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The University of Washington (UW) is proud to be one of the nation’s premier educational and research institutions. Our people are the most important asset in our pursuit of achieving excellence in education, research, and community service. Our staff not only enjoys outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities, but also an environment noted for diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.
The mission of William H. Gates Public Service Law Program (Gates PSL) is to create a culture at the University of Washington School of Law (UW Law) where students, faculty and staff are inspired and empowered to make public service, equity and inclusion an integral feature of their professional lives.
A part of Student and Career Services, Gates PSL is the central hub for public service/public interest law events and programming, career coaching and academic advising, pro bono service, and leadership development at UW Law.
Under the direction of the Gates PSL Director, the Assistant Director will provide specialized public service career coaching and academic advising to Gates Scholars and other law students and graduates who wish to pursue public service law pathways. This includes providing individualized and group coaching/advising sessions; developing, organizing, facilitating, leading presentations, workshops, panels and trainings related to public service law pathways as well as other topics including equity and inclusion, professionalism and leadership development; engaging in strategic outreach and relationship building with public service legal employers locally and nationally; as well as fostering and supporting leadership opportunities for students and student organizations with regard to various public service activities and initiatives, and working in collaboration with other faculty and staff in the equity, justice and inclusion communities.
Gates PSL is also home to the law school’s flagship and nationally recognized public service law scholarship program, the Gates Scholars Program. The Gates Scholars Program began in November 2005 at the UW Law. Created in honor of William H. Gates Sr., a prominent Washington state attorney and public servant, the program awards five scholarships on an annual basis to first year students entering the J.D. program. The program requires that scholars work five years in qualifying public service positions following graduation.
The Assistant Director will be primarily responsible for managing the Gates Scholars Program which includes but is not limited to developing and implementing policies and procedures to recruit and retain Gates Scholars. Program development duties also include organizing activities that enrich the scholars’ law school experience, such as an annual retreat for 1Ls scholars, monthly dinners, and providing career coaching and academic advising. The position will be responsible for developing strong relationships with the Scholars program alumni and monitoring their professional service.
The Assistant Director will also provide leadership assistance to the Director in managing the strategic planning, budget and administration of the Gates PSL including partnering with the Assistant Dean for Finance and Operations on fiscal and budgetary matters and reporting to the Gates PSL Advisory Board.
This position must be able to work collaboratively as part of a holistic team that is first and foremost student-centered. The position requires a compassionate, encouraging, supportive and mentoring-focused disposition towards students. The position must have cultural and cross- difference competency to work with students from diverse backgrounds including but not limited to people of color, LGBTQI, low-income and other underrepresented groups in legal education and the legal profession. The position must make independent decisions and recommendations in a fast- paced, high-pressure environment. The individual must remain aware of the rapidly changing challenges and opportunities for students, legal education, legal profession and community needs. This position must have a specialized understanding of community empowerment, social, economic and racial justice and use independent judgment to develop, plan, and implement programs and events that support networking and opportunities in the area of student life.
The position will be expected to anticipate issues as they arise, and independently trouble-shoot administrative, programmatic and student concerns.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Gates Scholars Program Administration
· Policies & Procedures
- Oversee, maintain, update and implement policies and procedures outlined in the Gates Scholars Program manual and ensure continued compliance with UW policies and other internal policies
· Outreach, Recruitment & Selection Process
- Represent the Scholars Program within and outside the campus community providing program information and promoting public service law
- Recruit scholars through public information, speaking engagements, law school recruiting events
- Collaborate with the Law School Admissions office to recruit scholars and consult on application process management
- Review applications and make recommendations to the selection committee
- Recruit, train and serve and convene selection and interview committees
- Meet with finalists and attempt to retain non-selected finalists to enroll at UW Law
- Content manage and update the Gates Scholars Program’s website
· Manage logistics and execution of Gates Scholars events including fall 1L retreat, monthly dinners, and spring finalist weekend and reception
· Post-Graduate Compliance, Reporting & Fiscal Management
- Manage post-graduate compliance with obligations including tracking annual reporting from employers
- Conduct semi-annual check-ins and reporting to UW Student Fiscal Services
- Troubleshoot problems and resolve promissory note questions, etc.
· Track media on matriculated and graduated scholars and provide updates on scholars and graduates to Gates PSL Advisory Board as well as UW Law marketing team on an as needed basis.
