Dean of the UIC School of Law
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), one of the nation’s most diverse universities, seeks an accomplished, engaging, and dynamic academic leader to direct its recently acquired school of law (UIC Law). UIC Law is the only public law school in Chicago and embraces an explicit mission to provide access and opportunity to a high-quality legal education to students from a variety of backgrounds and under-represented populations. In 2019, UIC acquired The John Marshall Law School, a longtime standalone school of law, resulting in the creation of UIC Law. The merger of the two entities has been a propitious combination given their aligned, mutual commitment to diversity, high quality teaching, scholarship and public service, and above all access and success for students. The next Dean of UIC Law will have the exciting opportunity to more fully establish a public school of law within an exemplary urban, public research university. While much work remains to be done, the foundations have been laid for success. UIC leaders and law school faculty are excited for the potential for greater interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement, and the wider community of students, staff, and alumni see an unparalleled opportunity in being part of a larger, modern, dynamic university. All stakeholders are committed to working with the next Dean to see this venture succeed.
UIC Law’s identity and mission reflect those of the former John Marshall Law School in providing a contemporary legal education and training and the successful placement of students of diverse communities and backgrounds in promising careers as practicing attorneys. The school has recruited an outstanding faculty committed to scholarly excellence and to providing practical and real-world training that will prepare their students for the challenging work they will be expected to perform as legal professionals. The law school offers numerous hands-on experiences through its legal clinics, externship programs, concentrations, and centers of excellence. All students at UIC Law enroll in either a clinic or externship, and have benefited greatly from these experience in establishing their legal careers. Moreover, UIC Law has a resolute focus on remedying areas where students need further development to succeed. The law school is deeply connected to and draws its strength from its close ties to the city of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and the region’s community of legal professionals. UIC Law graduates find success as leaders and pillars in the private bar, the courts, business, and in government. The law school is housed in four contiguous buildings in the “Loop.” Between 2010 and 2014 significant funds were spent to improve facilities and make them more useful to current students and more attractive to future students. In 2018-2019, the eight floor of the law library was renovated into a student Collaboration Commons.
The Dean of UIC Law will be expected to continue to advance the school’s compelling public mission of access, opportunity, academic excellence, community building, and public engagement; integrate the law school into the broader UIC community; promote diversity, equity, and inclusion regarding faculty and students; commitment to academic freedom; promote the profile of the school locally and nationally; encourage and foster scholarship efforts by the faculty; recruit and retain exceptional faculty and students; raise resources to support the school’s work.
The position profile for the Dean of UIC Law can be found from the following web address: https://imsearch.box.com/s/1ry21tr1n1au80vvmr506ehhlr7fk9f7.
The University of Illinois Chicago has retained the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist with this important recruitment. Interested applicants are required to submit an electronic application, a cover letter, and CV/resume. Nomination and inquiries must be submitted to: www.imsearch.com/8117, with correspondences addressed to the search firm representatives noted below. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should be received by no later than December 1. Application reviews will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process.
Tim McFeeley & Kahn Lee
Isaacson, Miller
1300 19th Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
The University of Illinois at Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. UIC is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, Veteran or disability status.
The University of Illinois conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899