New Jersey is facing an eviction crisis, exacerbated by economic disparities and a lack of affordable housing. To address this crisis, the state-sponsored New Jersey Housing Justice Project enlisted Seton Hall Law School to initiate projects aimed at providing legal representation to low- and moderate- income tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Center is currently focused on providing direct legal services to individuals and training students in the best practices for such representation. However, Seton Hall Law recognizes that justice in all areas of law now requires fast and dynamic response, especially as we move to an increasingly digital world. By deploying design methodologies to the legal field, the New Jersey Legal Design Lab at Seton Hall Law School will transform legal education and community outreach by re-thinking and re-designing the way we access and experience the legal system. The first major Lab initiative involves housing justice, with the goal of empowering tenants by providing innovative modes of legal assistance and support that are fully accessible to tenants at all stages of their representation. The goal will be for the Lab’s initiatives to offer high-impact support for New Jersey communities and develop new interventional tools that will complement direct legal services. The Lab will be a site that encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration, applying design methodology to legal problems. We seek to build an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, technology specialists, product designers, engineers and communicators who will work alongside community-based organizations to design, build and test social impact products that enable tenants solve real problems.

Duties and Responsibilities:

To help us on this journey of growth, we are looking for a mid- to senior-level project manager and/or product designer to join our team. Our ideal candidate is a collaborative professional with a strong foundation in user experience design and systems-oriented design who has product expertise in developing engaging and effective technology and learning experiences. Additionally, the candidate should have an entrepreneurial spirit and be willing to wear many hats – collaborate with law school students and faculty, engage a diverse range of community-based clients, and execute day-to-day operations in accordance with a long-term vision of the Lab. The candidate will manage the conceptualization, design, development, and implementation of projects at the Lab. The Director will:

• Work collaboratively with the New Jersey Housing Justice Project, Seton Hall Law faculty and community organizers to envision and implement the New Jersey Legal Design Lab at Seton Hall Law School.
• Employ design principles to analyze New Jersey housing needs and trends, utilizing input from community organizations and groups, bar associations, student groups, and the judiciary as well as statistical data and reports on effective advocacy in housing justice, to inform the strategy of the New Jersey Legal Design Lab at Seton Hall Law School.
• Creatively engage the community in legal empowerment and housing justice.
• Collaborate with Seton Hall Law leaders and faculty to develop frameworks for teaching and learning that change the way that faculty, students & staff think and learn about interdisciplinary legal research and design initiatives.
• Develop, direct, and manage the digital initiatives of the New Jersey Legal Design Lab at Seton Hall Law School.
• Represent the New Jersey Legal Design Lab at Seton Hall Law School at meetings, training, workshops, and bar association events, some of which will be in the evening or on weekends.
• Communicate through writings, presentation and media about the work and achievements of the New Jersey Legal Design Lab at Seton Hall Law School.
• Partner with external and internal clients to develop, facilitate, and execute projects and to provide strategic, research-based guidance to clients for unique access to justice challenges.

This is a grant-funded position. Continuation of the position is tied to the availability of grant funds.

Required Qualifications:

• Degree in relevant field, including project management, community development, design, computer science, human computer interaction, or other field that relates to the work of the New Jersey Legal Design Lab at Seton Hall Law School.
• Three to five (3-5) years of experience in a design studio environment or similar framework.
• Excellent communication and business development skills.
• Familiarity with legal design, systems design, and design thinking.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working in a legal environment and/or possesses J.D.
• Experience working with tenant advocates

Please Note: Candidates that do not meet all the qualifications, but who may still be the right fit, are encouraged to apply.

Salary Grade:

AD210 - Administrative

Exempt/Nonexempt:

Exempt

Physical Demands:

General Office Environment

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please include a portfolio and/or an example of a relevant design project, business plan, or similar project that highlights your skills and talents. Candidates may include a personal statement of how their life experiences have prepared them to work with diverse colleagues and serve diverse populations in housing justice.

Seton Hall University is committed to programs of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and the principles of affirmative action.