The Senior Career Counselor is part of the Career Services team in the Law School at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for provision of career counseling for Vanderbilt Law School students. Develops and maintains relationships with internal and external constituents to promote Career Services activities and facilitate internship programs and full-time employment opportunities. This position requires travel. Reporting directly to the Assistant Dean, Career Services.
Vanderbilt Law School's Career Services excels in placing well-trained lawyers in public- and private-sector positions at law firms, government offices and organizations throughout the United States. This department provides avenues for not only for students, but also alumni (indefinite/lifetime support) and external employers. Employers located throughout the United States and abroad advertise positions for experienced attorneys in a list of leads cultivated and managed by career services staff. Career Services focuses on achieving 100% employment for our students who are in high demand for their outstanding legal training, combined with the interpersonal and other important professional skills they develop during law school.
Duties and Responsibilities
Career Counseling
Provide individual counseling and advice to J.D. and as needed, to LL.M. students, related to their career development. Assist students in assessing career interests and recommend avenues of exploration.
Provide J.D. students with resume evaluation, interview assistance, and ongoing coaching regarding networking and professionalism.
Provide advice about various types of legal practice and internships and externships, as well as market hiring changes. Connect students with alumni by practice area and/or locale.
Outreach Efforts
Assume sole responsibility for managing and expanding outreach efforts to state judges around the country; work in tandem with Faculty Clerkship Advisor to foster clerkships opportunities for law graduates.
Create and maintain relationships with private employers (law firms, corporations, and professional organizations) to facilitate increased employment of Vanderbilt students both for permanent and summer hiring.
Schedule visits with national employers and disseminate results to other career counselors and students (trip reports, verbal summaries, etc.)
Assist in off-site interview programs and job fairs.
Represent the Career Services Office at regional and local meetings of appropriate professional organizations and associations.
Special Initiatives
Work with the Assistant Dean in developing and implementing a strategic plan that will advance the goals of the department.
Assume sole responsibility for improving and expanding current projects/initiatives, including the Recruitment Handbook, updating the Student Strategy Guide, and other counseling tools.
Assume a primary responsibility in the management of employment records and preparation of numerous and varying statistical reports.
Assist with projects and activities including the Recruitment Handbook, Mingle (employer event) and professional development presentations.
Supervisory Relationships
This position does not have any supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Dean, Career Services.
Qualifications
A Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) is necessary.
A minimum of 5 years of experience in higher education or related field is necessary.
Located on the Vanderbilt University campus in Nashville, Tennessee, the law school combines the advantages of a stimulating university community, a top-tier faculty, a small, carefully selected student body, and a vibrant, livable city.
Known for offering a rigorous academic program in a collegial, supportive atmosphere, Vanderbilt Law School attracts law students and faculty seeking a first-rate academic institution that also affords an excellent quality of life.
Situated on the park-like Vanderbilt University campus, which is a national arboretum, the law school's state-of-the-art building offers an atrium with comfortable study nooks and wireless internet access throughout.
Vanderbilt Law School offers a rigorous legal education delivered by a world-class faculty in a uniquely collegial and supportive environment.