"Director for Career Services"

Job Details

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The Director for Career Services within the Law School Career Services Department reports directly to the Assistant Dean of Career Services. This role is primarily responsible for leading employer outreach and recruitment strategy, counseling students and alumni on career development, cultivating relationships with legal employers and professional associations, coordinating recruitment programs and career events, and supporting the overall operations and programming of Career Services. The ideal candidate will possess a J.D., experience navigating the legal employment landscape, strong relationship-building skills, and familiarity with legal recruitment and career programming. To be successful in this position, the individual must excel at strategic outreach, student advising, program development, community engagement, data tracking and reporting, and managing multiple initiatives with strong organizational and technical skills.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Student & Alumni Career Advising

• Advise Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.), and Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) students and alumni on career strategy across private practice, public interest, public service, judicial clerkships, and law-adjacent fields.
• Guide students and alumni in pursuing internships, fellowships, and post-graduate employment opportunities.
• Teach career-focused sessions within the Foundations of Legal Practice course.
• Foster student leadership and connect students with specialty bars and professional associations to expand professional networks.

Employer Relations & Recruitment Strategy

• Develop and execute employer outreach strategies to expand employment and networking opportunities for students and alumni.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with attorneys, legal employers, bar associations, and professional organizations.
• Represent the law school at conferences, community events, and professional gatherings to enhance institutional visibility.
• Coordinate partnerships with organizations such as the Oregon Minority Lawyers Association, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, and New Lawyers Division.

Recruitment Programs & Career Programming

• Design and implement recruitment initiatives, including career fairs and on-campus interview programs.
• Coordinate participation in programs such as the Presidential Management Fellows Program, Loyola Patent Interview Program, Oregon State Bar Diversity Employment Programs, and diversity scholarship initiatives.
• Develop and deliver workshops, panels, and career exploration programming that connect students with attorneys and prospective employers.
• Manage publicity, outreach, and registration processes for career-related events and initiatives.

Student Organization & Public Interest Engagement

• Serve as Staff Advisor to the Public Interest Law Project (PILP).
• Partner with student organizations to plan and implement community service and pro bono initiatives.
• Support fundraising activities, including the annual PILP Auction, and oversee stipend distribution processes.

Career Services Operations & Data Management

• Manage operational functions of the Career Services office, including administration of the Career Connect database and student communications.
• Utilize career services software such as 12Twenty, video conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Google Workspace tools, and Microsoft Office Suite to support advising and programming.
• Collect and analyze student and graduate employment data for reporting and assessment purposes.
• Serve as liaison to law school committees and professional associations, and participate on advisory boards when invited.

Other Duties as Assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & BEHAVIORS

• Superior knowledge of legal career pathways, including private practice, public interest, public service, judicial clerkships, and law-adjacent roles
• Proficient knowledge of the Portland and regional legal employment market, including bar associations and specialty practice groups
• Excellent understanding of recruitment strategy, employer engagement, and career services programming within a higher education or legal setting
• Proficient use of career services management platforms such as 12Twenty and data tracking systems for employment reporting
• Proficient use of Zoom, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office Suite to support communication, event coordination, and data management
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills that foster trust with students, alumni, employers, and community partners
• Superior written and verbal communication skills that convey complex information clearly and professionally
• Extremely strong organizational skills that prioritize multiple initiatives and maintain attention to detail
• Excellent analytical skills that interpret employment data and inform strategic decisions
• Proficient independent judgment that advances institutional goals while supporting student and alumni success
• Superior initiative and follow-through that sustain long-term employer and community partnerships
• Excellent collaboration skills that strengthen partnerships across departments, professional associations, and student organizations
• Extremely high level of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment in sensitive or confidential matters
• Proficient adaptability that responds effectively to evolving employment trends and institutional priorities
• Excellent commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace culture where individuals of all identities and backgrounds feel respected, supported, and valued

REQUIRED EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school (OR) experience working in legal recruiting, attorney hiring, or professional recruitment environments.
• One year of legal experience, which may include judicial clerkship experience or comparable legal practice experience that informs career advising and understanding of legal employment pathways
• Professional experience engaging with legal employers, attorneys, or professional associations in a manner that demonstrates knowledge of legal hiring practices and career progression

PREFERRED EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

• Two years of experience practicing law or serving as a judicial law clerk
• Experience working in higher education settings
• Familiarity with regional and national legal employment markets, including private practice, public interest, public service, and judicial clerkship pathways
• Lewis & Clark Law School alumni
• Preferred Tech: Familiarity with enterprise student and career systems such as Colleague, Slate, Taskstream, and similar higher education platforms

WORK SCHEDULE

• Full Time, Benefit Eligible
• Schedule: 37.5 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday during traditional business hours. Requires regular evening and occasional weekend hours to support events, programming, and employer engagement activities.(default for full time is 37.5 hours per week Mon-Fri)
• Travel: Occasional local, regional, and national travel to attend conferences, professional meetings, recruitment events, and employer outreach activities.
• Hybrid/Remote: This position is primarily in person and based on campus. Limited hybrid flexibility may be available in alignment with departmental needs and institutional policy.

PAY RATE

• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Starting at $70,000 per year, with consideration for experience