Director of Public Sector Career Advising

Job Requisition:

JR101536 Director of Public Sector Career Advising (Open)

Job Posting Title:

Director of Public Sector Career Advising

Department:

CC00204 WM001 | PROV | Law School Administration

Job Family:

Staff - Career Services

Worker Sub-Type:

Regular (benefited)

Job Requisition Primary Location:

Law School

Primary Job Posting Location:

Posting Location - William & Mary

Job Description Summary:

As a key contributor to William & Mary Law School’s Office of Career Services (OCS), the Director of Public Sector Career Advising provides William & Mary Law School’s students and alumni with guidance regarding career planning, job search strategy, and professional development.
The Director of Public Sector Career Advising will, among other things:  
• Serve, generally, as a career advisor within OCS to J.D. students and alumni.
• Serve as the primary OCS point-of-contact and career advisor for students and alumni seeking internships and post-graduate employment in the public sector, including, but not limited to, positions with government agencies, civil legal services offices, public defenders, prosecutors, and other non-profit organizations, as well as state court judicial clerkships.
• Through individual and group advising, counsel students and alumni regarding career goals, professional development, employment options, effective job search strategies, resume and cover letter preparation, and networking and interviewing skills.
• Develop, plan, and deliver job search-related workshops, panels, webinars, and presentations, and direct other staff members and student assistants in the implementation of these programs.
• Develop and prepare job search- and career and professional development-related resources and targeted communications for students and alumni.
• Be the primary OCS point-of-contact for students seeking post-graduate fellowships through Equal Justice Works and the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, as well as positions through Federal Honors and other similar programs.
• At the direction of the Associate Dean for Career Services, participate in the activities of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), including, but not limited to, attendance at various NALP national, regional, section, and interest group meetings and webinars, and also participate in alumni, bar association, and other professional networking and continuing education events.
• Assist in the oversight and administration of the law school-funded post-graduate fellowship program.
• Engage in other duties as assigned.

This position reports to the Associate Dean for Career Services. 

Job Description:

Required Qualifications:

• Juris doctor degree.

• Experience as a practicing attorney in the public sector (typically 2-3 years).

• Knowledge of career counseling and career development theory and practice, or the demonstrated ability to develop that knowledge through continuing education and on-the-job training.

• Knowledge of legal career opportunities, particularly in the public sector employment market and with state courts, as well as employment trends in the U.S. legal profession.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively on an independent basis and as part of a team.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including frequent public speaking.

• Demonstrated ability to build constructive relationships with diverse constituencies, including students, graduates, employer representatives, bar/professional associations, faculty, administrators, and staff.

• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple priorities and work under pressure in an extremely busy environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior law school career services or lawyer professional development experience.  

• Previous experience working with various constituencies to support initiatives related to public sector-related externships and pro bono opportunities for students and fundraising for summer public service stipends and post-graduate public service fellowships. 

• Proficiency with using technology for career counseling, program development, and marketing/ outreach to students, graduates, and employers.   

• Knowledge of how to successfully use various social media platforms, including, but not limited to, LinkedIn and Instagram, for networking and communication purposes.  

• Knowledge of how to identify public sector career opportunities or an ability to acquire such knowledge. 

• Existing relationships with a variety of public sector employers. 

Conditions of Employment: 

• This position requires additional hours beyond the typical work week, to include occasional overnight and weekend work as needed to meet the business needs of the operation.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive data.

Job Duties: 

65% Career Advising:

• Providing individual and group counseling to J.D. students and alumni regarding career goals, professional development, employment options, effective job search strategies, resume and cover letter preparation, and networking and interviewing skills.

• Designing and delivering career and professional development-related programs.

• Identifying job opportunities and developing and preparing job search-related resources and targeted communications for J.D. students and alumni. 

25% - Public Sector Directives:

• Overseeing the Law School’s participation in the annual Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair, the Peggy Browning Workers' Rights Conference, and any other public sector-related career or job fairs.

• Assisting the Assistant Dean for Employer Relations in developing and maintaining relationships with public-sector employers.

• Assisting in the oversight and management of all aspects of the Law School’s public service post-graduate fellowship program.

• Serving as the primary OCS point-of-contact and career advisor for students and alumni seeking post-graduate employment in the public sector, including, but not limited to, positions with government agencies, civil legal services offices, public defenders, prosecutors, and other non-profit organizations, as well as state court judicial clerkships.

