PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION:
The Assistant Director and Public Interest Coordinator will work in a variety of areas in the Office of Career Services, with primary responsibilities centering on counseling law students and alumni on all aspects of career development and placement, with specific focus on the public interest and governmental sectors. The Assistant Director and Public Interest Coordinator will provide student application material review and create and present programming to support students' knowledge of the government/public interest legal marketplace, assist the Assistant Dean with the required outcome reporting, and will support the administration of the School of Law's Pro Bono Requirement and the summer funding programs overseen by the Office. The Assistant Director and Public Interest Coordinator will also liaise with public interest-oriented student groups, the Center for Social Justice, and faculty liaisons, in support of relevant public interest-oriented events. The Assistant Director and Public Interest Coordinator may serve on such Committees as the Public Interest Scholars Program Committee and the Summer Stipend Awards Committee. The Assistant Director and Public Interest Coordinator will provide all of the above services to both full-time, part-time, and JD Access remote students.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Provide individualized counseling to law students on all aspects of career planning and development, including application material review (excluding writing samples), interviewing skills, job searches and other career-related matters.
- Identify, track and inform students about fellowship opportunities, internship opportunities, paid job opportunities, judicial clerkships, etc.
- Assist the Assistant Dean to educate students about online job searches and the use of Symplicity, a job search platform used in Career Services.
- Assist in maintaining Symplicity including but not limited to posting job, fellowship and internship opportunities.
- Inform students about finding, applying for, and obtaining supplemental funding opportunities to support unpaid public interest internships.
- Assist the Assistant Dean to coordinate the WNE Law On Campus Interview (OCI) events.
- Assist law students by publicizing and assisting them to apply to external public interest focused On Campus Interview (OCI) events, if resources permit i.e. Massachusetts Law School Consortium.
- Assist in the administration of the School of Law's pro bono graduation requirement (including pre-approval of placements, time-recording, and certification of completion).
- Assist in the administration of the WNE Law internal summer stipends and fellowships application and award process for students including serving and coordinating the Awards Committee.
- Liaise with the Center for Social Justice, student groups, staff, and faculty in support of institutional initiatives relevant to public interest careers.
- Assist employers by enabling them to advertise job opportunities for students and alumni.
- Assist the Assistant Dean with the required annual employment outcome reporting to the American Bar Association, National Association for Law Placement and U.S. News & World Report.
- Develop and coordinate career-related programming such as panel presentations, career conversations, alumni presentations, and career workshops focused on the public interest when time and resources allow.
- Be available to serve on the Public Interest Scholar Program Committee
- Provide all of the above for both full-time, part-time, and JD Access remote students.
- Perform these and other duties relevant to Career Services as assigned by the Assistant Dean of Career Services.
QUALIFICATION STANDARDS:
- Experience in a related field such as higher education, law, human resources or career services.
- Bachelor's degree is required.
- Juris Doctor (JD) is a preferred credential.
- Previous career services experience preferred.
- Extremely effective oral and written communications skills.
- Highly organized, with self-discipline to work independently.
- Experience in public interest work.
- Experience working with/counseling/advising college and/or graduate students.
- Event planning experience with an educational and/or career services focus.
- Working knowledge of such technology as Microsoft Office such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Adobe pdf editing; Learning Management Systems such as Canvas.
ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to work at a desk/computer and ability to travel for work.
HOURS:
Exempt: In-person full-time hours as needed to complete job responsibilities. Some evenings and weekends.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
Applicants should possess exceptional attention to detail, professional verbal and written communication skills, a knowledge of the local legal market, and the ability to manage multiple projects and responsibilities.
Western New England University is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion by acknowledging and embracing diversity of thought, opinion, and approach with colleagues regardless of background, culture, and organizational level. WNE welcomes all to be inclusive and work effectively with our diverse faculty, staff and students as well as be part of a culture of inclusion and respect.
Skills Required
- Experience in higher education, law, human resources or career services
- Bachelor's degree
- Juris Doctor (JD)
- Previous career services experience
- Effective oral and written communications skills
- Highly organized, with self-discipline to work independently
- Experience in public interest work
- Experience working with/counseling/advising students
- Event planning experience
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and other technologies
What We Do
Western New England University is a private, comprehensive university in Springfield, Massachusetts, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across multiple colleges, focused on preparing work-ready graduates through quality academic programs and transformative learning experiences.
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