Full-time, Ongoing

Overall Purpose

Reporting to the Assistant Dean, the incumbent will work in providing a full-service, comprehensive Law Career Services and Resource Centre, with particular responsibility for career counselling and placement. Supports key Faculty objectives for attracting the highest calibre students by providing outstanding career services and recruiting opportunities, and by fostering stronger and broader relationships with the legal, business and non-profit community in general. Develops and manages the implementation of strategic recruitment plans to increase local, national and international employment opportunities for J.D. students. Provides services and career counselling to the students and future alumni of TRU Law in areas of practice, public interest or social justice and on alternatives to practice. Facilitates interaction between legal recruiters and, law students by planning for, and providing recruitment events and activities. Supervises CUPE Administrative staff and volunteers.

Major Responsibilities

· Provides strategic leadership to the Faculty of Law in the area of developing and implementing career services to enhance the quality of career and recruiting resources.

· Works in cooperation with other Faculty departments to implement programming and provide services for students, alumni, supporters and benefactors of TRU Law.

· Responsible for monitoring the Law Faculty Career Services budget.

· Develops and implements innovative strategies to maximize the benefit to students from the allocation of scarce financial resources, including the development of new summer internship programs for students.

· Develops and implements strategies to ensure that services and resources are aggressively marketed to students, recruiters and employers and potential employers in the legal and business community, locally, nationally and internationally.

· Liaises with professional associations such as the Canadian (CLCDN) and North American (NALP) Career Services professional associations, with Law Societies, and with local, provincial and national bar association groups.

· Researches and identifies local, national and international firms and organizations that can provide quality work experiences and internship opportunities for students through multiple mediums.

· Works with the Director Development - Law to develop and initiate surveys in support of collecting student and alumni information to ensure program development and service provision that accurately address the needs of TRU.

· Researches and obtains information on career services activities at other law schools and, develops strategies as appropriate for their adoption and adaptation to fit the culture of TRU Law School.

· Serves as an information source for students regarding market trends and hiring practices in both national and international markets, for mainstream and alternative career options, as well as internship opportunities and clerkships with all levels of court.

· Counsels law students on all aspects of career planning, including but not limited to application preparation, career transitions, lateral moves, Professional Legal Training Course preparation and compliance with rules of Law Societies across Canada.

· Plans and executes career fairs, and organizes panel discussions, training sessions and mock interviews for students and alumni, enhancing their job search, self-marketing and job interviewing skills.

· Provides advice on areas of practice including but not limited to private practice, public interest, social justice, including alternatives to practice.

· Creates and maintains career related resources for the student and alumni.

· Develops and maintains relationships with current and potential employers by: personal firm/organization visits, assessing client needs, helping firms/organizations integrate their strategy with the TRU Faculty of Law programs and events, linking recruiters with the Faculty, providing targeted recruitment planning and acting as a recruitment resource.

· Provides profile raising opportunities for the employers at the Faculty of Law by facilitating direct access to the student body (via clubs, student events and Career Services skills and training workshops).

· Implements strategies that enhance student experiences through significant interaction including mentoring and shadowing programs.

· Oversees academic advising regarding upper year course choices for career planning, including recommendations for bar course and area of practice purposes.

Required Knowledge/Skills

· Law degree (LL.B./J.D.)

· Minimum 5-7 years’ experience in law, legal career services, University Career office or related field

· Membership in provincial bar association preferred