• Collaborating with colleagues in other administrative departments to further Law School initiatives related to public sector- related externships and pro bono opportunities for students.

• Acting as the administrative lead for the Law School’s annual Government and Public Interest Interview Program.

• Serving as the primary OCS point-of-contact for students seeking post-graduate fellowships through Equal Justice Works, the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, and positions through Federal Honors and other similar programs. 

10% - General Career Service Responsibilities:

• Assisting with tracking, collecting, and reporting student and graduate employment data.

• Supporting employer development efforts of OCS by cultivating employer and alumni contacts to generate employment opportunities for students and graduates.

• At the direction of the Associate Dean for Career Services, participating in the activities of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), including, but not limited to, attendance at various NALP national, regional, section, and interest group meetings and webinars, and also participate in alumni, bar association, and other professional networking and continuing education events; and other duties as assigned.

Please include both a resume and cover letter, or a single PDF with both the resume and cover letter in your application.

Additional Job Description:

Salary: Up to $80,000 commensurate with experience and internal alignment.

Job Profile:

JP0541 - Senior Career Counselor - Exempt - Salary - S12

Qualifications:

Job duties and functions assigned to this position:  
The essential job duties and functions assigned to this position include, but are not limited to:  
  
Counseling students and graduates regarding career goals, professional development, employment options, effective job search strategies, resume and cover letter preparation, and networking and interviewing skills.   

Developing, planning, and conducting job search-related workshops, panels, webinars, and presentations, and directing other staff members and student assistants in the implementation of these programs. Developing and preparing job search- and career and professional development-related resources and targeted communications for students and graduates.   

At the direction of the Associate Dean for Career Services, participating in the activities of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), including, but not limited to, attendance at various NALP national, regional, section, and interest group meetings and webinars, and also participating in alumni, bar association, and other professional networking and continuing education events.   

Assisting with tracking, collecting, and reporting student summer and graduate employment data, and supporting employer development efforts by the Assistant Dean for Employer Relations by cultivating employer and alumni contacts to generate internship and employment opportunities for students and graduates.   

Other duties as assigned.   

 
Required Qualifications  
 
Juris doctor degree 

2-3 years as a practicing attorney in the public sector 

Knowledge of career counseling and career development theory and practice, or the demonstrated ability to develop that knowledge through continuing education and on-the-job training. 

Knowledge of legal career opportunities, particularly in the public sector employment market and with state courts, as well as employment trends in the U.S. legal profession. 

Demonstrated ability to work effectively on an independent basis and as part of a team. 

Excellent written and oral communication skills, including frequent public speaking. 

Demonstrated ability to build constructive relationships with diverse constituencies, including students, graduates, employer representatives, bar/professional associations, faculty, administrators, and staff. 

Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple priorities and work under pressure in an extremely busy environment.  


Preferred Qualifications  
Prior law school career services or lawyer professional development experience.  

Previous experience working with various constituencies to support initiatives related to public sector-related externships and pro bono opportunities for students and fundraising for summer public service stipends and post-graduate public service fellowships. 

Proficiency with using technology for career counseling, program development, and marketing/ outreach to students, graduates, and employers.   

Knowledge of how to successfully use various social media platforms, including, but not limited to, LinkedIn and Instagram, for networking and communication purposes.  

Knowledge of how to identify public sector career opportunities or an ability to acquire such knowledge. 

Existing relationships with a variety of public sector employers. 

 
Percentage Of Time: 70% Career Advising 
Description: The Director of Public Sector Advising will support career advising by: 
providing individual and group counseling to J.D. students and alumni regarding career goals, professional development, employment options, effective job search strategies, resume and cover letter preparation, and networking and interviewing skills; 

designing and delivering career and professional development-related programs; and  

identifying job opportunities and developing and preparing job search-related resources and targeted communications for J.D. students and alumni. 

Compensation Grade:

S12

Recruiting Start Date:

2026-04-01

Review Date:

2026-04-20

Position Restrictions:

Continuing E&G funded position and not term-limited

EEO is the Law.  Applicants can learn more about William & Mary’s status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the "Know Your Rights" poster published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal

 

Background Check: William & Mary is committed to providing a safe campus community. W&M conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check. 

 

Remote Work Disclaimer: Remote work eligibility is not guaranteed and is subject to approval. Employee eligibility depends on the likelihood of the employee succeeding in a remote work arrangement and the supervisor’s ability to manage remote workers. Departments and/or Human Resources may amend, alter, change, delete, or modify eligibility.