Access, Innovation, & Community Engagement (AICE) Director

Who we are and what we do:

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) serves as a trusted resource to assist in improving the administration of justice and promoting confidence in the judiciary. It is the administrative arm of the State's judicial branch, one of the three fundamental divisions of Tennessee state government. The judicial branch provides an essential check on the legislative and executive branches through judicial review. The AOC supports the Tennessee Supreme Court, intermediate appellate courts, trial courts, and courts of limited jurisdiction by managing programs, resources, and operations that enable the courts to function efficiently.

Job Overview

The Access, Innovation, & Community Engagement (AICE) Director is a strategic leader and member of the AOC's Executive Leadership Team who directs the operations of the AICE Division. The AICE Division is the operational arm of the AOC responsible for advancing Tennessee's access to justice agenda, while the Tennessee Access to Justice Commission (ATJC) serves as the advisory body that informs the work. The AICE Director leads AICE Division staff and programs, serves as liaison to and provides administrative support for the ATJC, and partners closely with the Tennessee Supreme Court, judges, court personnel, legal aid and pro bono programs, and community stakeholders statewide. This role requires a forward-thinking, collaborative professional who can translate the changing needs of court users into actionable initiatives that remove barriers to justice.

Key Responsibilities

• Division Leadership: Direct the operations of the AICE Division. Lead, supervise, recruit, evaluate, and develop AICE Division staff. Manage division budget, planning, and reporting.  Ensure divisional program managers perform duties and responsibilities for the following but not limited to:

  • The Rule 31 Mediator Listing Program, including administration, compliance monitoring, and support for mediator applicants and existing listed mediators.

  • The State Interpreter Program, ensuring accurate credentialing, timely service payments and auditing, training coordination, and statewide service quality.

  • Planning, coordination, and execution of Justice Bus events across the state to support access to legal services in underserved communities.

  • The planning, promotion, and execution of statewide pro bono events, working with partners, volunteers, and stakeholders.

  • Development, coordination, and management of all workshops, trainings, and continuing education courses related to the Rule 31 Mediator Program, the State Interpreter Program, Justice Bus events, and statewide pro bono initiatives.

  • Administration of grants for the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) and the Parent Education and Mediation Fund Program, including reporting, compliance, budgeting, and communication with grantees.

  • Accurate records, data tracking, and required documentation for all assigned programs are maintained as directed.

• ATJC Liaison & Administrative Support: Serve as liaison to the Tennessee Access to Justice Commission (ATJC) and provide or oversee administrative support to the Commission, including support for ATJC strategic planning, Commission and committee meetings, working groups, and volunteer activities in furtherance of ATJC priorities approved by the AOC Director and the Tennessee Supreme Court.

• Access to Legal Information: Lead AOC initiatives that provide self-represented litigants with the information, forms, and tools they need to navigate court. Areas include legal information and advice safe-harbor policies, standardized plain-language court forms, court navigator programs, self-help written materials, self-help centers, and self-help digital tools.

• Access to Legal Advice: Build and strengthen partnerships with legal aid organizations, pro bono programs, law school clinics, and the private bar to expand the availability of legal services to Tennesseans. Support rules and policies that incentivize pro bono service and explore the feasibility of authorized justice practitioner programs.

• Access to Court Proceedings & Services: Coordinate initiatives that reduce logistical, financial, language, and disability-related barriers to court participation, including appearance rate interventions, e-reminder programs, remote and hybrid hearing support, language access services, courthouse and digital ADA compliance, and community engagement.

• Simplifying Court Procedures & Innovation: Identify and pilot opportunities to simplify court procedures, modernize workflows, and adopt new technologies that reduce burdens on litigants and court staff, including civil diversion programs, signage and wayfinding improvements, and process simplification initiatives.

• Access to Justice Communications: Oversee and coordinate access to justice communications on behalf of the AOC, ATJC, and Tennessee Supreme Court, including annual social media campaigns for #Help4TN Month (April) and Pro Bono Month (October), and manage civil justice content on the Tennessee Supreme Court and ATJC websites. Collaborate with the AOC Communications team to align ATJ messaging, media engagement, and public outreach on issues that intersect with AICE Division priorities, and partner with the Communications team to amplify ATJ campaigns and stakeholder communications to maximize reach and impact.

• Tennessee Supreme Court ATJ Events: Coordinate and oversee administrative support to the Tennessee Supreme Court for access to justice events, including the Court's annual Pro Bono Recognition Events held in October and the Justice Bus program. Coordinate and assist in planning listening conferences, regional meetings, presentations, and training events that further access to justice in Tennessee.

• Grants & Resource Development: Identify, pursue, and administer grant funding to support AICE programs and innovation initiatives. Proactively monitor and research external grant opportunities, including foundation, federal, and other funding sources, that could expand ATJ project funding. Administer existing grant programs, including those under Rule 11 and the annual registration donation, and manage any future grant award processes on behalf of the ATJC and AOC.

• Research, Evaluation & Reporting: Perform research, analysis, and evaluation of civil justice system processes. Track and report on access to justice outcomes and prepare reports of AICE Division activities for the ATJC, Tennessee Supreme Court, AOC Executive Leadership Team, and the public.

• National & Local Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate with national organizations (such as NCSC, SRLN, and the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants) and local access to justice stakeholders. Provide information on the work of the AICE Division to peer organizations and represent the AOC at relevant national and state convenings.

• Compliance & Accessibility: Ensure that AICE programs and resources comply with applicable state and federal laws, including the ADA, Title VI language access requirements, and WCAG 2.1 digital accessibility standards.

• Executive Collaboration: Serve as a trusted advisor to the AOC Executive Leadership Team, the Tennessee Supreme Court, and the ATJC on access to justice matters.

Required minimum qualifications

Active license to practice law in Tennessee and a minimum of five years of relevant employment experience, with demonstrated leadership, program management, and stakeholder engagement experience. Experience working within a state court system or appearing as counsel regularly is required. Experience working with the Tennessee courts is preferred. A strong commitment to working with underserved and marginalized communities, self-represented litigants, and limited English proficient litigants is required.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong working knowledge of the Tennessee Judicial Branch and the functions of Tennessee courts at all levels.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of court management and operations.

• Skills in program development, implementation, and evaluation.

• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of short-term and long-range project management.

• Ability to coordinate with councils, committees, state agencies, and other organizations.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to use independent judgment within established practice and procedural guidelines.

• Knowledge of and ability to use supervisory principles and practices, including work prioritization and scheduling, employee motivation, and performance evaluations.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and SharePoint. Familiarity with project and data management software used by the AICE Division.

• Must possess a valid driver's license and demonstrate proof of automobile insurance to operate a personal vehicle on state business, as well as maintain a safe driving record.

Physical Requirements & Travel

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time.

• Professional office working environment requires telephone usage and the ability to process written documents.

• Travel within Tennessee is required.

• Out-of-state travel is required, including (but not limited to) the ABA Access to Justice conferences (typically twice annually) and additional access to justice or innovation conferences as appropriate (such as the Rural Justice Conference and the LSC Innovations in Technology Conference).

This position is designed as hybrid.
Starting annual salary: $178,000- $184,000