Assistant Director, School of Law Office of Career & Professional Development

Job Description Summary

The Assistant Director provides expert career advice and counseling to students in the JD program. The Assistant Director is responsible for the career advising needs of an assigned number of students in each Juris Doctor (JD) class, from admission to at least one year following graduation. In addition to individual advising and counseling, the Assistant Director teaches in the 1L Professional Development course. The Assistant Director works individually with each student on all aspects of career planning, helps implement OCPD programming, facilitates workshops and events, and helps maintain detailed employment data.

Job Description

* This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non-immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

Essential Functions:

Career Counseling

• Meet individually with each student to assess career goals and discuss job search strategy.
• Meet with students/recent graduates at regular intervals during the three years of law school and after graduation to track career goals, answer questions, discuss strategy, and encourage progress.
• Review and edit student application materials including resumes, cover letters, writing samples and references.
• Administer and review self-assessment instruments with students.
• Prepare students for interviews and conduct mock interviews.
• Follow up and conduct regular check ins with students to ensure needs are being met
• Maintain records of counseling meetings.

Teaching & Educational Programming

• Teach assigned sections of 1L Professional Development class.
• Work with Associate Director, OCPD staff, and/or student organizations to plan and execute workshops and events relevant to career planning and professional development.
• Communicate with alumni and other practitioners to participate in programming, moderate panel discussions on relevant topics.
• Create innovative multimedia workshops and educational tools for students.
• Maintain and update online Career Planning Guide, including annual review of resources, making edits and additions to topics and resources as needed.

Alumni/Employer Outreach

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with alumni, practitioners, and potential employers to aid students in growing their own professional networks.
• Attend bar meetings, alumni events, and other industry-relevant networking opportunities and represent Wake Forest Law.
• Correspond with employers about job openings, hiring, and programming opportunities.
• Utilize CRM and other data management systems to collect and store information obtained via outreach efforts.

Data Management

• Review and understand annual ABA reporting obligations and any changes in specific reporting guidelines to ensure compliance.
• Work closely with OCPD team to collect, review, and update graduate employment data.

Industry/Market Research

• Review relevant publications and resources on a regular basis to stay abreast of trends in the legal industry job market.
• Attend webinars and professional programming on industry-relevant topics.
• Attend NALP and other industry conferences.
• Participate in professional organizations including legal recruiting consortia, bar associations, and NALP section groups.
• Monitor employment data both specific to Wake Forest Law and nationally to evaluate trends, understand the market, and inform programming and counseling.

Other Functions:

• May perform additional or other work as assigned.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• JD and 3 years relevant experience.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Experience in higher education, teaching, or working as a counselor.

Accountabilities:

• Responsible for own work.