Associate Director of Career Services and Academic Advising - UIC Law

Position Summary

This position will counsel students and alumni about career options and the job search process, educate students about the job market, critique resumes and cover letters, conduct mock interviews, and provide individualized career and academic guidance. The Associate Director will also lead one or more initiatives for the office, which may include judicial clerkships, diversity, evening students, public interest, communications, and programming. Additional responsibilities will include conducting outreach to legal employers and alumni, leading workshops for students on career-related topics, creating office publications, gathering employment data, and assisting with other projects that may arise. The Associate Director must be available for evening programs and occasional weekend events.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Conduct individual academic advising sessions with assigned students, imparting knowledge of requirements to achieve their academic goals.

• Assist and support students in identifying and clarifying academic goals.

• Engage in law student advising, evaluating students’ degree progress/eligibility, educating and providing guidance concerning degree requirements, programs, academic and professional planning.

• Evaluate law students’ progress in the JD program, evaluating degree requirements, counseling and providing related guidance and direction.

• Interpret academic policies; educate students regarding academic policies and procedures.

• Guide students in navigating the petition process for exceptions to academic policies.

• Provide law students with information regarding available resources and opportunities.

• Establish relationships with students and alumni; provide advice, support and encouragement during the job search process.

• Assess student and alumni skills, interests, and abilities of data regarding employers and students.

• Represent the CSO at student orientations.

• Conduct workshops and seminars on various career, job search and professional development topics.

• Represent the school at professional organizations including the Chicago Bar Association and other local bar associations, and the National Association for Law Placement (NALP).

• Participate in the Chicago Area Law School Consortium (CALSC) and associated programming.

• Market Sectors and Initiatives (Public Interest/Judicial Clerkships/Government/Diversity/Professional Development/Law Firms).

• Serve as the “point person” in the CSO for a particular market sector and/or initiative; produce and implement an outreach plan for increasing opportunities in that sector for students and oversee related internal programs.

• Develop and enact short-term and long-term goals regarding promoting an assigned market sector to students, employers, and administration.

• Act as the primary counselor for students and alumni seeking career advice and job openings in a particular sector(s) or related to a specific initiative.

• Attend conferences and serve as coordinator/liaison to various legal organizations related to a given market sector or initiative.

• Plan programs to educate students about opportunities and career paths in assigned market sector or related to a particular initiative.

• Work with Executive Director for Career Services to conduct outreach to employers by talking to employers about hiring needs, marketing students & alumni, and cultivating relationships with employers.

• Create and revise student handbooks and checklists; suggest resources for the CSO library.

• Work on additional projects as assigned by the Executive Director of Career Services

• Review legal publications and employment data for relevant information on the job market and job search strategies.

• Prepare and update various office guides and materials concerning the job search and professional development.

• Plan, assign and review work of staff to ensure that group objectives are are met. Hire, train, develop and manage staff to ensure that a qualified staff exists to meet group objectives.

• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.