Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Health Advocacy Clinic (35981)

Position Details

Position Information

Working Position Title Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Health Advocacy Clinic (35981) Classification Title Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor Position Number 00035981 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 for an Assistant or Associate Clinical Professor of Law who will serve as Director of our Health Advocacy 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 Health Advocacy Clinic (HAC), is a medical-legal partnership clinic based at Hesed House, a homeless shelter located in Aurora, Illinois (approximately 40 miles from downtown Chicago and 30 miles from DeKalb). This is a full-time, 12-month position; except as noted below, the Director is expected to be on-site at the Aurora location during regular business hours to serve students, clinic clients, and the broader community or at the College of Law in DeKalb where the clinic seminar is taught and other service activities may be performed.

The goal of the clinic is to work in partnership with health care providers from Aunt Martha's medical clinic and social workers from Hesed House to identify and remedy socio-environmental issues that may be contributing to a patient's poor health outcomes. Issues facing homeless and indigent patients are multifaceted and complex. Poverty-along with poor health-may increase the level of stress a person is dealing with on a daily basis. Health issues lead to other stressors, such as insurance problems, missed work, and difficulties performing everyday activities. Likewise, socio-environmental issues (homelessness, food insecurity, violence) can contribute to poor health outcomes. These issues are often beyond the scope of a medical doctor, who likely only has the time and resources to treat the underlying medical condition. Yet it is these very issues that directly affect a person's health and well-being. A team of people-medical, legal, and social work professionals-working together in an integrated fashion can begin to address the unmet needs of clients. Providing more holistic care will not only improve health outcomes but may also improve life circumstances.

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 Health Advocacy 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 hiring, retention, and promotion of doctrinal tenure-track faculty. The starting rank will be assistant or associate clinical professor, depending on qualifications.

The Clinical Director of the Health Advocacy 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 Health Advocacy Clinic, including services offered.

Schedule and Location

This position is a full-time, 12-month appointment. The Director is expected to be on-site at the Aurora clinic location during regular business hours.

If travel beyond the Aurora clinic location 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 Clinical Director of the Health Advocacy Clinic will have oversight of and responsibility for the legal activities of the clinic, supervision of clinic students, and teaching the Health Advocacy Clinic seminar classes each term. Specific duties include:

• Directing and supervising the daily operations of the Health Advocacy Clinic;
• Supervising and teaching law students in a clinical setting;
• Teaching clinical seminar classes each semester and for one summer school session;
• Representing clients in a variety of legal settings, which may include public benefits and criminal expungement/sealings;
• Working with community members to promote and develop the medical-legal partnership clinic, including organizing information sessions, educational workshops, and outreach programming;
• Cultivating and maintaining relationships with community partners, including working collaboratively with the administration at Hesed House and Aunt Martha's Health Clinic, as well as health care providers, social workers, and other organizations in Aurora and surrounding communities;
• 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;
• Engaging with the NIU College of Law and its student body through committee work and service to the law school and the University;
• Pursuing professional development activities, such as attending regional and national clinical legal education conferences;
• 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 Health Advocacy Clinic, including seeking new funding sources, writing grant applications, and promoting the Health Advocacy 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. from an ABA-accredited law school;
• Three years of legal experience;
• Admission to the practice of law and good standing in at least one state or the District of Columbia or the ability to be admitted to the practice;
• If not currently admitted in the State of Illinois, the 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

• Two to five years of experience representing clients in poverty law matters, such as public benefits, housing, or health-related legal issues;
• Teaching experience, particularly clinical teaching in a law school setting;
• Experience with program development and the ability to work effectively with external professional constituencies to build and expand programs;
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus given the client population served.

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 01, 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 Health Advocacy Clinic to create an application profile and submit 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 Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/92884 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 (*).