Position Summary
Under the general direction of the Executive Director of the David J Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy, the Associate Director will lead OPIC by providing academic and career counseling to UCLA Law students and alumni interested in pursuing public interest opportunities. The Associate Director will help plan and execute a variety of programs, events, and conferences for students and alumni exploring these opportunities, and will collaborate with UCLA Law’s Office of Career Services and other programs to support students and alumni. The Associate Director will also strengthen and grow UCLA Law’s relationships with public interest employers and stakeholders, participate in fundraising, evaluate existing systems, and develop new initiatives in response to changes in the public interest job landscape.
Responsibilities
- Provide academic and career counseling to UCLA Law students and alumni pursuing public interest careers, including advising on course selections, externships, internships, fellowships, funding opportunities, extracurricular activities, career fairs, networking, and more.
- Plan and execute programs, events, and conferences such as the Annual Southern California Public Interest/Sector Career Day and UCLA Law’s post‑graduate and summer fellowship programs.
- Lead and track progress toward meeting OPIC’s counseling goals and develop supportive written materials and guides for students.
- Collaborate with UCLA Law’s Office of Career Services and other programs, centers, departments, and specializations to best support students and alumni.
- Strengthen and grow UCLA Law’s relationships with public‑interest employers, alumni, and other stakeholders.
- Participate in fundraising for UCLA Law public‑interest programs and regularly evaluate existing systems and processes, developing new initiatives as needed.
Qualifications
- 5 or more years professional experience as an attorney in public interest practice and/or as a public interest career counselor. (Required)
- Advanced knowledge of current public interest practice, including diverse forms of public interest practice and public interest practice settings, career paths in public interest practice, and funding sources, especially for new attorneys. (Required)
- A true passion for advancing the work of the UCLA School of Law’s public interest programs broadly and the Office of Public Interest Counseling specifically. (Required)
- Experience counseling, supervising, and/or mentoring law students working in a public interest capacity. (Required)
- Excellent writing skills. Superior editing, proofreading skills and attention to detail. Ability to prepare professional handbooks, handouts, articles and newsletters. (Required)
- Excellent oral communications skills to communicate effectively and diplomatically and present professional workshops, panels, presentations. (Required)
- Fluency in office technology (i.e., comfortable using basic office machinery; advanced skills in internet research; strong familiarity with videoconferencing platforms; proficiency in Office 365, Adobe Acrobat, Google Drive). Experience with Symplicity. (Required)
- Advanced ability to initiate activities independently and organize, prioritize and complete work in a timely manner despite deadlines and competing requests. (Required)
- Highly responsible, sound professional judgment and strong time management skills required; ability to maintain confidentiality and discern priorities. (Required)
- Demonstrated ability to organize and implement the logistical requirements of events and programs, including materials, information, and people in a systematic way to optimize efficiency. (Required)
- Skill in listening perceptively and conveying understanding, establishing rapport, gaining trust, motivating others, and stimulating people to effective action. (Required)
- Skill in interacting effectively with individuals or groups representing various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds. (Required)
Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience/training. (Required)
- Juris Doctor (JD) Degree. (Preferred)
Special Conditions for Employment
- Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
- Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.
- Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.
- Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a team and manage and maintain positive and proactive relationships with students, alumni, employers, law school faculty and staff, donors and community partners both remotely and in person. (Required)
- Occasional evening/weekend hours and accessibility. (Required)
Salary & Compensation
UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common.
Schedule
Monday – Friday | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST
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