Assistant Director for JD Advising

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Why join Harvard Law School?

Join a community that combines excellence in legal education and scholarship with a deep commitment to justice. Here at Harvard Law School (HLS), you’ll find an environment that values who you are and encourages you to grow, inspire others, and make a meaningful impact. Wherever you are in your career journey, HLS is a place where you can thrive, contribute, and be part of something bigger.

The Office of Career Services (OCS) provides a comprehensive range of career development services for Harvard Law School’s student and alumni populations. OCS focuses on advising students on private sector employment and judicial clerkships. This position interacts extensively with highly talented students, participates in the design and delivery of career development initiatives, works collaboratively with a dynamic and creative career services staff, and is involved in the day-to-day operations of a vital and fast-paced student services team.   

As Assistant Director for JD Advising you will:

• Provide career counseling to JD students across their 3-year HLS experience with a focus on the private sector including careers in “BigLaw,” law firms of all sizes, paths to in-house counsel roles, and business careers. 
• Meet one-on-one with a large volume of students to serve as trusted adviser and subject matter expert on private sector career trajectories, national and global legal markets, legal practice areas, recruiting timelines and strategies, interviewing skills, materials development, and overall support of students’ short- and long-term career goals.  
• Plan, develop, and implement large and small-scale programming and workshops.  
• Collect and analyze student recruitment data to track student progress and evaluate real-time needs during a busy recruiting cycle. 
• Areas of responsibility may include programming on professional development, advising on private sector legal careers outside of BigLaw, including boutique law firms, plaintiffs’ firms, and mission-driven firms, and advising on alternatives to legal careers including non-law jobs in the business sector.  
• Serve as a liaison to and collaborates with various student groups. 
• Interact and collaborate with other HLS departments as needed.  
• Develop materials for office including sections of OCS website and communications emails. 

Basic Qualifications 

• J.D. with 3 or more years of relevant professional work experience.  

Additional Qualifications  

• Knowledge of the private sector legal recruiting process across major geographic markets.  
• 5+ years of professional experience is a plus. 
• Experience in a law school career services office or a law firm professional development or recruiting role. 
• Experience helping student navigate the “BigLaw” landscape across various U.S. and international legal markets. 
• Experience and comfort with survey development and data collection, analysis, and visualization.  
• Knowledge of self-assessment tools is a plus. 
• Knowledge of project and event planning experience is a plus.  
• Excellent organizational, project management, interpersonal, presentation and writing skills. 
• Familiarity with the judicial clerkship application process is a plus. 
• An ability to plan and meet deadlines, work independently and effectively as part of a team, have a strong work ethic, superb judgment, and an enthusiastic approach to work. 
• Experience as a practicing attorney in a large firm is a plus. 

Standard Schedule: Full time

Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position

Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education

Other Information: Position requires occasional flexibility with hybrid arrangement and availability for some evening programs during the academic year.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 057. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.