Assistant Director of Career Services, Law School

University of Kansas; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Kansas invites applications for the Assistant Director of Career Services. The role acts as an operational co-lead for employer engagement, recruitment programming, and student placement outcomes.

It requires JD, 3+ years in legal recruiting or related fields, and strong communication skills to advise students and engage with legal employers. The position leads student advising, develops workshops, manages programs, and drives market expansion with regional and national employers,

Qualifications

• JD required; advanced knowledge of legal career paths and hiring practices.
• Demonstrated ability to advise students and engage credibly with attorneys, judges, and legal employers.
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills needed for individual and group advising.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive career advising to students and alumni, including resume development and interviewing guidance.
• Lead and manage student-facing initiatives, including mentorship programs and career events.
• Develop and maintain employer engagement strategies and recruitment programs.
• Analyze employment outcomes and market trends to inform program improvements and ABA/NALP reporting.
• Coordinate recruiting operations and supervise student staff to ensure continuity of services.

Skills

Written communication

Interpersonal communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Position Overview

The Assistant Director of Career Services serves as the second-ranking professional staff member within the Career Services Office and functions as an operational co-lead for employer engagement, recruitment programming, and student placement strategy. This position exercises independent judgment in the design, implementation, and management of key programs and initiatives that directly impact student employment outcomes and the law school's positioning in the legal hiring market. The Assistant Director manages significant functions, programs, and operational processes within the Career Services Office that support student career development, employer engagement, and employment outcomes.

Working in a highly collaborative environment, the Assistant Director provides functional leadership across core areas of the office, coordinates the day-to-day execution of recruiting operations, and, when called upon, acts on behalf of the Assistant Dean. The role includes oversight of student staff workflow, leadership of major programs, independent employer engagement, and representation of the law school at the local, regional, and national levels.

Job Description

Student Advising, Employment Strategy & Placement Outcomes (50%)

• Provides comprehensive career advising to students and alumni, including individualized counseling on job search strategy, resume and application development, interviewing, and market positioning.
• Guides students pursuing a wide range of career paths, including private sector, public interest, government, and out-of-state markets.
• Develops and delivers workshops, panels, and programs on career development topics, legal hiring trends, and professional skills.
• Leads and manages key student-facing initiatives, including the mentor program, overseeing all planning, outreach, and execution.
• Identifies students in need of additional support and develops targeted strategies to improve employment outcomes.
• Maintains deep knowledge of legal hiring markets and applies that knowledge to advising and institutional strategy.
• Exercises independent judgment in career advising, employer engagement strategies, and recruitment program management.

Employer Engagement, Recruitment Programs & Market Development (30%)

• Leads the planning, management, and continuous improvement of recruitment programs, including on-campus interviewing, resume collect programs, and related hiring initiatives.
• Independently develops and maintains relationships with employers, alumni, and recruiting professionals to expand employment opportunities for students.
• Serves as a primary point of contact for designated employers and manages related outreach, communication, and engagement strategies.
• Represents the Career Services Office and the law school both internally and externally through presentations, employer outreach, professional association leadership, recruiting events, and engagement with alumni, students, faculty, and legal employers.
• Represents the law school through travel, networking, and participation in local, regional, and national recruiting efforts.
• Identifies and develops new employment pipelines and market opportunities, including expansion into competitive and out-of-state regions.
• Works with Assistant Dean to implement the Lawhawks Pathways Strategic Market Expansion Initiative to increase the law school's reputation among employers in the Dallas, Denver, and Chicago metro areas and create a large and resilient pipeline of career and internship opportunities in Dallas, Denver, and Chicago.
• Develops and executes strategies to increase student and employer engagement in priority legal markets, including identifying opportunities for new partnerships and cultivating existing relationships.
• Establishes goals, measures outcomes, and evaluates the effectiveness of market expansion initiatives to inform ongoing strategy and resource allocation.
• Co-ordinates cross-functional efforts to strengthen the law school's visibility, alumni engagement, employer relationships, and student placement opportunities in targeted markets.
• Conducts independent outreach to employers to initiate and develop professional relationships resulting in tangible outcomes for student and graduate employment, thereby creating a pipeline of jobs.
• Exercises discretion in allocating resources to support recruiting initiatives, including career fairs, professional memberships, and program development.
• Conceptualizes, develops, and implements policies, procedures, and operational protocols related to recruitment programming, employer engagement, student participation, and career services initiatives in alignment with the mission and strategic goals of the law school.

Data Analysis, Reporting & Operational Leadership (20%)

• Develops reports, analyzes employment outcomes and recruiting metrics, and evaluates market trends to assess program effectiveness, identify operational efficiencies, and recommend strategic or procedural improvements.
• Identifies emerging employment trends and market opportunities and translates them into programs and initiatives that support student career outcomes.
• Presents market trends to faculty and staff to keep the school apprised of legal market trends that impact faculty hiring, scholarship, and advising.
• Provides leadership and assistance in compliance-related reporting activities, including the collection, management, analysis, and submission of employment data for ABA, NALP, and other required disclosures, ensuring accuracy, regulatory compliance, and adherence to accreditation standards.
• Implements process improvements and operational changes based on data and market conditions.
• Serves as a subject matter resource regarding legal recruiting trends, hiring practices, and career services strategy through participation and leadership in regional and national professional organizations.
• Provides day-to-day functional supervision and workflow coordination for student employees and office operations, including assigning work, overseeing recruiting support functions, training on office systems and procedures, and ensuring continuity of services.
• Acts on behalf of the Assistant Dean, when designated, in overseeing office operations, employer engagement activities, recruitment programming, and student services to ensure continuity of operations and decision-making.
• Exercises independent decision-making authority regarding recruitment operations, advising strategies, employer engagement activities, and program implementation, with decisions directly impacting office operations and student employment outcomes.

Position Requirements

1. Willingness and ability to travel, including overnight travel, air travel, and transporting students by car and van to events.
2. Valid Kansas Driver's License

Required Qualifications

1. Juris doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school, or the foreign equivalent. NOTE: The position requires advanced knowledge of legal career pathways, hiring practices, and professional norms, as well as the ability to advise students and engage credibly with attorneys, judges, and legal employers. These functions necessitate a JD.
2. Minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in legal recruiting, law practice, law school career services, higher education administration, or related field.
3. Demonstrated effective written communication skills as evidenced by application materials.
4. Demonstrated interpersonal communication skills necessary to advise students in individual and group settings as demonstrated by application materials and/or recommendations.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Three-years of post-JD legal or professional work experience.
2. Two-years of law school or higher education administration, counseling, student services, or career services experience.
3. Prior legal recruiting or law practice experience.
4. Knowledge of legal market and legal hiring practices.
5. Demonstrated strong interpersonal, administrative, organizational and speaking skills.
6. Previous experience working collaboratively with students, alumni, staff, faculty and legal employers and to manage deadlines.
7. Counseling, problem solving and conflict resolution skills.

Contact Information to Applicants

Stacey Blakeman

Assistant Dean for Career Services

784-864-0239

[e-mail]

Advertised Salary Range

$90,000/year

Application Review Begins

Monday October 12, 2026

Anticipated Start Date

Monday October 26, 2026