Description:
Description:The University of Tennessee Winston College of Law invites applications for the faculty position of Director of Externships. The position will commence no later than August 1, 2026.
The Director of Externships will lead Winston Law's externship program and will also have a faculty appointment. The externship program currently includes Judicial Externships, Prosecution Externships, Public Defender Externships, Field Placements, and the Semester in Residence program. These programs are referred to in this document as “externships.”
The Director of Externships' responsibilities will include:
- Leading the school's outreach, coordination, and collaboration with current and prospective externship placement offices. The Director will be expected to work creatively to expand the number and types of externship opportunities and to collaborate with other faculty directors to identify externship opportunities that align with the law school's various centers and programs.
- Communicating externship opportunities to students and advising students about specific placements that may meet their educational interests and goals.
- Administering the application, matching, placement agreement, and enrollment process for externships.
- Educating and training supervising attorneys concerning externship program requirements and expectations.
- Along with other faculty, teaching externship courses and supervising student placements. The duties in this area may also include identifying and training adjunct faculty to teach these courses.
- Collaborating with the faculty in proposing and instituting changes to the externship program that align with accreditation standards, best practices, and preparing students for practice.
- Ensuring that all aspects of the externship program satisfy ABA Accreditation standards.
- Staying abreast of and advising interested students about obtaining public interest legal opportunities following graduation.
- Being actively engaged in the national externship and clinical teaching communities and the local legal community, such as through bar activities.
- Serving as the faculty advisor to the Winston Law Pro Bono Program.
Qualifications:
Candidates must hold a J.D. or equivalent law degree and have at least two years of experience as a lawyer, law teacher, or work in a law-related field.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Teaching experience in a law school setting
- Practice experience; and experience leading, collaborating, and building programs.
Application Instructions:
Applications must be submitted through Interfolio (apply.interfolio.com/________). Applicants should submit a letter of interest (explaining how they will utilize their prior experience and abilities in this role); a C.V.; and the names and contact information for three references. While applications will be considered on a rolling basis, applicants should submit their materials no later than January 9, 2026, for best consideration. For questions, please contact Professor Paula Schaefer and Professor Danny Schaffzin, Co-Chairs of the Externship Director Search Committee at pschaefe@utk.edu and dschaffzin@utk.edu
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.
Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.