Dean, School of Law

University of Detroit Mercy, Michigan's largest and most comprehensive Catholic University in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, invites applications and nominations for the position of dean of the School of Law.

For more than a century, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law has educated lawyers who are committed to the pursuit of justice, service to others and the highest standards of the legal profession. Detroit Mercy Law fully embraces the Jesuit and Mercy heritages, welcoming students and faculty of all faith traditions, and emphasizing academic and intellectual excellence and ethical values. Detroit Mercy Law provides an intellectually rigorous education that combines theory, doctrine, ethics, transnational educational opportunities and real-world experience. From its location in the heart of downtown Detroit, Detroit Mercy Law students readily access opportunities to connect with local leaders, community partners, employers and an engaged alumni network more than 8,000 strong.

In addition to the JD program, Detroit Mercy Law offers students access to the JD/MBA program and the Canadian & American Dual JD Program, a collaboration between Detroit Mercy Law and University of Windsor Faculty of Law, which is the only three-year comparative program of its kind in North America.

Detroit Mercy Law has long been a recognized leader in preparing students for the actual practice of law. Detroit Mercy Law has one of the oldest clinical programs in the United States, which dates back to the early 1960’s, well before the ABA mandated experiential credits. Detroit Mercy Law innovated its curriculum and requires every student to complete one clinic and participate in its simulated law firm courses called the Law Firm Program. Detroit Mercy Law has an extensive externship program with close proximity to the courts and multiple Fortune 500 companies.

Founded in 1877 by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), the University of Detroit consolidated in 1990 with Mercy College of Detroit, founded in 1941 by the Religious Sisters of Mercy, to form University of Detroit Mercy. For 18 consecutive years, Detroit Mercy has achieved top tier rankings for Midwest Best Regional Universities in the U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges" edition. Currently, Detroit Mercy is ranked with the top national universities at 179 and is one of four universities in Michigan ranked among the top 200 in the nation. Detroit Mercy offers more than 100 academic degrees and programs of study in seven colleges and schools, including the School of Law.

The dean of Detroit Mercy Law will be a creative, dynamic and ambitious leader with a track record of distinguished accomplishments. This person will possess a real commitment to diversity and inclusion and a genuine understanding and appreciation of the Jesuit and Mercy Catholic traditions and their commitment to intellectual and moral excellence and social justice. The dean will prioritize enhancing academic success and connecting with the university’s alumni and friends to further support the School of Law. Candidates will possess strong financial and administrative experience including managing a financial budget and an effective administrative team combined with a deep commitment to innovation in legal education, student success, faculty development and scholarship. In addition, the successful candidate will have a sophisticated understanding of the changing landscape of legal education and a vision for the School of Law’s role in the future of legal education.

At minimum, applicants will possess a J.D. degree and will have an outstanding record of accomplishment in the legal academy, the practice of law, or the judiciary, demonstrating a level of intellectual leadership and accomplishment warranting appointment at the rank of Professor of Law. She or he will be a successful teacher or mentor, excel at scholarship and research, be a proven manager or administrator, and demonstrate commitment to public service and diversity. For more information, please visit, www.wittkieffer.com.

WittKieffer is assisting University of Detroit Mercy in this search, which will remain open until an appointment is made. All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by January 15, 2021. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Werner Boel, LL.M. & Veena Abraham, J.D.
DetroitMercyLawDean@wittkieffer.com

It is the policy of the University of Detroit Mercy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment. The University will not discriminate in employment on the grounds of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, medical condition or disability. This policy applies to all terms, conditions and privileges of employment including recruitment, hiring, placement, employee development, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline and termination.