Title Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor Position Number 00037633 Posting Date 06/08/2026 Closing Date Priority Review Date 08/15/2026 Business Unit Description Faculty Full-Time/Part Time Full-Time

FTE 1.00

Position Status Regular FLSA Exempt Job Code 2220 Union Representation Non-Union Union Code N/A Unit/Department College of Law College/Unit College of Law Dean Division Academic Division Location SP 270 Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page College of Law Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications Overview Northern Illinois University ( NIU ) College of Law invites applications for an opening as an Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor of Law who will serve as Director of our Business Law Innovation Clinic . As the oldest public law school in Northern Illinois, NIU College of Law has been named a top law school nationally for diversity, value, and careers in public interest/government service. NIU Law provides unique opportunities for its students, beginning with its highly accomplished faculty who are personally invested in the success of every student throughout their professional lives.

Although many alumni serve as public interest attorneys, prosecutors, defenders, elected officials, and judges, they are equally prepared for careers as solo practitioners or lawyers in multinational firms. NIU Law is at the heart of a diverse and active university campus of over 16,000 students in DeKalb, Illinois, located near the western suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan area. The College of Law will be enrolling students in our new part-time JD program at our NIU Naperville campus beginning in August 2027. The Business Law Innovation Clinic provides legal assistance to not-for-profit organizations, entrepreneurs and small business owners from underrepresented communities in DeKalb, Naperville, and surrounding communities in Illinois. The Clinic advises clients on business formation matters and represents clients with transactional business law issues. The preferred application date is August 15, 2026, with an expectation that the successful applicant would begin teaching in Spring 2027. The start date is negotiable. The priority deadline for the submission of the applications is August 15, 2026. Applications after August 15th are welcome, but will be considered on a rolling basis and as needed. Position Summary Northern Illinois University College of Law has a collegial law faculty and a very supportive clinical faculty. The Director of the Business Law Innovation Clinic (hereinafter the Director) will be appointed to a twelve-month full-time position fully funded by Northern Illinois University. All clinical faculty are eligible for the possibility of promotion on the clinical faculty track and the possibility for attainment of a six-year presumptively renewable clinical contract and security of position compliant with 405( c ). Clinical faculty members participate in faculty governance, which includes committee work, but excludes decisions related to the retention and promotion of doctrinal tenure-track faculty. The starting rank will be assistant or associate clinical professor, depending on qualifications. The Director of the Business Law Innovation Clinic will report directly to the law school's Director of Clinical Programs and will work closely with the Dean and the faculty at the College of Law on any further development or expansion of the Business Law Innovation Clinic, including clinic seminar classes taught to part-time J.D. students and client services provided at the NIU Naperville campus. Schedule and Location This position is a full-time, 12-month appointment. The Director is expected to be on-site at the Clinical Law Center in DeKalb, Illinois during regular business hours. If travel beyond the NIU Clinical Law Center location in DeKalb, Illinois is required for community outreach or partnership activities, the Director will be eligible to receive mileage reimbursement in accordance with NIU travel policy. Professional Development and Support The Director will be eligible to receive the travel allocation and professional development funds available to clinical faculty. The College of Law will pay certain licensing and professional development fees for the Director as needed, including the annual attorney registration fee for the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission ( ARDC ) of the Supreme Court of Illinois, and membership fees for the Illinois State Bar Association ( ISBA ), the Clinical Legal Education Association ( CLEA ), and the clinical section of the Association of American Law Schools ( AALS ). Active participation in these organizations is expected. Outside Employment The Director must obtain prior approval from the Director of Clinical Programs and the Dean of the College of Law before engaging in any outside consulting, research, or outside employment activities. The Director shall comply with Illinois' University Faculty Research and Consulting Act of 1969 and NIU's Board of Trustees Regulations on outside employment. Essential Duties and Responsibilities The Director of the Business Law Innovation Clinic will have oversight of and responsibility for the legal activities of the clinic, supervision of clinic students, and teaching the Business Law Innovation clinic seminar classes each term.

Specific duties include:

Directing and supervising the daily operation of the Business Law Innovation Clinic; Supervising and teaching law students in a clinical setting; Teaching law clinic seminar classes each semester and for one summer school session; Directly supervising the legal work of clinic students who are enrolled as full-time students taking in person classes in DeKalb and/or part-time JD students taking in person or online classes in Naperville; Advising and representing clients with transactional business law matters including entity formation and incorporation, applications for Business Enterprise Certifications, and with other business law matters commensurate with the faculty member's experience and expertise; Advising and representing clients with formation of non-profit organizations, with applications for federal income tax exemption, and with other matters commensurate with the faculty member's experience and expertise; Engaging in outreach and leads educational workshops and presentations to strengthen NIU's connections with the communities we serve; Maintaining records of all community and engagement activities; Working under the supervision of the Director of Clinical Programs and in partnership with other NIU College of Law clinical faculty members; Developing and maintaining partnerships between the University and its surrounding communities by developing new collaborations with other NIU colleges and units, as well as with organizations across or surrounding communities, to deliver programming, identify prospective clients, and enrich student development and learning; Participating in development and fundraising activities for the Business Law Innovation Clinic, including seeking new funding sources, writing grant applications, and promoting the Business Law Innovation Clinic widely; Providing service to the College of Law, the University, and the community through active participation in committees and through professional activities related to bar associations and/or legal education. Minimum Required Qualifications J.D. degree from an ABA -accredited law school; At least three years of significant experience in the practice of business law, particularly in those practice areas served by the clinic; Admission to the practice of law and in good standing in at least one state or the District of Columbia; Ability to be admitted to the practice of law in the State of Illinois within a reasonable time not to exceed two years after commencement of employment. Additional Requirements N/A Preferred Qualifications At least five years of significant experience in the practice of transactional business law, in the formation and representation of not-for-profit organizations, and/or experience teaching and supervising students in a law school clinic. Physical Demands Summary For physical demands and requirements please see human resources policies and protocols. Appointment and Compensation Details Appointment and Compensation Details Anticipated Appointment Start Date January 1, 2027 (negotiable) Anticipated Appointment End Date Percent of Staff Year 1.00 Standard Hours Per Week 37.50 Salary Commensurate with experience and qualifications, starting at $95,000.16; NIU offers a robust benefits package . Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range Commensurate with experience and qualifications, starting at $95,000.16; NIU offers a robust benefits package . Earn Type Salary Application Procedure Application Procedure Application Procedure For full consideration, prospective applicants should visit Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Business Law Innovation Clinic to apply and upload the following materials by August 15, 2026 : Required Documents Resume Cover Letter 3 Professional References Unofficial Transcripts - Official Upon Hire Applications after August 15th are welcome, but will be considered on a rolling basis and as needed. Please direct questions to the search committee chair, Wendy Vaughn at wvaughn@niu.edu. Special Instructions N/A Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/92880 Is Background Check Required Yes EEO Statement Summary In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator Health Services Building Room 230 TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu 815-753-5560 Visa Policy In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. ADA Accommodation NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form . For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity ( AAEO ) at ada@niu.edu . Safety Information NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety. Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report . Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy. Applicant Documents Required Documents Resume/Curriculum Vitae Cover Letter List of at least 3 Professional References Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire) Optional Documents Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (•).