The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy at UCLA School of Law is seeking a Judicial and Legal Education Director & Scholar (Director) to lead the Institute’s educational programming for judges, lawyers, law students, and the public.
The Williams Institute is the leading research center on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy. The Institute is dedicated to conducting rigorous, independent research and disseminating it to policymakers, judges, the media, and other stakeholders to ensure that decisions impacting the lives of millions of LGBTQI people and families are based on data and facts.
The Director will coordinate and execute the Institute’s judicial education program and educational events for lawyers, researchers, students, and other stakeholders. The Director will also be responsible for running three of the Institute’s premier annual programs: the Williams Institute Moot Court Competition, the Dukeminier Awards Journal, and the Institute’s Annual Update Conference. After the second year in the position, the Director will teach a course at UCLA Law focused on sexual orientation, gender identity, and the law.
The Williams Institute’s Judicial Education Program provides international, state, and federal judges and court personnel with substantive training on legal issues impacting LGBTQI people. Many questions in sexual orientation and gender identity law present relatively new and complex constitutional issues or require knowledge of the most recent empirical research and data. Trainings provide judges with the legal theories and relevant data needed to make decisions regarding these issues.
The Williams Institute hosts several educational events each year for lawyers, researchers, students, and other stakeholders. These events feature our own scholars as well as outside experts in sexual orientation and gender identity law. Through these events, we disseminate our research and provide updates on current law and policy issues facing LGBTQI people.
In addition to coordinating the Judicial Educational Program and our educational events, the Judicial and Legal Education Director & Scholar will be responsible for running the Williams Institute’s Moot Court Program, the Dukeminier Awards Journal, and our Annual Update conference.
• The Williams Institute’s Moot Court Competition is a national competition focused on issues in sexual orientation and gender identity law. Law student competitors from across the country write an appellate brief on a current legal topic and argue the case before a panel of judges.
• The Dukeminier Awards acknowledge the best law review articles concerning sexual orientation and gender identity each year. The Journal provides recognition and support for scholars and students and supplies lawyers, judges, and policymakers with access to the year’s best scholarly materials on the subject.
• The Annual Update is the Williams Institute’s signature event held each spring in Los Angeles. It includes a half-day conference, Gala Awards Reception, and Founders Dinner.
The Judicial and Legal Education Director & Scholar reports directly to the Executive Director of the Williams Institute. The Director will set priorities in consultation with the Legal Director and Executive Director and present periodic progress updates as needed. The Director may supervise Legal Research Fellows, Staff Attorneys, support staff, law student interns and externs, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys who are conducting work related to the Director’s projects.
Minimum requirements include a J.D. degree; an excellent academic record; 12 years of relevant work experience with increasing responsibility; expert knowledge of sexual orientation and gender identity legal and public policy issues; demonstrated leadership in the LGBTQI rights field; commitment to the Williams Institute's mission and passion for improving the lives of LGBTQI people through independent and rigorous research; extensive experience in developing educational content for a wide range of audiences, including judges, students, lawyers, researchers, and/or other groups; strong oral and written communication skills, including excellent prior public speaking experience and work with the media; the ability to talk about legal, policy, and other complex issues in clear, persuasive terms for all audiences; experience in project management and supervision, including working on research projects, trainings, or litigation with a large number of volunteers, attorneys, organizations, and/or pro bono attorneys; and ability to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed to fulfill job responsibilities. Ideal candidates will also have litigation experience, including experience drafting high quality legal briefs and memoranda; experience working with undergraduate students, law students, and/or graduate students in other field; and experience conducting research, providing analysis, and drafting language, to support litigation, regulations, and policy proposals.
This is a full-time, year-round, non-tenure track, academic position. This appointment is subject to the rules and regulations of the Regents of the University of California, which are mostly embodied in The UCLA CALL and the University of California Academic Personnel Manual. (See https://apo.ucla.edu/policies-forms/the-call/an-introduction-to-the-ucla-call; https://apo.ucla.edu/policies-forms/apm.)
See UC Salary Table 34 at https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/compensation/2023-24-academic-salary-scales.html for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $130,000 to $190,000. The salary and level of appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position includes research and travel support.
