Assoc. Dir. C&PD, Judicial Clerkships

University of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid leave

Retirement benefits

Job summary

The University of South Carolina in Columbia seeks an Associate Director of Career & Professional Development to lead judicial clerkship advising and related initiatives. You will provide individualized career counseling to students and alumni pursuing state and federal clerkships, and manage the Judicial Scholars Program.

Collaborate with faculty, staff, alumni, and the judiciary to create programs, workshops, networking events, and resources for clerkship applications and career planning;

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree and 4+ years in career services or higher education administration.
• Candidates with a J.D. or law school career services experience are preferred.
• Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and reporting using 12Twenty, Excel, and related tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide career counseling to students and alumni, including clerkship guidance and interview preparation.
• Lead judicial clerkship initiatives, develop resources, and advise on clerkship applications and timelines.
• Design programs, workshops, and networking events to increase clerkship opportunities for students.
• Manage employment data collection and reporting for ABA, NALP, and US News rankings, using 12Twenty and Excel.
• Collaborate with faculty, alumni, and judiciary to expand employer outreach and career programming.
• Support data integrity and compliance with institutional reporting requirements.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Data management

Microsoft Excel

12Twenty

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

J.D. (preferred)

Tools

12Twenty

Excel

Job description

About USC

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement

The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Career & Professional Development serves as the lead advisor for judicial clerkships and oversees clerkship advising, programming, and related initiatives. This position provides individualized career counseling to students and alumni pursuing state and federal judicial clerkships, helping them identify and secure opportunities that align with their interests, qualifications, and professional goals. The Associate Director manages the Judicial Scholars Program and collaborates with faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the judiciary to develop and deliver clerkship-focused programming, workshops, networking events, and professional development initiatives. The Associate Director also creates and maintains resources that support judicial clerkship applications, job searches, and career planning. In partnership with the Office of Career & Professional Development team, the Associate Director contributes to employer outreach and relationship-building efforts that enhance employment opportunities for students and graduates. The position supports the collection, management, and analysis of employment data to ensure accurate reporting and compliance with institutional and accreditation requirements. The Associate Director must demonstrate proficiency in career services and data management platforms, including 12twenty and Microsoft Excel, and maintain accurate records through effective data collection and reporting practices. The Associate Director reports to the Assistant Dean for Career & Professional Development & Leadership.

Benefits

Benefits for FTE Positions The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.

Job Details

Location of Vacancy: Columbia, SC

Part/Full Time: Full Time

Hours per Week: 37.5

Basis: 12 months

Salary

State Pay Range G10 USC Market Range MRH - $64,827 $81,034 $97,241 Anticipated Hiring Range salary commensurate with experience

Work Schedule

• M-F 8:30am-5pm with an hour for lunch.
• Some weekends and nights to accommodate the department’s events.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• J.D. with at least ten years practice experience in the public or private sector OR other degree with at least five years experience in law school career services or legal recruitment.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Employee must have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Must be able to work in a professional manner with students, alumni, employers, faculty, and staff.
• Must have ability to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students.
• Must adapt to various personalities and needs.
• Must have or be willing to build relevant professional knowledge, including knowledge of traditional and nontraditional legal employment options.
• Must understand or be willing to learn about various employment settings and their hiring criteria and methods.
• Must be willing to build knowledge in a wide range of practice areas in order to assist students in their career planning.
• Must be able to develop strategies to meet employment goals in changing market and economic conditions.
• Must be willing to learn NALP principles and standards and ABA employment reporting protocols.
• Must have planning and organizational skills.
• Must be able to set priorities, maintain deadlines, and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Must have problem-solving skills and ability to exercise good judgment.
• Must be able to weigh options. Prefer an employee who is creative, innovative, and enthusiastic in exploring new ways to provide career development support to students and optimize law school’s employment outcomes.
• Must be proficient in data collection and analysis.
• Must be proficient or willing to quickly become proficient in software packages such as 12Twenty, Excel, and others.

Job Duties

• Provide career counseling to current students and alumni, including guidance with job search strategies, writing resumes and cover letters, and preparing for interviews. Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 40
• Lead the office’s judicial clerkship initiatives. Design, develop, and produce resources and tools to assist students in obtaining post-graduate judicial clerkships. Serve as the office’s main judicial clerkship advisor. Stay up-to-date on judicial clerkship hiring trends and systems, such as OSCAR , and advise the other C&PD advisors on updates and trends in the market. Develop programs and initiatives to increase student knowledge of judicial clerkship opportunities and advise students on the application process and timeline. Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 25
• Develop educational programming and print and online resources to assist students with developing job search skills, learning about opportunities for law school graduates, and understanding the critical competencies necessary for success in these positions. Plan and execute networking opportunities for students. Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 15
• Assist in and support the execution of the office’s employer relations strategy by connecting with legal employers, cultivating employer contacts for state, regional, and national employment opportunities, and representing the School of Law at bar meetings, conferences, and professional development programs and collaborative activities with representatives from other law schools, legal employers, NALP , and appropriate industry associations. Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 10
• Assist Asst. Dean with collection of employment data for reporting to ABA , NALP , and US News & World Report. Execute data collection and analysis in 12Twenty, Excel, and other software packages. Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 5
• Additional duties as assigned. Essential Function Yes Percentage of Time 5

Position Attributes

Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive No Hazardous weather category Non-Essential

Posting Details

• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Desired Start Date: 01/01/2027
• Job Open Date: 11/10/2026
• Job Close Date: 12/26/2026

EEO Statement

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.