Job Description:

Directed Study Faculty Supervisor

Colleges of Law

Position Title: Directed Study Faculty Supervisor

Department: Academic Affairs

Job Purpose:

The Faculty Supervisor for Directed Study provides individualized academic mentorship to students completing approved directed study projects. The faculty member supports the student’s independent legal research and writing while ensuring the work meets rigorous academic, scholarly, and professional standards.

This role reports to the Program Dean. The Faculty Supervisor works directly with students to guide the development of directed study projects, review research and written work, and provide substantive academic feedback. The position contributes to the institution’s mission by supporting independent scholarship and fostering deeper engagement with legal doctrine and research.

Faculty supervisors typically engage with students for approximately 10–15 hours over the course of a semester, including meetings, review of written drafts, and substantive feedback throughout the project. If a faculty supervisor anticipates that engagement will exceed 15 hours, prior approval from the Program Dean is required.

Position responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Review and approve the student’s Directed Study proposal to ensure the topic, scope, and research plan are appropriate.
• Complete all required institutional documentation and approval forms related to the directed study project.
• Meet with the student to discuss the scope, objectives, and research plan for the project.
• Advise students on legal research strategies, sources, and authorities relevant to the topic.
• Review and provide feedback on drafts of written work, including substantive analysis, organization, and writing quality.
• Guide students in the application and analysis of relevant legal principles, doctrine, and policy considerations.
• Monitor student progress to ensure the project proceeds in a timely and academically rigorous manner.
• Evaluate the final paper or project and assign a Pass/Fail grade consistent with institutional standards.
• Serve as an academic mentor while ensuring the work remains independent student scholarship.

Students typically complete 12–15 pages of double-spaced writing for one (1) unit of directed study credit and 24–30 pages for two (2) units. Unless otherwise approved, papers should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins.

Required Qualifications:

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated ability to mentor and guide students in legal research and scholarly writing.
• Strong knowledge of legal doctrine, research methodology, and analytical writing.
• Ability to provide constructive written and verbal feedback on student work.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills to monitor student progress.
• Commitment to maintaining academic rigor and scholarly integrity.

Education:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in at least one jurisdiction required.

Experience:

• Experience teaching or mentoring students in legal research, writing, or doctrinal coursework preferred.
• Prior academic or professional legal research experience preferred.
• Experience supervising student research projects, scholarly writing, or independent study preferred.

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily intellectual and sedentary, involving reading, research, and written feedback.
• Faculty supervisors typically meet with students virtually or in person.
• Engagement typically totals 10–15 hours per semester per directed study student.
• Work may be performed in remote, hybrid, or campus environments.

Compensation and Benefits

The Community Solution offers a generous compensation and benefits package, including paid time off, medical and dental coverage, company-paid life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, flexible spending accounts (FSA), tuition reimbursement, professional development, and employee appreciation events.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Community Solution Education System is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About The Community Solution Education System:

The Community Solution Education System is an integrated, nonprofit system of colleges and universities that work collaboratively to advance institutional sustainability, student success, and community impact. Founded in 2009, The Community Solution has grown to encompass six distinct communities—The Chicago School, Pacific Oaks College & Children's School, The Colleges of Law, Saybrook University, Kansas Health Science Center-Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and University of Western States. United by a shared vision, we work together to build strategic partnerships and leverage economies of scale so institutions can focus on their mission—educating students.

For more information, visit www.tcsedsystem.edu

Compensation & Benefits

This opportunity is budgeted at $28.41 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.

https://www.collegesoflaw.edu/careers/

The Colleges of Law is an Equal Opportunity Employer.