Our Organization

IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research institution at the University of Denver that is committed to increasing fairness, efficiency, accessibility, and the public’s trust in the civil justice system.

People look to our justice system for relief in matters that affect their rights, their businesses, and the most intimate aspects of their lives; however, barriers and inefficiencies are effectively denying them real access. IAALS empowers judges, lawyers, businesspeople, and everyday users to put the best ideas into practice. Relying on empirical evidence to inform real-world solutions, IAALS is changing how our system serves people today while anticipating future needs—working tirelessly to increase access to justice.

Our Work

IAALS works on solving problems within the legal system: both in the courts and in the delivery of legal services more broadly. We conduct comprehensive analysis and work with stakeholders to design models, empower decision-makers, and measure outcomes and impacts to advance a trusted American legal system.

A trusted and trustworthy legal system is essential to our democracy, our economy, and our freedom. But the American legal system is in a state of unprecedented change and challenge. Some 80 percent of Americans have legal needs that go unmet. Some 76 percent of state civil cases have a litigant on at least one side without lawyer representation. Businesses routinely choose arbitration rather than using the courts, jury trials are disappearing, and public confidence in our legal system is low.

Justice, the courts, and legal services must be accessible—and they are not. The problems are complex and multi-dimensional, and we are committed to comprehensive, balanced, and inclusive solutions across the American legal system. We conduct comprehensive analyses and work with stakeholders to design models, empower decision-makers, and measure outcomes and impacts to advance a trusted American legal system. IAALS has on-going projects in the areas of judicial reform, civil justice reform, family justice reform, legal education, and the reregulation of the legal profession. We encourage applicants to learn more about our work iaals.du.edu.

Position Summary

IAALS is seeking an experienced Program Associate who will assist with various and diverse aspects of IAALS’ projects across the areas of civil justice, family justice, the judiciary, legal education, and the legal profession. The program associate will work closely with IAALS’ program directors in execution of IAALS’ projects. We work closely with many professional legal and judicial organizations, law schools and bar associations, federal and state court administrations, and commissions, and the program associate will likewise work externally with a variety of partners on IAALS’ projects. Responsibilities include those assigned by IAALS directors including: coordinating and maintaining regular communication with project participants, collaborating with internal and external teams on IAALS’ project tasks, doing legal research, drafting reports, engaging in research and evaluation of reforms, and staying abreast of developments around the country regarding enhancements and improvements to the legal system. This position will also be expected to support projects/initiatives, assist with presentations and organizing conferences, provide content for IAALS' blog and website, and perform other duties as assigned. This position will work on multiple projects under the direction of IAALS’ Chief Executive Officer and IAALS’ directors. This position does not oversee other employees.

Essential Functions

• Working with IAALS teams on a variety of projects/initiatives as described in the Position Summary.
• Coordinating and maintaining regular communication with partners, project participants, teams, and outside consultants.
• Legal research, such as compilation of information from around the country.
• Writing: Draft publishable reports.
• Present on projects and thought leadership nationally, which may include travel when necessary.
• Build relationships with others involved in justice system reform in order to raise the national profile of the work and organization.
• Maintain a working knowledge of innovative projects underway around the country related to specific projects and areas of IAALS’ work.
• Partner with IAALS’ Communications team to publicize and promote this work to external groups, including contributing content for the website and blog.
• Collaborate with the Research team on empirical research.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Understanding of court processes and current challenges across the justice system.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Capacity to understand, digest and collate complex legal theories and practices.
• Ability to read and interpret reports and communications, such as professional journals, with complete understanding.
• Proficiency in proofing/editing and knowledge of proper grammar.
• Excellent writing and editing skills and ability to write publishable reports.
• Ability to present information both comprehensively and concisely, and respond to questions from a variety of sources.
• Capacity to plan, strategize and prioritize work, make independent decisions, and work on multiple tasks without constant direct supervision.
• Ability to creatively problem solve.
• Organization, clarity, and ability to anticipate what is needed in the future.
• Possess a strong comfort level in varied social situations.
• Self-starter, who can follow through on projects.
• Work and lead within a team environment and work independently.
• Flexibility in working with multiple people on multiple projects concurrently.
• Computer proficiency in software programs relevant to legal research and presentations, such as Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to manage time effectively, particularly while managing competing priorities.
• Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines and project goals.
• Demonstrated successful experience working in and with diverse individuals and groups.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree.
• Experience with legal practice, work in the legal profession and legal education, or work in solution-oriented efforts to improve the legal system, either in academia or in law-related professional work, including demonstrated involvement in addressing on-going challenges or promoting innovation.

Preferred Qualifications

• JD/Advanced Degree.
• 5 years of experience with a combination of legal practice, work in the legal profession and legal education, or work in solution-oriented efforts to improve the legal system, either in academia or in law-related professional work, including demonstrated involvement in addressing on-going challenges or promoting innovation.
• Degree, past coursework, or related experience in research methods and evaluation.
• Proficient in two or more languages.

Working Environment

1. Standard Office Environment.
2. Noise level is quiet to moderate.
3. Typically, work is with unrestricted access to areas all over the campus.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to work with a computer for an extended period.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus or attend off-campus meetings/events.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 40 hours per week. Typical work schedule is Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm., although specific schedules may be established with the supervisor. On occasion, there are hours required outside of the standard hours. In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote and fully remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) January 30, 2024.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is GE12.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $90,000-$100,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Equal Pay Act; Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers' Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.

Advertised: January 05, 2024
Applications close: Open until filled

https://jobs.du.edu/en-us/job/497031/program-associate