Assistant Director of Public Interest Center

Assistant Director of Public Interest Center

Job ID: 49914
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Department: Law Administration
Salary/Grade: EXS/7

Target hiring range for this position will be between $61,242 to $81,552 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:
The person in this position is an integral team member in the law school’s Public Interest Center and has responsibilities in two primary areas: running the Center’s pro bono and public service program and supporting students seeking public interest employment. Overseeing the pro bono program involves identifying opportunities for students, coordinating about projects with outside organizations, counseling students on opportunities, designing systems for students to track pro bono hours, designing service trips for spring and winter break and a Day of Service during orientation, and working with student groups on pro bono opportunities. The career counseling part of the job involves working with the Associate Director for Public Interest Careers on duties including: advising individual students, developing programming and materials on public interest employment, assisting with a large annual career fair and other recruiting events, helping to administer distribution of summer and post-graduate funding, and collaborating with student groups and others at the law school on public interest initiatives.

Specific Responsibilities:

Student Counseling:

• Counsel JD students regarding public interest job searches and career development, including reviewing resumes and cover letters.
• Provide detailed assistance and advice to students applying for specialized programs, including post-graduate public interest fellowships and government honors programs.
• Advise prospective students about public interest opportunities at the Law School.
• Counsel students and alumni on LRAP program.

Programs and Job Search Materials:

• Assist in planning and implementing public interest programming, including panel discussions and other programs on public interest careers.
• Draft, edit, and update resource materials regarding all aspects of public interest job searches, including job application documents, job search strategies, interviewing skills, and networking.
• Assist with upkeep and maintenance of public interest alumni database.

Financial Programs:

• Assist in the administration of Center funding programs, including summer funding, LRAP, and post-graduate fellowships.

Pro Bono and Public Service Program:

• Counsel individual students and respond to student inquiries about volunteer opportunities.
• Maintain database of volunteer opportunities.
• Continue to steward relationships with existing pro bono partners.
• Develop new opportunities, working with students and outside partners.
• Design and manage large volunteer opportunities, including the Day of Service and service trips.
• Develop systems to record and track volunteer hours.
• Coordinate graduation activities and honors.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years’ career counseling/advising in higher education or 3 years’ of industry experience; or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master’s or JD or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 2 years’ career counseling/advising in higher education or 2 years’ of industry experience; or other relevant experience required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Knowledge of non-profit and government legal employers and of pro bono opportunities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with students, alumni, faculty, Law School administration and staff, and employers.
• Proven organizational and project management skills. Experience handling multiple projects at once.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Ability to initiate new projects, set priorities, and manage time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• JD
• Minimum of 3 years work experience as a lawyer in a non-profit or government setting.
• Other relevant public interest experience, including law school activities and volunteer work.

Please apply online at https://careers.northwestern.edu/psp/hr857prd_er/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=49914&PostingSeq=1

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.