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George Washington University

Associate Director, Career Counseling

🇺🇸 Hybrid - Washington, District Of Columbia 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $66K - $109K 💻 Career Services 🗓️ August 24th, 2026

Edtech.com's Summary

The George Washington University is hiring an Associate Director, Career Counseling for its Law School Career Center. The role involves providing individual and group counseling to J.D. students focusing on career planning, job search strategies, and professional skills development, with additional responsibilities supporting specific student programs and coordinating career-related events.

Highlights
  • Provide career counseling and professional development advice to J.D. students, including self-assessment, job application support, and interview preparation.
  • Support specialized programs such as the GWNY program and students pursuing state court clerkships, immigration, small/medium firms, and business/finance careers.
  • Serve as an advisor and coordinator for the Inns of Court program.
  • Develop and conduct workshops and informational materials on job search techniques and legal career paths.
  • Collaborate with Employer Outreach Team to prepare students for recruiting programs and networking events.
  • Maintain and manage tracking systems for student appointments and job attainment; engage with students to improve participation and outcomes.
  • Work closely with law school administration on public interest and pro bono programs and identify funding opportunities.
  • Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree plus 3 years; J.D. with legal experience preferred.
  • Hiring salary range is $66,095.67 to $109,075.91 annually.
  • Position requires background checks and includes some evening/weekend work; reports to the Director of Career Counseling and Professional Development.

Associate Director, Career Counseling Full Description

Associate Director, Career Counseling
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status
Posting Details
 I. JOB OVERVIEW 
Job Description Summary:  | Established in 1865, The George Washington University Law School is the oldest in Washington, DC. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools. The law school is located on the GW campus in the downtown neighborhood familiarly known as Foggy Bottom.

The Career Center of The George Washington University Law School advises and counsels law students in professional development and assists them in developing career strategies. This position presents a rewarding opportunity to help law school students and recent law school graduates begin their legal careers. The Associate Director, Career Counseling provides individual and small group counseling to J.D. students on all aspects of career planning, including self-assessment, career exploration, job application materials, interview preparation, and professional skills development. This position will have specific responsibilities for developing expertise to support the GWNY program and students seeking state court clerkships, and counsel students who wish to pursue careers in immigration, small and medium firms, and business and finance.

This position will report to the Director, Career Counseling and Professional Development in the Center for Professional Development and Career Strategy with the following representative duties and responsibilities:

Assists J.D. students in determining career goals and objectives through self-evaluation. Assesses students’ articulated career interests and recommends avenues of exploration to meet their career goals. Advises and counsels students on all matters related to career and professional development and the legal job search process. Refers students to mentors and other professional contacts as appropriate. Serves as an advisor in the Inns of Court program and assists with program coordination and delivery of program content. Learns of employment opportunities, and shares them with students and Career Center staff. Works with students on the full life-cycle recruitment process for an entry-level attorney, J.D. advantage, and professional positions including, resume and cover letter review, interview preparation and follow-up, and job offer evaluation. Collaborates with the Employer Outreach Team to ensure student preparedness for participation in recruiting programs and professional activities such as networking events. Develops and conducts skills development workshops on all components of the job search process, such as resume and cover letter writing, developing a network of professional contacts, special applications and interviewing skills, and job search resources. Develops written informational materials on basic career guidance issues such as resume and cover letter writing, networking, and interviewing, as well as informational materials on specific practice areas for which this position has responsibility. Organizes and implements seminar programs, workshops, and panel discussions on a variety of legal and alternative career topics, both independently and in conjunction with alumni and student groups. Provides assistance with onboarding and training for other counselors and the Career Center administrative staff. Creates, implements and manages system for tracking students who have made appointments with office, and student job attainment by Inn. Assists more junior counselors in inputting tracking data by Inn. Engages in outreach to those who have not made appointments yet or whose job attainment status is unknown. Develops Inn-based programming for students with special focus on 2L students after 1L Inns of Court year. Develops strategies for engaging upper-level students who have not yet obtained jobs; refers students to placement team for follow up and job matching. Assists in referring alumni to post-grad fellowships and/or subsidized positions in late fall/winter after graduation. Tracks and adds data regarding meetings, appointments and job attainment to Dean’s weekly report. Participates in marketing and promotion of Career Center programs and services to students, alumni, and employers, including through social media and newsletters. Maintains positive relationships with employers, alumni, students, staff, and faculty. Serves as a consultant to student organizations and faculty on the career and professional development of students. As required, represents the Career Center at national, regional, and local meetings of appropriate professional organizations and associations, and periodically interfaces with law career counselors at other law schools. Assists with the programming, coordination, and delivery during all phases of networking fairs, job fairs, recruitment programs, and other career development programs, which may include travel. Works on special projects as assigned by the Director of Career Counseling and Professional Development and the Associate Dean, Center for Professional Development and Career Strategy. Works Closely with the Associate Dean for Public Interest and Public Service Law and the Assistant Dean for Pro Bono and Advocacy Programs to support the Pro Bono Program, public interest programming, and other initiatives that promote public interest job opportunities. Develops and maintains resources for students interested in public interest opportunities, including outreach to public interest legal employers to determine requirements and hiring practices. Identifies and publicizes funding opportunities for public interest employment.
Performs other work related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:  | Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 5 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 3 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:   
Preferred Qualifications:  | J.D. plus four years of experience at a law firm, legal search firm, or in-house legal department post-admission to a state bar or the District of Columbia Bar are strongly preferred. Counseling experience with law students or young lawyers. Career planning, guidance, and mentorship skills. Understanding of basic coaching techniques. Knowledge and understanding of career practices and opportunities within local, national, and global legal communities. Excellent presentation skills in live and virtual settings. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
Hiring Range  | $66,095.67 - $109,075.91
GW Staff Approach to Pay  | How is pay for new employees determined at GW?
 Healthcare Benefits
GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

 II. JOB DETAILS 
Campus Location:  | Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.
College/School/Department:  | GW Law School (LAW)
Family  | Student Affairs
Sub-Family  | Career Services
Stream  | Individual Contributor
Level  | Level 3
Full-Time/Part-Time:  | Full-Time
Hours Per Week:  | 40
Work Schedule:  | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday-Friday (some evenings and weekends when required)
Will this job require the employee to work on site?  | Yes
Employee Onsite Status  | Hybrid
Telework:  | Yes
Required Background Check:  | Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search
Special Instructions to Applicants:  | Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status
Internal Applicants Only?  | Yes (University Wide)
Posting Number:  | S014417
Job Open Date:  | 08/21/2026
Job Close Date:  | 08/24/2026
If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:  |
Background Screening  | Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.
EEO Statement:  | The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Posting Specific Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
  1. * Are you currently employed with The George Washington University? 
    • No
    • Yes
  2. * For current GW employees, have you completed your Introductory Employment Period (IEP)?  (As a reminder, employees in their IEP are not eligible to apply for other internal university staff and research positions until the IEP is complete.) 
    • Yes, IEP complete
    • No, still in IEP
    • N/a - not a current GW employee
  3. * What is your expected salary range? 
    (Open Ended Question)
Documents needed to Apply
Required Documents
  1. Resume
Optional Documents
  1. Cover Letter
Human Resource
Management & Development
2013 H Street, NW, 3rd Floor
 Washington, DC 20006

Phone: 202-994-8500
Fax: 202-994-9680
Email: [email protected]
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