Instructor or Assistant Professor & Coordinator of Paralegal Studies

Summary

This position will involve teaching a wide range of courses in the Paralegal Studies Program and, upon assumption of the Coordinator role, providing the leadership, administration, assessment, and oversight necessary to operate and maintain an American Bar Association-approved Paralegal Studies Program. The position reports to the Dean of the School of Business, Education, Legal Studies, Aviation, and Institutional Effectiveness.

Duties and Responsibilities

 Instructor of Paralegal Studies Duties

• Teach courses in accordance with the master course outline and within the schedule of classes, including courses offered through on-campus, remote synchronous, HyFlex, and other approved instructional formats.
• Maintain instructional effectiveness through ongoing self-evaluation and by incorporating current developments in law, legal technology, legal research, instructional methods, and learning strategies.
• Keep and submit appropriate academic records and comply with College requirements concerning attendance, grading, assessment, and student records.
• Maintain regular office hours, as approved by the vice president of academic services/dean of faculty, for consultation with students.
• Serve as a faculty advisor to students in the Paralegal Studies Program and assist students with academic planning, course selection, registration, transfer and educational goals.
• Work with counselors, advisors, tutoring services, Career Development, and other College staff in responding to student needs and promoting student success.
• Recommend changes to instructional programs, courses, master course outlines, assignments, textbooks, and curricula as appropriate.
• Assist librarians in keeping legal research collections, electronic databases, reserve materials, and other information resources current and adequate for the courses being taught.
• Assist the College in keeping instructional technology, facilities, classroom equipment, and remote-learning resources current and appropriate for Paralegal Studies instruction.
• Plan for the availability of supplies, textbooks, instructional materials, software, legal research resources, and classroom equipment necessary for assigned classes.
• Participate in academic audits, program assessment activities, faculty development activities, College committees, advisory boards, and other institutional responsibilities.
• Maintain professional development and remain current in substantive and procedural law, the paralegal profession, legal technology, legal research, ethics, and developments in paralegal education.
• Maintain memberships in appropriate professional organizations.
• Attend and participate in faculty meetings.
• Work collaboratively with full-time and adjunct faculty to maintain academic standards, instructional quality, consistency, and integrity.
• Mentor and assist new and adjunct faculty in the Paralegal Studies area.
• Recruit and provide information to prospective students and participate in program information sessions, open houses, marketing, and other enrollment activities.
• Serve as faculty advisor to student organizations, where appropriate.
• Share responsibility for establishing and maintaining a College environment that values people and supports student learning.
• Keep informed on procedures to be followed in case of emergencies.
• Discharge those additional duties normally and customarily associated with College faculty.

