Assistant Professor of Professional Practice (12-Month) – Access to Justice / Community Justice Advocate Program

Overview

The Department of Social Work at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for a 12-month, non-tenure track Assistant Professor of Professional Practice. This position will focus on the Transforming Communities Institute’s (TCI) Access to Justice Initiative and its Community Justice Advocate (CJA) Program. 

 

Authorized by the Utah Supreme Court’s Regulatory Sandbox, the CJA Program trains social workers and other human services professionals to serve as alternative legal service providers offering free legal triage and navigation. CJAs help community members better represent themselves in civil legal matters, assisting with understanding rights, completing court forms, drafting responses, and preparing for hearings, among other supports. Working within trusted service agencies, CJAs make Utah’s legal processes more accessible, timely, and humane for individuals who might otherwise face them alone. 

Building on a strong foundation, TCI seeks to expand the CJA model to address additional high-need legal areas, broaden non-credit course offerings, and create for-credit pathways for current students. 

 

Utah State Courts is a national leader in developing access-to-justice solutions, and USU’s Department of Social Work and TCI are among the state’s pioneering organizations advancing this mission through the CJA model. The successful candidate will play a key leadership role in strengthening the program’s capacity, sustainability, and long-term impact. 

 

You can view the benefits offered at the university at this link: https://hr.usu.edu/benefits

Responsibilities

• Teaching (50%) – Develop and deliver undergraduate, graduate, and community-based courses within the Community Justice Advocate (CJA) program and ensure high-quality, practice-oriented learning experiences. 
• Administration & Evaluation (40%) – Provide legal supervision and guidance for students and professionals pursuing the CJA credential. Assist with program operations, including recruitment, reporting, and compliance with Utah State Courts. Cultivate partnerships with community, legal, and governmental organizations to strengthen program reach and impact. Assist faculty researchers with program evaluation and other applied research related to access to justice initiatives 
• Service (10%) – Engage in relevant service to the Department, College, University, and community to advance the land-grant mission through collaboration, outreach, and leadership in access-to-justice efforts. 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications 

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited institution. 
• Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in civil legal services, particularly involving areas such as housing, debt, family law, or consumer protection. 
• Experience providing mentorship or supervision to new or emerging legal professionals, law students, or allied practitioners. 
• Demonstrated commitment to access to justice for vulnerable populations. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across legal, academic, and community settings. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• MSW + JD strongly preferred 
• Demonstrated leadership in access-to-justice or civil legal service innovation. 
• Experience developing and teaching university or professional education courses, with an emphasis on practice-based or online learning. 
• Experience designing, implementing, and evaluating programs. 
• Record of successful grant writing, project management, and/or applied research related to justice, equity, or systems change. 
• Familiarity with Utah’s legal landscape and legal innovation efforts. 

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Applicants should submit the following materials through the USU online application system: 

Curriculum vitae (CV) to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

1–2-page single-spaced cover letter describing qualifications and relevant experience to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

1-page, single-spaced statement addressing contributions to access to justice and interest/commitment to innovation in legal services for vulnerable populations to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

Names and contact information for three professional references to be typed into the candidate profile in the beginning of the application. 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

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