Director of Academic Success

Department: Law Student Services
Salary/Grade: EXS/11

Target hiring range for this position will be between $98,447 to $130,000 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:

Responsible for curating and directing all academic success programming, counseling JD students on their academic preparation and success, providing bar exam support, and supporting the Associate Dean of Student Services as needed. This includes planning, coordination, project management, internal and external networking, conflict management, and teamwork within Student Services as outlined in the duties described below.

Specific Responsibilities :

• Create and manage all academic excellence programming in Summer, Fall, and Spring, to most effectively, efficiently, and successfully meet the academic support needs of Northwestern Law students.
• Advise and counsel individual students on academic issues, educational decisions, academic progress and performance, and objectives.
• Participate in the Dean's Wraparound Support initiative which involves providing strategic, intentional support to at-risk first-year students
• Develop and teach courses designed to provide academic support to at-risk students and to develop skills critical to student success, including executive functioning, effective legal writing, exam preparation, time management, and organization.
• Provide bar passage support through bar preparation courses taught to targeted third year students, individualized support, and the organization and oversight of supplement bar preparation programming during the summer
• Conduct state bar character and fitness counseling with students and work with the Dean of Students and state bar examiners on character and fitness reports and issues.
• Solicit, select, and supervise APEx Advisors (second and third year law students) who will support Director and counsel law students.
• Organize and manage the intensive pre-matriculation Summer Law Preparation Program. Serve as lead instructor in the program and coordinate all sessions taught by others.
• Form network alliances with key internal department partners and external partners.
• Work with faculty to support student academic success in their courses.
• Support Student Services and take on other assignments as delegated by the Associate Dean of Student Services.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school, with evidence of academic success in the law school setting.
• Minimum 2-5 years of legal or comparable experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of the idiosyncrasies of law school learning and some knowledge of the subject matter of the first year required courses.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong interpersonal relationship with students, staff, legal professionals, and the general public.
• Proven ability to exercise initiative and judgment in coordinating and executing various programs to serve the best interest of all parties involved.
• Must be self-directed and willing to identify and assume new responsibilities as the needs of the Law School change and grow.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity within the legal profession and knowledge of current diversity trends.
• Must be willing to travel and, when necessary, work a flexible schedule (evening and weekend events are sometimes necessary).
• Strong computer skills, including word processing and spreadsheet applications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience tutoring, mentoring, or serving as a teaching assistant in a law school setting.
• Prior experience counseling in a law school or comparable setting strongly preferred.
• Prior experience in both advocacy and conflict management/resolution settings.
• Prior experience that encompasses broad range of client interactions, including, at least, racial, ethnic, religious, geographic, sexual identity, and socio-economic status diversity.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Highly organized
• Ability to prioritize, manage, and complete complex tasks
• Strong communicator
• Experienced advocate
• Proven conflict management/resolution ability
• Efficient time management
• High degree of comfort working with a wide variety of competing constituencies
• Experience working with social media

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.