Director for Law Firms

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Relocation assistance

Job summary

The Career Development Office (CDO) at the University of Colorado Boulder Law School invites applications for the Director for Law Firms. The Director leads outreach to law firms, oversees the Summer Employment Recruiting Process (SERP) and related programs, and provides strategic career counseling to students and alumni.

This role involves in-person events, hybrid work with in-person days during the academic year and summer, and collaboration with the Assistant Dean to support employment

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate; equivalent substitutions allowed.
• One year of experience in legal practice, career counseling, or related work.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of in-person events related to the Summer Employment Recruiting Process (SERP).
• Manage all in-person events related to the PTD 1L Summer Employment Program, including supervising the PTD Mock Interview Program and PTD Student Liaisons.
• Develop, schedule and facilitate career-development-related programs, workshops and networking receptions; stay abreast of developments in the current legal employment market and the legal profession.
• Assist students with their application materials and preparation for interviews and provide support and counseling throughout the law firm interview and selection process.

Skills

Legal practice experience

Career counseling experience

Marketing law students

Web-based career research tools

Education

Juris Doctorate

Job description

Job Summary

The Career Development Office (CDO) for the University of Colorado Law School welcomes applications for the Director for Law Firms position! The CDO serves as the center of law student and law alumni career-related activity. The primary purpose of the office is to facilitate employment of law students in an ever-evolving job market. Additionally, the office educates students about the breadth of career opportunities for which a law degree prepares students and the most successful strategies for pursuing such opportunities. CDO supports the strategic career development of students and alumni through counseling, workshops and programs, and by enhancing the reputation of Colorado Law and its students.

The primary duties and responsibilities of the Director are to support students and alumni in finding employment and help employers find the right match among our students and alumni. The Director takes the lead in pursuing law firm opportunities and, in consultation with the Assistant Dean, in outreach to law firms. Working with others in the CDO, the Director provides comprehensive career counseling to Colorado Law students and alumni with a special focus on those interested in law firm opportunities. The Director is responsible for an assigned number of students and advises students and alumni regarding careers in all legal and non-legal settings when appropriate for the needs of individual students or alumni.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

At the Colorado Law School , we are an engaged, diverse, and welcoming community of students, staff, faculty, and alumni who help one another succeed. Our selective admissions process keeps our student body small, enabling our faculty, staff, alumni, and community to invest deeply in each student’s success. Because we take our responsibility to educate and train future lawyers very seriously, our curriculum, research centers, and experiential learning opportunities are crafted to prepare students for success in today’s changing legal environment.

Law Firm Program Administration

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Manage all aspects of in-person events related to the Summer Employment Recruiting Process (SERP).
• Manage all in-person events related to the Pledge to Diversity (PTD) 1L Summer Employment Program, including supervising the PTD Mock Interview Program and PTD Student Liaisons.
• Develop, schedule and facilitate career-development-related programs, workshops and networking receptions; stay abreast of developments in the current legal employment market and the legal profession.
• Assist students with their application materials and preparation for interviews and provide support and counseling throughout the law firm interview and selection process.

Career Counseling

• Provide strategic one-on-one and group career advising and assistance to students/alumni; create action plans with students and follow up with students, as needed.
• Work with individual students to develop job search strategies; conduct mock interviews; review and critique resumes and cover letters.
• Help students develop a professional portfolio through exposure to different practice areas, work environments and developing first-hand experience.
• Work with students to develop and highlight competencies including professional skills in communication, project management, creative problem solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Assist with professional development; provide guidance on building connections and networking through individual counseling sessions and creating professional development specific programs for 1Ls.

Employer Outreach

• Conduct ongoing employer outreach and establish strong professional relationships with employers.
• As directed by the Assistant Dean, assist students in identifying and contacting law firms of all sizes, with a focus on small/mid- sized law firms for internship and post-grad job opportunities outside of SERP, through the Small to Mid-Size Firm Expo and through maintenance of the Small to Mid-Size Law Firm Directories.
• Promote students to employers and provide students with contacts for formal and informational interviews.
• Solicit job opportunities for postings on CDOnline from employers and, as often as possible, match students and employers.

Data Collection And Projects

• Actively participate in contacting recent graduates to compile and report graduate employment statistics.
• Work with the Assistant Dean and other staff to complete career-related surveys for the American Bar Association, U.S. News & World Report, the Princeton Review, and NALP.
• Maintain information regarding the current employment status of students.
• Respond to inquiries from prospective students as requested by the Admissions Office.
• Assume additional responsibilities as needed, such as providing assistance to office colleagues in their primary responsibilities, and assisting with maintaining the online database of employment opportunities.

What You Should Know

• This role has an anticipated work schedule of Monday – Friday during regular business hours. Some evening and weekend hours may be required for events.
• This position has the option to work in a hybrid work modality, with 3 days a week required to be in-person during the academic year, and 2 days per week required to be in-person during the summer.

What We Can Offer

• The salary range is $68,000 - $88,000 annually, depending on qualifications. Relocation assistance is available within department guidelines.
• Access our Total Compensation Calculator to see what your total rewards could be for this University Staff position.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be authentic. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Juris Doctorate. An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.
• One year of experience in legal practice, career counseling, or related work.

What You Will Need

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and proven organizational skills.
• Ability to motivate and prepare students for the job search, including encouraging purposeful career planning, and promoting students to potential employers.
• Ability to work independently and with numerous diverse constituencies.
• History of, and enthusiasm for, working well with others to help students find jobs. Excellent interpersonal, career counseling, and programming skills.
• Must be thorough, good with follow-through, and able to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced work environment.
• Demonstrated maturity, energy, initiative, professionalism, positive attitude, and an understanding of the critical importance of confidentiality.
• Able to be energetic and take a creative approach to identifying employment options available to students and alumni, and to be enthusiastic about facilitating individual introductions of students to potential employers.
• Ability to be creative, supportive, and thoughtful in problem-solving while considering varied perspectives.
• Ability to promote a welcoming environment which reflects the broad diversity and backgrounds represented by law school students, faculty, staff, and community members.

What We Would Like You To Have

• Experience counseling and marketing law students and/or lawyers.
• Experience creating effective job search strategies for law students in the current job market.
• Experience with web-based legal career research systems, social media, and ways of using technology to be as efficient and effective as possible.
• A network of connections in Colorado and elsewhere that can be accessed to assist students in finding employment.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.