SENIOR CAREER COUNSELOR

The University of Washington School of Law is seeking a Senior Career Counselor.

Student and Career Services (SCS) staff work holistically and build connections with students to provide customized advice, strategy, and support to students during law school, as they enter the work force and in subsequent career transitions.

The Senior Career Counselor is responsible for: developing effective working relationships with students, alumni, faculty, and employers; identifying and fostering employment opportunities for students and graduates; creating, implementing, and managing events, programs, and outreach materials in support of the SCS office; and leading, designing, organizing, and hosting customized career programming.  The individual in this position must possess a depth of knowledge, skills, and expertise in career coaching, as well as strong familiarity with the legal industry and hiring practices and requirements of legal employers.

The person in this Senior Career Counselor title must possess professional acumen and be adept at building professional connections with both internal and external stakeholders. This role involves a substantial amount of collaboration with colleagues in various institutional departments in a wide range of positions and levels of authority, and thus it is imperative that the Senior Career Counselor be comfortable working with teams small and large, be an effective communicator and collaborator, and be highly organized. They must also be able to advise and prepare students for making informed career decisions and participating in an effective job search.

The Senior Career Counselor must be able to make independent decisions and recommendations in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. The individual must remain aware of rapidly changing challenges and opportunities and use a specialized understanding of legal education and law-related professions to provide academic and career coaching to law students and alumni across a variety of professional programs and diverse backgrounds. The Senior Career Counselor is expected to take a lead role in developing relationships with potential employers as well as in developing and managing substantial career-related programming for students. The person in this position will be expected to anticipate issues as they arise and independently troubleshoot concerns, including those related to event and program planning, vendor contracts and registration, student or employer needs, etc. The Senior Career Counselor may delegate and review work from other SCS staff.

This role is essential to furthering the law school’s academic mission through career coaching, outreach, communication, reporting and programming. The position has a direct impact on the professional trajectory of graduate and professional law students, playing a key role in student success and in the reputation and national ranking of the School of Law. The position will have a far-reaching impact on the School of Law and the University of Washington in the areas of student services, as well as alumni, community, and public relations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Advising and Counseling (50%)
• Coach and advise current law students about potential career paths and academic options, how to create effective job application materials, and how to develop strong networking and interviewing skills.
• Manage and implement tasks related to the oversight of career services, counseling, and engagement with the employer community.
• Serve as a resource to and liaise with students, faculty, law school and university constituents regarding SCS initiatives.
• Help students build communities.

Program Management (30%)
• Assist the Assistant Dean with development, implementation, and management of the reporting of graduate employment data, including implementation and oversight of data tools and resources.
• Manage strategic initiatives, such as recruiting, networking, and outreach events.
• Develop and produce programs and presentations aimed at preparing students for career selection, job search, networking, interviewing, and professional development.
• Carry out short-term and long-term strategic planning and make recommendations regarding program changes and measurable outcomes.

Outreach (15%)
• Market the law school, students, and graduates to local, regional, national, and international employers to develop additional employment opportunities.
• Act as a lead contact for judicial clerkship programming and coaching, and maintain regular communication with the law school’s graduate program staff and other student services offices.
• Maintain contact and outreach for private firms of all sizes.
• Outreach with individual attorneys, state and local bar associations, and the broader community to facilitate professional connections and employment opportunities for students and alumni. 

General Administrative Support (5%)
• Coordinate and carry-out administrative tasks for SCS, as needed.
• Track student and graduate engagement with SCS.

Required
• Bachelor’s degree.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience (or 2 years with J.D.) in any of the following: law firm, public agency, non-profit organization, educational institution, professional recruiting, or functional equivalent. An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the stated requirements.
• Experience providing academic and/or career counseling.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Sensitivity and experience successfully working with diverse communities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Skilled at conducting work professionally and effectively under the pressure of frequent deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, problem solve, take initiative, set priorities, and handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively.
• Skilled at and comfortable with cultivating a collaborative and teamwork environment.
• May be required to work evenings and weekends to meet with students, for special events, or to meet deadlines.

DESIRED:
• Juris Doctor.
• Familiarity with current legal job market.
• Previous experience in recruiting, law, career or academic counseling, or higher education.
• Previous experience in marketing, workshop planning, or higher education administration.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.