Assistant Director, Career Counseling

The George Washington University; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement savings

Tuition assistance

Job summary

The George Washington University Law School is seeking an Assistant Director of Career Counseling to guide JD students in career planning, self-assessment, resume and interview prep, and professional development. You will work with Evening and Part-time students and help them pursue opportunities in Government Contracts, National Security Law, and Data Privacy/Cybersecurity.

You will collaborate with the Career Center team, mentor students, and lead workshops while promoting programs to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or a Master’s degree or higher; degree conferred by start date.
• Equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered.
• Counseling experience with law students or young lawyers preferred.
• Career planning, guidance, and mentorship skills; coaching techniques helpful.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and small group counseling to J.D. students on career planning and job search.
• Assist with resume/cover letter review, interview prep, and offers evaluation.
• Develop expertise to support Evening and Part-time students in targeted practice areas.
• Coordinate with Employer Outreach Team and conduct skills-development workshops.
• Promote Career Center programs and maintain relationships with employers, alumni, and students.
• Represent Career Center at meetings and support networking and career fairs.

Skills

Counseling experience

Career planning

Mentorship

Public speaking

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree + 2 years experience

Master's degree or higher

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

I. JOB OVERVIEW

Job Description Summary:

Established in 1865, The George Washington University Law School is the oldest in Washington, DC. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools. The law school is located on the GW campus in the downtown neighborhood familiarly known as Foggy Bottom.
The Career Center of The George Washington University Law School advises and counsels law students in professional development and assists them in developing career strategies. This position presents a rewarding opportunity to help law school students and recent law school graduates begin their legal careers. The Assistant Director, Career Counseling provides individual and small group counseling to J.D. students on all aspects of career planning, including self-assessment, career exploration, job application materials, interview preparation, and professional skills development. This position will have specific responsibilities for developing expertise to support Evening and Part-time students, and counsel students who wish to pursue careers in Government Contracts and Procurement, National Security Law, and Data Privacy and Cybersecurity.

This position will report to the Director, Career Counseling and Professional Development in the Center for Professional Development and Career Strategy with the following representative duties and responsibilities:

• Assists J.D. students in determining career goals and objectives through self-evaluation. Assesses students’ articulated career interests and recommends avenues of exploration to meet their career goals. Advises and counsels students on all matters related to career and professional development and the legal job search process. Refers students to mentors and other professional contacts as appropriate.
• Serves as an advisor in the Inns of Court program and assists with program coordination and delivery of program content.
• Learns of employment opportunities, and shares them with students and Career Center staff. Works with students on the full life-cycle recruitment process for an entry-level attorney, J.D. advantage, and professional positions including, resume and cover letter review, interview preparation and follow-up, and job offer evaluation.
• Collaborates with the Employer Outreach Team to ensure student preparedness for participation in recruiting programs and professional activities such as networking events.
• Develops and conducts skills development workshops on all components of the job search process, such as resume and cover letter writing, developing a network of professional contacts, special applications and interviewing skills, and job search resources. Develops written informational materials on basic career guidance issues such as resume and cover letter writing, networking, and interviewing, as well as informational materials on specific practice areas for which this position has responsibility.
• Organizes and implements seminar programs, workshops, and panel discussions on a variety of legal and alternative career topics, both independently and in conjunction with alumni and student groups.
• Participates in marketing and promotion of Career Center programs and services to students, alumni, and employers, including through social media and newsletters.
• Maintains positive relationships with employers, alumni, students, staff, and faculty. Serves as a consultant to student organizations and faculty on the career and professional development of students.
• As required, represents the Career Center at national, regional, and local meetings of appropriate professional organizations and associations, and periodically interfaces with law career counselors at other law schools. Assists with the programming, coordination, and delivery during all phases of networking fairs, job fairs, recruitment programs, and other career development programs, which may include travel.
• Works on special projects as assigned by the Director of Career Counseling and Professional Development and the Associate Dean, Center for Professional Development and Career Strategy.

The incumbent may perform other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• J.D. plus two years of experience at a law firm, legal search firm, or in-house legal department post-admission to a state bar or the District of Columbia Bar are strongly preferred.
• Counseling experience with law students or young lawyers.
• Career planning, guidance, and mentorship skills.
• Understanding of basic coaching techniques.
• Knowledge and understanding of career practices and opportunities within local, national, and global legal communities.
• Excellent presentation skills in live and virtual settings.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

II. JOB DETAILS

Campus Location:

Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department:

College/School/Department: GW Law School (LAW)

Family

Sub-Family

Stream

Level

Level Level 2

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule:

Work Schedule: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday-Friday (some evenings and weekends when required)

Will this job require the employee to work on site?

Will this job require the employee to work on site? Yes

Employee Onsite Status

Employee Onsite Status Hybrid

Telework:

Telework: Yes

Required Background Check:

Required Background Check: Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only?

Internal Applicants Only? No

Posting Number:

Posting Number: S014416

Job Open Date:

Job Open Date: 08/21/2026

Job Close Date:

If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:

Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement:

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Are you currently employed with The George Washington University?
  • No
  • Yes
• * For current GW employees, have you completed your Introductory Employment Period (IEP)? (As a reminder,employees in their IEP are not eligible to apply for other internal university staff and research positions until the IEP is complete.)
  • Yes, IEP complete
  • No, still in IEP
  • N/a - not a current GW employee
• * What is your expected salary range?

  (Open Ended Question)

Documents needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Human Resource
Management & Development

2013 H Street, NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20006