Coordinator of Paralegal Studies Duties

• Provide overall leadership and day-to-day administration of the Paralegal Studies Program and ensure that the Program is operated in continuing compliance with the American Bar Association Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs and applicable College policies.
• Serve as the primary institutional contact for matters relating to ABA approval; remain current on ABA Guidelines, interpretations, reporting requirements, deadlines, and changes affecting approved paralegal education programs.
• Prepare, coordinate, and submit ABA reapproval reports, interim reports, substantive-change reports, and other required materials through the ABA reporting system; maintain supporting documentation and coordinate institutional responses to ABA inquiries.
• Plan for and coordinate ABA site visits, including preparation of exhibits and records, scheduling meetings and interviews, coordinating facilities and technology, and working with administrators, faculty, advisory committee members, students, graduates, Career Development, admissions, counseling, library personnel, and other offices involved in the review.
• Maintain organized records demonstrating continuing ABA compliance, including program administration, curriculum, faculty qualifications, course delivery, student advising, assessment, graduate placement, library and information resources, facilities, technology, admissions, and student services.
• Convene and administer the Paralegal Studies Advisory Committee in accordance with ABA requirements; maintain appropriate membership representing the legal community, paralegals, employers, graduates, the general public, and other required constituencies; prepare agendas and supporting materials; conduct meetings; maintain minutes; and document recommendations and program responses.
• Conduct regular Paralegal Studies faculty meetings with full-time and adjunct faculty to address curriculum, course consistency, assessment, student performance, instructional issues, ABA requirements, legal and technological developments, and program planning; maintain agendas, minutes, and follow-up documentation.
• Develop, implement, and periodically review the Program’s written assessment plan; coordinate assessment of program goals, student learning, legal specialty courses, and overall program effectiveness; compile and analyze assessment data; prepare written assessment reports; and document changes made as a result of findings.
• Develop, distribute, collect, analyze, and report program surveys, including graduate surveys, employer surveys, student/course surveys, advisory committee input, market-wide or community needs surveys, and other assessment instruments used to evaluate program effectiveness.
• Gather and maintain graduate employment and continuing-education information and coordinate systematic graduate follow-up and placement records in accordance with ABA requirements; work with Career Development and other College offices to support graduate job-search and placement services.
• Review the curriculum on an ongoing basis to ensure that legal specialty and general education requirements, course sequencing, instructional methods, synchronous instruction requirements, and program objectives remain consistent with ABA requirements and the needs of the legal community.
• Review and approve proposed curriculum revisions, new courses, course deletions, changes in delivery method, and other program modifications; coordinate required College approvals and determine whether advance notice or substantive-change reporting to the ABA is required.
• Coordinate the academic schedule for Paralegal Studies, including required courses and electives, day/evening offerings, remote and on-campus sections, enrollment needs, course rotation, and instructional location.
• Recommend staffing for Paralegal Studies courses; recruit and evaluate prospective adjunct faculty; verify faculty qualifications and legal/paralegal experience; orient, mentor, and communicate regularly with adjunct faculty; and maintain documentation of faculty qualifications required for ABA review.
• Coordinate student advising and registration procedures for Paralegal Studies students, including enforcement of program advising requirements, review of prerequisites, degree or certificate progress, and appropriate sequencing of legal specialty courses.
• Oversee the Program’s internship/field experience component and coordinate with the Internship Advisor and College offices to ensure that placements, supervision, academic requirements, evaluations, records, and educational objectives comply with Program and ABA requirements.
• Evaluate the adequacy of library and information resources available for legal research and instruction; work regularly with librarians to confirm that resources are current and adequate; review student access to Lexis, Westlaw, Westlaw Campus or comparable resources; and solicit faculty and Advisory Committee recommendations concerning needed resources.
• Evaluate the adequacy of classrooms, technology, equipment, and facilities used by the Program, including resources needed for remote synchronous and HyFlex instruction, and advocate for improvements necessary to support instruction and ABA compliance.
• Prepare and administer the Paralegal Studies budget; identify and prioritize expenditures for instructional materials, legal research resources, technology, professional development, marketing, ABA fees, and other program needs.
• Coordinate program marketing, recruitment, brochures, webpages, informational materials, videos, open houses, presentations, and outreach to prospective students, employers, graduates, legal organizations, and community partners; ensure that representations concerning ABA approval are accurate.
• Maintain relationships with members of the legal community, employers, courts, government offices, law firms, corporate legal departments, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, alumni, and other partners to support curriculum relevance, internships, employment, advisory participation, and program development.
• Coordinate with admissions, registrar, financial aid, advising, Career Development, tutoring, library, information technology, marketing, institutional research, and other College offices on matters affecting Paralegal Studies students and program operations.
• Review enrollment, retention, completion, placement, survey, and other program data and use findings in planning, assessment, scheduling, recruitment, and continuous program improvement.
• Maintain current program policies, procedures, handbooks, forms, advising materials, internship materials, assessment records, faculty files, syllabi, course outlines, and other documentation necessary for effective administration and ABA review.
• Represent the Paralegal Studies Program at College, division, department, community, professional, and ABA-related meetings and activities.
• Assist in succession planning and the orderly transfer of ABA records, reporting responsibilities, institutional knowledge, partnership responsibilities, and program procedures when leadership changes occur.

