Job Description

Description:

Assistant/Associate Director

Career Services

Position Summary:

Vermont Law and Graduate School is excited to announce an opportunity to join our tightknit, student-focused Career Services team. We are looking for an Assistant or Associate Director, experience dependent, to work with students on academic, professional, and career development. Located on the bank of the White River in South Royalton, Vermont Law and Graduate School is a mission-driven institution with a strong environmental and social justice focus. Our students are diverse, passionate, and driven.

As part of the Career Services team the primary focus will be working closely with students to prepare them for the legal job market across a wide range of legal and law-related practice settings. You will be joining a collaborative and experienced office sincere in our desire to ensure the success of our students.

The Assistant/Associate Director works with the other members of the Career Services staff to perform the critical functions of the office, with primary focus on career counseling of JD and Joint degree students and alumni; career-related programming for all JD degree students; outreach to potential JD degree employers, and office administration relating to employment outcomes for JD degree students. The position has a special focus on planning and coordinating student programming (OCS information sessions, professional skill development, employer info sessions) primarily for 1L and 2L students. Often this means working with students one-on-one or in small group settings to secure summer positions, map out career/professional plans, develop application materials, prepare for interviews, and many other areas.

A hybrid work schedule will be considered for the right candidate.

Essential Functions and Principal Accountabilities:

Career Counselor (50%)

• Meet with JD students regarding summer and post-graduate employment.
• Advise students on aspects of the legal job market, legal profession, and law related practice settings.
• Advise students on professionalism and application strategy.
• Help students evaluate and navigate difficult decisions.
• Provide students with realistic perspective (kindly and tactfully).
• Advise students on strategies to best utilize their time at VLGS.
• Advise on how to maximize educational experience while working towards the goal of professional/career development.
• Answer general questions and direct students to appropriate departments and offices if more detailed information is needed.
• Review/edit resumes, cover letters, writing samples, and other application materials.
• Review/edit materials for student applications (with Recruitment Coordinator).
• Fall semester - collect/organize all 1L resumes (with Program Coordinator).
• Coordinate the review of all 1L resumes (with all JD counselors).
• Meet with all 1L students at least once during the first two semesters (with Director).
• Record basic information and plans regarding geography, areas of interest, and other information that will be helpful for the office and advising.
• Track & record employment data \xe2\x80\x93 follow office reporting procedure when a student has a summer or post-graduate position.

Programming Lead (25%)

• Plan, coordinate, and present/host information sessions, professional development, and alumni/employer talks (supported by Director and other OCS staff).
• Including 1L, 2L information sessions; resume/cover letter/application development, and a variety of other sessions throughout the year.
• Coordinate the 1L Mock Interview Program.
• Arrange space, interviewers, materials, and other requirements for 1L mock interviews at the end of January (nn 2021 & 2022 it was all virtual. This past year it was hybrid).

Employer Relations (10%)

• Meet with past employers to maintain and promote the hiring of VLGS students for summer and post-graduation positions.
• Seek out and develop relationships with employers with positions and opportunities suitable for our student body and/or a particular set of students.
• Work closely with Recruitment Coordinator to track and secure job postings.
• Collaborate with other departments (Alumni, Externships\xe2\x80\xa6) to support and build relationships with employers and alumni.

Symplicity Administrator (10%)

• Be familiar with the operation/administration of Symplicity (OCS Employer Database).
• Upload and manage student and employer information.
• Regularly update and maintain data.
• Provide backup for Recruitment Coordinator.
• Other tasks as needed.

Social Media Account Support (5%)

• Monitor and assist Program Coordinator with OCS Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media accounts.
• Provide Program Coordinator with potential jobs for posting and occasionally post positions as needed.

OCS Representative on the Student Services Committee (<1%)

• Regularly attend meetings and update the committee on OCS activities.
• Report back details from other departments relevant to OCS.

Requirements:

Required Education, Skills and Experience:

• Experience in career services, legal recruitment, or law school administration preferred.
• JD required. Non-JD applicants with a strong background working in a law environment may be considered.
• Professional experience in legal or other business fields required.
• Understanding of and appreciation for inclusion, including the ability to work with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds, identities, and viewpoints.
• Knowledge of strategies, methods, and procedures for seeking professional legal employment, including familiarity with the legal employment market.
• Knowledge of the environmental law and policy or restorative justice fields beneficial.
• Ability to plan, coordinate and lead programs of varying lengths.
• Ability to communicate with students in groups and in one-on-one sessions.
• Knowledge of legal employers and their hiring needs.
• Ability to prioritize work, multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Strong problem solving, communication, interpersonal and organization skills.
• Team player with strong collaborative skills.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule (occasionally outside normal business hours) and to travel at times throughout the year.

Other Requirements:

• Proficiency in an MS-Windows based environment.
• Must be able to adapt to new and emerging technology as established and communicated by the law school.
• Familiarity with Symplicity or similar software is beneficial but not required.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines and reorganize under pressure.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Must be able to work legally within the United States without sponsorship.
• Physical ability to perform all essential functions of the job with or without basic accommodations.

Application Requirements:

Please attach a resume and cover letter for consideration. If you are applying from a third party website (Indeed, etc.) and are unable to attach additional materials to your online application, please apply directly at or email required documents to Christine Moyer, cmoyer@vermontlaw.edu.

Note: All job requirements are subject to possible revision to reflect changes in the position requirements or to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a threat or risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. Employees may be required, from time to time, to follow other job-related duties as requested by their Department Head, Supervisor, Dean, or as outlined in the Faculty Handbook (within guidelines and compliance with Federal and State Laws). Continued employment remains on an at-will basis.

PI224965385

Vermont Law School