Associate Director for Programming and Advising

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

Position Summary

The Office of Judicial Clerkships (OJC) supports Columbia Law School students and alumni in their pursuit of employment or other educational service opportunities with the U.S. federal and state judiciary, including as: (1) 1L summer judicial interns; (2) independent judicial externs for academic or pro bono credit as upper-year students; and/or (3) post-graduate judicial clerkships (term and career). OJC collaborates with its faculty, students, alumni and administrative colleagues to, among other things: provide applicants with proprietary internship and clerkship resources and 1:1 advising; process clerkship applications and faculty letters of recommendation; support student organizations with their judicial service-related programs and events; and provide individualized support to judges seeking student and attorney talent.  OJC is one of Columbia’s three independent career services offices within the Professional Affairs Administration (PAA), and works closely with its colleagues in the Office of Career Services (OCS) and Social Justice Initiatives (SJI) to help students and alumni navigate transitions across the private and public interest sectors.

Reporting directly to the Assistant Dean of Judicial Clerkships & Judicial Relations, the Associate Director for Programming and Advising leads OJC’s efforts in respect of: (i) professional development resources & applicant advising services; (ii) OJC’s student-facing programs and panels; and (iii) the Clerkships Diversity Initiative (CDI).

Responsibilities

Professional Development Resources & Applicant Advising 

• Primary responsibility for creating, updating, and maintaining OJC’s clerkship and judicial internship advising materials current in Courseworks and on OJC’s website; will interact with the Assistant Director in respect of administrative aspects of such work.
• Innovate, develop, create and present professional development workshops, programs and training materials regarding clerkships and judicial internships and post-judicial service work opportunities in the public and private sectors.
• Primary responsibility for (a) 1L advising with respect to summer judicial internships and post-graduate clerkship presentations and (b) international JDs and LLMs with respect to post-graduate clerkship opportunities.
• Provide 1:1 advising to students and alumni with respect to clerkship and judicial internship/externship applications.
• Assist the Dean and Faculty with emergency placement opportunities.
• Serve as OJC’s advisory liaison to PAA with respect to judicial service employment opportunities, programs and panels.

Programs, Panels & Workshops

• OJC lead administrator for annual programs, panels and workshops with respect to all aspects of judicial clerkships, internships or independent externships.
• OJC lead advisor to Student Organizations and, if applicable, their Judiciary Chairs with respect to panels & programs, including creating materials and events responsive to their needs.
• Lead and Manage the Clerkships Peer Mentor Program.
• Create and conduct programs, professional development workshops, practice interview programs, symposia, networking receptions and similar events that empower applicants to engage with faculty, judges and current clerks and become conversant with the contemporary issues and challenges for clerks and the judiciary.
• Manage surveys for all events to improve and optimize delivery of advisory services.

Clerkships Diversity Initiative

• With the Dean, co-manage and co-lead the CDI application and selection process.
• Assist the Dean with programmatic efforts and opportunities for the CDI.
• Independently organize and manage monthly meetups for the CDI members with specific projects to prepare them for the clerkships application process in summer of their 2L year.
• Advise the CDI exclusively through the application process and maintain data on results.
• Assist the Dean as otherwise requested to execute OJC’s strategic vision and mission.

Minimum Qualifications

J.D. required, plus four to six years of relevant work experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience, both as a lawyer or a student adviser.  Prior federal or state law clerkship required.

Experience should include student advising and/or career counseling, program planning and/or professional development experience; prior employment in an academic or other professional environment preferred.

Excellent oral and written communication, organizational and interpersonal skills required.

Ability to be proactive, initiate, follow through with minimal supervision as well as meet several deadlines, work under pressure, and adapt to changing priorities is essential.

Must be meticulous, organized, and professional with excellent judgment, time management skills, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.

Must be willing to learn and implement new technologies to enhance task performance.

Must have experience working in or demonstrated understanding of the characteristics of antiracist institutions.

Demonstrated experience working successfully with individuals from diverse races, religions, orientations, abilities, cultural backgrounds, or other traditionally underrepresented groups.

Must be able to work as part of a collegial team, as well as balance and delegate competing assignments as necessary.

Familiarity with Symplicity and Salesforce a plus.

Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment

Flexible schedules will be considered, though in-person required for all panels and programs as arises from time-to-time. 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.