Project Director, Youth Justice Navigator - Southwestern Law School : Job Details

Project Director, Youth Justice Navigator

Southwestern Law School

The Youth Justice Navigator is a new project at Southwestern Law School. Funded by a $1.35 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Southwestern Law School is developing the Youth Justice Navigator (YJN)—a digital platform designed to simplify legal processes, improve outcomes, and empower youth and their families. Led by Southwestern Professor Jyoti Nanda, the project is a collaboration with UCLA School of Law and involves formerly incarcerated youth as key contributors. The app and website aim to provide accessible legal knowledge in multiple languages to help Los Angeles County's youth and families understand their rights and make informed decisions in the juvenile legal system.

The Project Director of the Youth Justice Navigator (YJN) will manage the creation and execution of a web-based platform for a 3-year fixed time period from the hire date. This is an exempt and hybrid position with remote and on-campus work required.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Ensure the successful execution of the project
• Development and testing of the app, training of defense attorneys in using the app, and providing technical assistance to scale the app to jurisdictions outside of Los Angeles
• Interview, hire, train, and supervise sub-contractors working to execute the project
• Directly manage and supervise sub-contractors, consultants, and support staff
• Work closely with youth and community experts to assess the platform's effectiveness
• Develop and update the legal content of the app
• Weekly and as-needed check-ins with the YJN Faculty Director
• Maintain practical community outreach efforts to raise awareness of YJN
• Maintain an organized database of records
• Oversee and manage the budget to monitor expenses and ensure compliance with approved budgets
• Participate as a grant reporting liaison with UCLA

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree
• J.D., preferred California Bar License
• Minimum of five years post-licensure experience
• Expertise in criminal law, juvenile/youth law, and knowledge of California juvenile law and procedure
• Experience working closely with system-impacted community members and organizations

Required Skills

• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Working knowledge of community resources that address the special needs of the client base
• Ability to be flexible and work in a changing environment
• Ability to work varied hours, including occasional evenings, nights, and weekends
• Sensitivity to the different cultures represented among the clients, families, and staff
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Strong leadership skills to supervise consultants and contractors
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Familiarity with participatory defense methods
• Knowledge or expertise in the technical aspects of app development is not required but is helpful

Salary: $90,000/YR - $100,000/YR

Benefits: This position is eligible for Southwestern's employee benefits for the duration of the employment period, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement.

To Apply:

Submit the following in a PDF packet to [email protected]. For full consideration, materials must be submitted by January 10, 2024.

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General Counsel

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Los Angeles, CA 90010

(213) 738–6626