The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC-DCSL) is the public law school of the nations’ capital.  Its mission is to recruit and enroll students from racial, ethnic and other groups traditionally underrepresented at the bar, and to represent the legal needs of low-income District of Columbia residents through the School’s legal clinics. The School is meeting its mission with a student body that is about half students of color; and diverse in age, socio-economic background, gender and ethnicity. The School requires the largest commitment to clinical legal education of any law school in the nation. Each student is required to complete 14 credits and a minimum of 740 hours representing low-income clients who would not otherwise have access to legal representation.  In 2015, US News and World Report ranked UDC-DCSL 2nd for diverse student body and 7th for outstanding clinical programs.
Located in upper northwest Washington, DC, a block from metro rail and near the National Zoo and the National Cathedral, the School of Law is housed in a newly renovated six-story brick building with parking facilities and ready access to a broad array of campus facilities and activities.
In addition to being recognized for its diversity and its progressive public interest law focus and programs, the School is well-known for its affordability and significant scholarship opportunities. The admission process reflects UDC-DCSL’s unique mission and philosophy. It looks beyond mere test scores and grades and considers the whole candidate for admission, as reflected in employment and career choices, community involvement and service, and range of life experiences. The University of the District of Columbia is the only urban land grant university in the United States. UDC-DCSL is one of only six HBCU (Historically Black College and University) law schools in the United States.

Number of Vacancies: 1

Area of Consideration: Open to the Public

Position Status: full-time, regular

Salary Range: Competitive Total Compensation

Closing Date: until filled

Location: Van Ness Campus, Washington, DC

Brief Description of Duties

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE JOB:
 
The Director of Career Services will serve the mission of the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) to develop and implement creative initiatives designed to educate and empower students and alumni to compete and achieve success in their career goals.  The Director develops relationships with students and graduates and represents the School of Law to external constituencies including the legal community, potential employers, alumni, and the public. The Director reports directly to the Dean, and works with the senior management team to develop a vision and strategic plan for the OCPD. 
The Director is responsible for the overall administration and organization of the OCPD.  The Director must stay apprised of legal career trends and the evolving job market and develop new career services and professional development initiatives.  The Director will develop student and office policies and procedures related to career development issues and trends, as an integral part of an office distinguished by its warm, service-oriented environment. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES                                                               

Student OCPD Services

• Counsel individual students regarding career planning and job searches, including self-assessment, resume and cover letter review, interview preparation, professional skills development, career research and career options.
• Plan workshops on a variety of topics, including cover letters and resumes, interviewing skills, fellowships, and substantive areas of practice including public interest, public service, public policy, private law practice, judicial clerkships, and graduate study.
• Plan events to facilitate networking opportunities with employers and networking skills building for students.
• Collaborate with faculty, student leaders and organizations to develop and publicize programs and workshops and to maximize participation and attendance.
• Help students to secure and successfully complete summer public interest fellowships.
• Actively solicit student feedback on all programs; collect and analyze attendance at programs and evaluation forms.

• Provide individual counseling to alumni seeking job search assistance.
• Plan workshops and other activities with and for alumni.
• Coordinate with Alumni Director on outreach and programs.

• Actively solicit job and internship opportunities using multiple avenues.
• Communicate with alumni, firms, public interest organizations, judges and employers.
• Analyze employer hiring patterns and history and make independent decisions with respect to marketing focus; develop marketing plans and materials for outreach to employers.
• Screen and promptly post all relevant job and internship opportunities.
• Solicit full-time and part-time paid jobs and internships for summer, academic year and post-graduation through in-person contact and on-line communication.
• Plan and schedule on-campus job and internship interview programs with employers, including evening and weekend events.
• Plan, publicize and attend off-campus interviewing programs including those hosted by other organizations such as Equal Justice Works.

• Oversee OCPD career management software.
• Develop and maintain jobs and internships database.
• Oversee purchases of on-line databases and written career service materials.
• Send weekly email of new listings, events and programs to students and targeted alumni.
• Write, produce and distribute OCPD Handbook and other written handouts.
• Regularly review and update library reserve materials.

• Collect, analyze and report post-graduate employment data per American Bar Association standards and NALP best practices guidelines.
• Complete NALP employment form and report data to NALP.
• Ensure that law school website and other law school publications adhere to ABA disclosure standards and NALP best practice guidelines.
• Research and answer requests concerning employment data from the Dean and other law school and university administrators, from current and prospective students.
• Research and respond to press inquires.

• Interact with legal employers, associations and other members of the legal community locally, regionally, and nationally to enhance opportunities for students and graduates of the law school, and to enhance the reputation of the law school and its students and graduates.
• Represent the School of Law at professional conferences and meetings, including NALP, ABA, Equal Justice Works, WALRAA, the Washington Council of Lawyers, DC Bar events, etc.

• Develop office policies and procedures; collaborate with UDC-DCSL administrators and faculty; continuously improve OCPD resources.
• Supervise Assistant Director for Career and Professional Development and OCPD work of student services administrative assistant.
• Serve as liaison to faculty committee; involve faculty in OCPD activities and ensure coordination with other faculty committees and strategic planning.

Required Qualifications

• A Juris Doctor degree (JD) from an accredited law school in the Untied States
• A minimum of 5 years of post-JD experience in legal practice

Information to Applicant

Collective Bargaining Unit (Union): This position is not part of the collective bargaining unit.  

Employment Benefits
Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation) and sick leave and will be covered under the University of the District of Columbia' s retirement plan (TIAA-CREF).

Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to actual or perceived actual race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, marital status, personal appearance, genetic information, familial status, source of income, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, place of residence or business,  or status as a covered veteran, as provided for and to the extent required by District and Federal statutes and regulations.

Notice of Non-Discrimination: In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the University of the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived actual race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, marital status, personal appearance, genetic information, familial status, source of income, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, place of residence or business,  or status as a covered veteran, as provided for and to the extent required by District and Federal statutes and regulations. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is also prohibited by the Act.  In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act.  Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated.  Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

Veterans Preference:  Applicants claiming veterans preference must submit official proof at the time of application.

Residency Preference: The Residency Preference Amendment Act of 1988, D.C. Law 7-203, created a system in which provides that any applicant for employment in the Career or Educational Services who is a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia may claim a residency reference at the time of application. An applicant selected for an appointment based on District residency will be required to submit no less than eight (8) proofs of bona fide District residency. Bona fide District residency must be maintained from the date of appointment to the position for seven (7) consecutive years. Failure to maintain bona fide District residency for the (7) year period will result in forfeiture of employment.

Drug-Free Workplace: Pursuant to the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, the individual selected to fill this position will, as a condition of employment, be required to notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, not later than five (5) days after conviction of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.

Background Investigation: Employment with the University of the District of Columbia is contingent upon a satisfactory background investigation.  The determination of a "satisfactory background investigation" is made at the sole discretion of the University of the District of Columbia.  The University may refuse to hire a finalist, rescind an offer of employment to a finalist or review and may terminate the employment of a current employee based on the results of a background investigation.

Disposition of Resume: Resumes received outside the area of consideration and/or after the closing date will not be given consideration. You must resubmit your resume to receive consideration for any subsequent advertised position vacancies. For the purpose of employment, resumes are not considered job applications. Therefore, if selected for employment a UDC application will be required.

Job Offers: Official Job Offers are made by the University of the District of Columbia, Office of Human Resources Only.

Contact Information:  All inquiries related to employment and job applications should be directed to UDC Office of Human Resources at (202) 274-5020.

The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a full version of the University’s EO Policy Statement, please visit: http://www.udc.edu/equal opportunity/.