Executive Director, John and Terry Levin Center Public Service and Public Interest Law, Sta.

Overview

The John and Terry Levin Center for Public Service and Public Interest Law at Stanford Law School seeks an Executive Director. This is a full-time, fixed-term position for two years with the possibility of renewal. The ideal start date is January 2026. Stanford Law School supports flexible work arrangements and the position offers a hybrid schedule of up to 2 days of telecommuting per week, with additional on-campus presence for programs and events as necessary.

Final date to receive applications:
November 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; early applications are encouraged.

Reports to:

Associate Dean for Public Service and Public Interest Law. The Levin Center has a 6-member team and focuses on promoting public service within the legal profession through programs, events, workshops, curricular planning, student and alumni engagement, and external partnerships.

The Executive Director develops strategy to increase student involvement in the Center’s work and leads, implements, and administers academic and student-facing programs that promote engagement with public service opportunities, internships, and careers. The Executive Director serves as an expert advisor to faculty and staff and participates in strategy development, long-range planning, and partnership development.

• Provide career counseling to Stanford law students and alumni.
• Develop, implement, and manage Center programs, including the SLS Postgraduate Fellows Program, the Public Interest/Public Service Mentoring Program, and the Visiting Public Interest Practitioner Program.
• Review programming results, make program improvement recommendations, and implement them.
• Partner with the Associate Dean on strategic planning and lead operational support for the Center.
• Oversee all operational aspects of the Center with support from the Program Manager.
• Teach 1-2 courses per year (including Public Interest Practice Overview), develop curriculum, prepare course syllabi, and recruit speakers as needed.
• Research and write content for courses.
• Develop the external outreach strategy with alumni and employers.
• Conduct research to support development of the public interest legal sector, including community building and engagement through writing and producing the Center’s newsletter.
• Directly supervise the Program Manager.

• Juris Doctor degree and at least three years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and relevant experience. Experience practicing as an attorney in nonprofits, governments or their subsidiaries, or private public interest firms. Experience developing training, workshops, events, and program partnerships. Experience mentoring young attorneys or law students.

• Ability to develop programs and partnerships.
• Excellent oral, written, and analytical skills, with fluency in the legal non-profit/public interest space.
• Ability to envision and implement programs, workshops, trainings, and events for adult learners.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to oversee and direct staff and build effective teams.
• Ability to manage budgets and develop financial plans.
• Advanced capacity to manage time and multiple tasks simultaneously.

• 7 or more years of experience as a public interest attorney.
• Experience in an educational environment with undergraduate or graduate students.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
• Sensitivity to the diversity of the student body and career interests.
• Sense of humor and ability to work effectively as a team member.

Please submit a: (1) resume, (2) a list of three professional references, and (3) a cover letter with responses to the following questions:

• Why are you interested in stepping into this kind of position?
• If you could go back in time, what programs or support would you have wanted as a public interest law student?
• Describe your experience working with individuals with identities different from yours and your approach to bridging differences (e.g., class, race, ethnicity, political opinion, physical or mental ability, gender identity,…