• Kutztown University Partnership Program Duties
• Administer and coordinate the Paralegal Studies Certificate partnership offered to Kutztown University students through Lehigh Carbon Community College, consistent with the agreement and procedures of both institutions.
• Serve as the principal program contact for Kutztown University students and appropriate KU and LCCC administrators, faculty, advising, registration, financial aid, and other offices concerning the partnership.
• Recruit and advise prospective and current Kutztown University students; explain the Paralegal Studies Certificate, ABA-approved program requirements, application and registration process, course sequencing, delivery formats, tuition responsibilities, and completion requirements.
• Coordinate the LCCC application and registration process for Kutztown University students, including program coding, advising approvals, course registration, enrollment troubleshooting, and communication of semester deadlines and procedures.
• Develop and distribute semester communications to Kutztown University students regarding registration, class schedules, textbooks, remote or on-campus attendance expectations, tutoring, advising, and other program information.
• Coordinate course scheduling and enrollment for the Kutztown University cohort and work with both institutions to address low enrollment, section changes, instructional delivery, and student needs.
• Maintain and update partnership brochures, webpages, informational videos, recruitment materials, and other communications in cooperation with the appropriate offices at both institutions.
• Maintain records and documentation concerning the Kutztown University partnership for program administration, institutional review, assessment, and ABA reapproval purposes.
• Communicate regularly with Kutztown University administrators and faculty regarding program operations, ABA requirements, student services, curriculum, scheduling, marketing, and changes affecting the partnership.
• Ensure that courses and services provided through the Kutztown University partnership remain integrated into the ABA-approved Paralegal Studies Program and are included, as appropriate, in assessment, advisory committee review, faculty oversight, resource evaluation, and ABA reporting.

• Additional Coordinator Responsibilities
• Assist in preparation of budgets and academic schedules and make recommendations concerning program staffing and resources.
• Work with the vice president of academic services/dean of faculty, department leadership, fellow faculty, and adjunct faculty to maintain academic standards and integrity.
• Undertake specialized projects and perform other duties related to the Paralegal Studies Program that the vice president of academic services/dean of faculty may from time to time assign.
• Carries out special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required

Education

• Master’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution of higher education or J.D.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience working in the legal community in Pennsylvania as an attorney or paralegal.

Certifications

• Act 153 Clearances (Act 34 PA Criminal Background, Act 151 PA Child Abuse History, Act 114 FBI Clearance Fingerprinting)

Work Experience

• Experience working with or as a paralegal required.
• Understanding of the role and utilization of paralegals in the legal community essential.
• Must be able to work collaboratively with faculty and administrators across multiple locations and partner institutions.
• Familiarity with the mission of a comprehensive community college is expected.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Must possess a high level of the following work skills and behaviors: teamwork, cooperation, initiative, customer service, high level of accuracy, analytical and problem solving skills, excellent organizational, written and oral skills, ability to work in an office with frequent interruptions and commitment to continuous professional growth in skills and knowledge.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Pennsylvania law, legal procedures, and court practices is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to provide academic and administrative leadership for an ABA-approved paralegal education program, including curriculum oversight, assessment, faculty coordination, student advising, advisory committee administration, and compliance reporting, is strongly preferred.
• Teaching experience in a community college environment is preferred, as is experience in curriculum and course-material development, legal research technology, program assessment, and administration of academic partnerships.

Physical Demands

• Ability to effectively communicate, perceive, and exchange information with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Operate, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls using hands, arms, or adaptive equipment.
• Ability to safely lift, transport, or move objects up to 15 lbs regularly and up to 25 lbs occasionally.
• Vision capabilities sufficient to view screens, read printed materials, and observe work environments (with or without assistive devices).

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

LCCC is an equal opportunity employer.

LCCC Internal candidates must apply within 15 days of posting.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume and unofficial transcript through our online application system at www.lccc.edu/jobs.

• Salary is restricted to above range and will not exceed the maximum of the range. Salary offers are non negotiable and offers are determined and are based upon related work experience submitted on resume.
• Foreign degrees – must provide a US equivalency report of your degree credentials with your transcript, if not, your resume will not be accepted.

Position open until filled.