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As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
The Assistant Director of Professional Development is an important leader within the Office of Student and Career Services (SCS) at the UW School of Law (UW Law). UW Law’s mission is to serve and educate students to be leaders who are deeply committed to creating a fair, just and vibrant society, locally and globally. SCS is the central hub for career-related and professional development events and programming, career coaching, academic advising, pro bono services, and leadership development at UW Law. SCS strives to empower students to pursue careers across the full spectrum of opportunities and to make public service, equity, and inclusion an integral feature of their professional lives.
As part of SCS, the Assistant Director of Professional Development will provide specialized career coaching and academic advising to law students and alumni. The Assistant Director of Professional Development will leverage a depth of knowledge, skills, and expertise in or related to legal education and the legal market necessary to: provide customized career coaching, advice, strategy and support to law students and alumni; develop effective working relationships with students, alumni, faculty, and employers; and create and facilitate programming and events involving diverse stakeholders.
The Assistant Director of Professional Development is a key public-facing role in SCS responsible for building connections with individual lawyers, law firms, corporate legal departments, non-profit organizations, judges, government agencies, professional organizations, and other potential employers. The individual in this position must have a professional demeanor, have knowledge of the concerns, requirements, hiring procedures, and professional expectations of legal employers, particularly private-sector employers, and must also understand the changing challenges and opportunities for students, legal education, the legal profession, and the larger community. The position requires a compassionate, supportive, and mentor-focused disposition.
The individual in this position must make independent decisions and recommendations in a fast-paced, rapidly changing, high-pressure environment and may supervise or oversee the work of one or more staff.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Advising and Coaching
• Provide career coaching, mentoring, and academic advising to students and alumni, providing a tailored approach based on familiarity with legal market hiring and professional norms and expectations.
• Lead, plan, manage, and participate in trainings, programming, presentations, panels, workshops, career fairs, and other events related to professional development and career opportunities.
• Develop and facilitate student and alumni networking opportunities, including through partnerships with employers, professional organizations, affinity groups, faculty, staff, student organizations, and other campus units.
• Develop resources and tools to facilitate career search and professional development.
• Facilitate and support collaboration and community within the law school, across the wider university, and with external stakeholders.
Outreach
• Market the law school, students, and graduates to local, regional, national, and international employers to develop additional employment opportunities.
• Partner and maintain regular communication with the law school’s graduate and specialty program staff, externship director, and other student services offices.
• Foster relationships with the legal community and partner with state and local bar associations to increase engagement with the law school and law students.
• Maintain and support professional relationships between SCS and employers.
• Increase breadth and depth of employment opportunities and recruiting employers, particularly in the private sector.
Program Management
• Develop, implement, and manage programs and events that support networking and programming in the areas of professional development and career services, including, for example, mentorship programs and networking events.
• Position will carry out short-term and long-term strategic planning and make recommendations regarding program changes with measurable outcomes.
General Administrative Support
• Carry-out administrative tasks as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
• J.D. degree.
• A minimum of 4 years working as an attorney, with a preference for at least some private sector (e.g., law firm or corporate legal department) employment.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Knowledge of law-related career paths, hiring practices, and professional norms and expectations.
• Demonstrated project or program management experience.
• Sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work with diverse communities.
• Excellent interpersonal and oral, written, presentation, and communication skills, particularly in the public speaking and presentation context.
• Ability to work as part of a team and exhibit skills such as diplomacy, tact, discretion, and interest in collaboration; positive attitude is a must.
• Ability to work independently, problem-solve, take initiative, and handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends; must be willing to travel.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE
• Familiarity with the Washington legal job market.
• Previous experience in more than one legal sector (e.g., non-profit and law firm)
• Previous experience in recruiting, career counseling, marketing, workshop planning or higher education administration.
• Previous experience in online marketing and facility with generating newsletters, marketing materials, and programmatic communications.
• Demonstrated social networking experience and knowledge of online marketing.
• Experience with or knowledge of non-JD graduate legal education, international student concerns and challenges, and JD-Advantage job opportunities.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.