Associate Director for Programming and Advising

The Office of Judicial Careers (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 1L summer judicial internships and/or post-graduate judicial clerkships (term and career). OJC collaborates with faculty, students, alumni, and administrative colleagues to, among other things: provide applicants with proprietary internship and clerkship resources and 1:1 advising; plan educational programming, including judicial speaker events and workshops; 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 candidates. 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 Private Career Services (OPCS) and Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers (PI/PS) to help students and alumni navigate transitions across the private and public interest sectors.

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

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.
• Innovate, develop, create and present professional development workshops, programs, and training materials regarding clerkships, summer 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 applications.
• Assist the Director and Faculty with emergency placement opportunities.
• Serve as an advisory liaison to PAA with respect to judicial service employment opportunities, programs and panels.

Programs, Panels & Workshops

• 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, manage, and expand the Clerkships Connections alumni mentoring 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 Opportunity Initiative (COI)

• With the Director, co-manage and co-lead the COI application and selection process.
• Assist the Director with programmatic efforts and opportunities for the COI.
• Advise prior and former members of the COI cohort through the application process and maintain data on results.
• Assist the Director 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 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.