For nearly 40 years, nonprofit AccessLex Institute® has been partnering with our member institutions – the nearly 200 state-affiliated and nonprofit ABA-approved law schools – to meet the ever-changing needs and challenges of law students and the legal education community we serve. From providing free resources for every step of the law school journey to maximizing the value and affordability of a law degree through research and policy advocacy, we exist to increase access and further the success of aspiring lawyers from admission to law school to admission to the bar. Helix Bar Review is our latest service in pursuit of our nonprofit mission – empowering the next generation of lawyers.
AccessLex combines mission-driven work with long-term financial strength. Backed by nearly $1 billion in net assets that funds a $40+ million annual operating budget, we’re built to advance our mission for the long haul, and we accomplish this by investing in the resources, programs, and personnel that ensure sustained growth and furtherance of our organizational goals. Learn more at AccessLex.org and HelixBarReview.org.
This is remote position; however, incumbent is expected to work 8:15am-5pm eastern regardless of time zone residing in as work is currently team/project based. Annual salary is $100,000-105,000. Please submit a cover letter.
Job Summary: The Senior Research Methodologist is a key member of the Research Programs department— the Center for Legal Education Excellence — responsible for strengthening the methodological rigor, credibility, and strategic value of the Center’s research. The position provides methodological guidance across quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research; designs and executes advanced research and evaluation approaches; and advises internal colleagues, grantees, law school partners, and other stakeholders on research design, data analysis, interpretation, and communication of findings.
The role supports AccessLex Institute’s research agenda by leading and shaping complex research initiatives related to law school access, academic and bar success, and the value of legal education. The Senior Research Methodologist manages multiple research projects with limited oversight; supervises, coaches, and develops research analysts; produces polished, publication-ready work products; and contributes to the development and execution of the Center’s long-term research plans.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Lead and substantially shape research initiatives that advance empirical understanding of law school access, academic and bar success, and the value of legal education.
- Lead or co-lead multiple research projects with limited oversight, including the development of research questions, analytic plans, project timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder-facing materials.
- Manage 1-2 research analysts, including assigning work, setting expectations, providing feedback, and supporting professional development.
- Design and execute advanced quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research strategies, including appropriate model specification, robustness checks, sensitivity analyses, and documentation of analytic decisions.
- Devise, implement, and document quality assurance procedures for data collection, data management, statistical analysis, visualization, and written research products.
- Produce clear, accurate, and compelling tables, figures, dashboards, and graphical displays for technical and nontechnical audiences.
- Prepare or lead the preparation of technical reports, briefs, white papers, presentations, and other research products that clearly and accurately communicate methods, findings, limitations, and implications.
- Coach Research team on research design, statistical methods, sampling, measurement, and data interpretation.
- Provide methodological consultation to colleagues, grantees, law school partners, and other stakeholders; help ensure that research designs and analytic approaches are rigorous, feasible, and aligned with project goals.
- Represent the Center in external meetings, client or stakeholder debriefs, professional conferences, and relevant industry events, in coordination with the Director, Research.
- Contribute to the development and execution of the Center’s multi-year research plan, including identifying and proposing new areas of study that advance the Center’s research agenda and align with AccessLex Institute’s strategic priorities.
- Support the development and maintenance of research evidence and data resources, including internal repositories and public-facing tools that advance AccessLex Institute’s research objectives.
- Other duties as assigned.
Candidate Requirements:
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) – To succeed in the Senior Research Methodologist position, candidates should possess the following KSAs:
- REQUIRED
- Advanced knowledge of research design, evaluation design, and applied statistical methodology, including the ability to select methods that are appropriate to specific research questions, data structures, and inferential goals.
- Strong command of multivariate and related statistical methods, with the ability to design and execute complex quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies with limited oversight.
- Advanced proficiency in statistical programming and reproducible analysis using R or comparable statistical software such as Stata, SAS, SPSS, or Python.
- Ability to assess the validity, reliability, limitations, and policy relevance of research findings.
- Ability to design and implement quality assurance procedures for data collection, data management, statistical analysis, visualization, and written research products.
- Ability to manage, supervise, coach, and support the professional development of research analysts, including analysts serving as direct reports.
- Superior project and time management skills, including the ability to oversee multiple research initiatives, prioritize independently, and deliver high-quality work products on schedule.
- Strong presentation skills, including the ability to advise internal and external stakeholders on research design, analysis, interpretation, and appropriate use of findings.
- Ability to translate complex methods and findings into clear, accurate, and actionable language for technical, policy, practitioner, and lay audiences.
- Strong written communication skills, including the ability to independently produce technical documentation, research reports, briefs, and presentation materials.
- Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability to anticipate methodological, analytic, operational, and interpretive challenges.
- Superior attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor.
- Commitment to advancing access, affordability, and value in legal education.
- PREFERRED
- Knowledge of higher education policy, legal education policy, and student financial aid policy, particularly for graduate and professional students.
- Experience with advanced methods relevant to education, policy, or social science research, such as causal inference, quasi-experimental designs, hierarchical or multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, longitudinal modeling, missing data methods, survey weighting, or measurement development.
- Knowledge and understanding of data equity and inclusive approaches to research and evaluation.
- Experience developing data visualizations, dashboards, or other visual products that communicate complex findings clearly.
- Experience publishing, presenting, or otherwise disseminating original research to academic, policy, practitioner, or public audiences.
- Experience facilitating methodological training or internal learning sessions.
- Public speaking and presentation skills.
- BACKGROUND EXPERIENCES. The following are required unless otherwise noted:
- Master’s degree in higher education, education policy, economics, public policy, sociology, statistics, data science, quantitative methods, evaluation, or a related field required; doctoral degree preferred.
- Minimum of five years of related applied research experience for candidates with a master’s degree, or three years of related applied research experience for candidates with a doctoral degree.
- Demonstrated experience supervising staff or leading project teams.
- Demonstrated experience designing and leading original research or evaluation studies.
- Demonstrated experience applying advanced statistical or mixed-methods approaches to policy, education, social science, or related research questions.
- Demonstrated experience using R or comparable statistical software to conduct reproducible analyses.
- Experience writing technical reports, research briefs, white papers, or peer-reviewed publications.
- Experience presenting research findings to technical and nontechnical audiences.
- Experience working in higher education, legal education, student financial aid, or education policy preferred.
Position Type / Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time, exempt position located in Washington, DC. The incumbent is expected to be present and accessible for at least 40 hours per week, subject to approved leave time, travel and other absences as described in the Employee Handbook or as otherwise agreed by the Company. The Company’s standard hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: AccessLex Institute provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law.