· Partner with the Director and provide strategic planning & budgeting support
- To develop an overall strategic vision for the Gates PSL that aligns with the mission of UW Law
- To develop and implement programming and planning to meet the established goals for the Gates PSL
- To evaluate the work of the Gates PSL and make recommendations to the Director on ways to improve outcomes and outreach;
- To create an annual budget
- To create an annual report to the Gates Foundation which includes a budget, scholars’ summer internships and post graduate employment (October)
- To convene annual meetings with Treasury and the Law School’s Assistant Dean for Finance and Operations to review financials, assess and confirm reinvestment strategy and budget
- To recruit, retain and convene Gates PSL Advisory Board members and convene quarterly meetings,
se agenda and prepare materials
· Step in for the Director and represent the program on behalf of the Director on an as needed basis
· Supervise Administrative Assistant, provide performance management, professional development and training of this staff member
Student Advising & Coaching
· Conduct quarterly individualized public service advising and coaching meetings with Gates scholars; and annual meetings with graduated Gates Scholars still under obligation
· Provide public service advising and coaching to non-Gates scholars as assigned
· Specialized public service law coaching and advising includes
- Providing individual and group career coaching sessions on topics such as: self-assessments, goal-setting, strategic career planning, resumes, cover letters, networking, mock interviews, developing an elevator pitch, decision-making, professional communication and etiquette and hiring trends
- The full array public service law employers and pathways in coaching practice such as: non- profit organizations, government, low bono, plaintiff-side public interest private firms, pro bono, judicial clerkships, legislative, policy, academic and non-traditional public interest
- Providing academic advising on graduation requirements, public service graduation requirements, pro bono honors society recognition criteria as well as the public service law concentration track
- Together with the Director, providing leadership development coaching to UW Law student-led pro bono projects and the Public Interest Law Association;
- Providing guidance, mentorship, coaching and support to scholars and other assigned students throughout their law school experience
· Conduct and organize presentations, trainings, panels and workshops related to public service careers, pro bono and other public interest, social justice and related equity and inclusion topics
- Collaborate with Director in planning and execution of Social Justice Tuesdays and the Gates PSL Speaker Series
· Stay informed of public services law career trends and the legal job market by
- Engaging in relationship building with public interest/public service employers to help cultivate internship and employment opportunities for students and graduates
- Representing the Gates PSL program and UW Law and attend events such as receptions, luncheons, breakfasts hosted by public service organizations and bar associations
- Attending relevant conferences and career fairs as appropriate such as Equal Justice Works; NALP; Trina Grillo Social Justice Retreat; Equal Justice Conference and the NW Public Service Career Fair
- Strategically serving on select public interest and/or access to justice related committees/ advisory boards on local and/or national level as needed and time permitting
- Fostering relationships with faculty and staff at the law school and across campus regarding public service projects and activities
Loan Repayment Assistance Program Management
- Respond to inquiries regarding the program
- Update and process application forms and renewals
- Advertise program application process every winter/spring
- Manage content of LRAP web pages
- Recruit and convene selection committee (meets twice in Spring)
- Partner with business office for updated endowment and operating budget data
- Synthesize annual budget data and make recommendations to the selection committee on number of awards that can be made
- Present budget projections to selection committee
- Process promissory notes
- Responsible for all correspondence with applicants and renewing recipients
- Develop expertise and answer inquiries regarding education debt relief programs such as Federal Income Driven Repayment Plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- Develop program manual that outlines and organizes the program’s policies and procedures
Other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS:
· Master's degree in Business, Political Science, or related field (JD preferred)
· A minimum of 2 years working in public interest/public service law including non-profit agencies and/or government agencies
· Progressively responsible project or program management experience that can be combined with above public interest/public service experience
· Candidates should also have a combination of education and relevant experience
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
· Demonstrated cultural and cross-difference competency and communication; demonstrated commitment to access to justice; demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity
· Strong interpersonal communication skills including active listening, self-awareness, relatability, empathy and compassion
· Strong public speaking and presentation skills
· Knowledge of public service law careers and experience in public service law as a profession
· Excellent oral, written and grammatical communication skills including attention to detail and demonstrated competency in preparation of correspondence and reports
· Efficient organization and prioritization of responsibilities
· Superior communication and team collaboration skills including professionalism, diplomacy, and discretion
· Strong customer service skills and experience in dealing with diverse communities, constituents and/or stakeholders at local, national and/or global levels
· Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively while also working professionally under the pressure of frequent deadlines in a fast-paced environment
· Demonstrated ability to work independently, problem solve, take initiative, set priorities and handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively
· Display flexibility and the willingness to assume new tasks or special projects
· Strong computer skills in Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Access, Google drive, LinkedIn
· Ability to work a flexible schedule including occasional evening and weekends; must be willing to travel
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/ registration.
DESIRED:
· A background in either community organizing, civic engagement, social work and/or teaching
· Pro bono legal experience
· Interest and/or experience in systems thinking and strategic planning
· Interest, knowledge and/or experience with event planning
· Interest, knowledge and/or experience with basic graphic design
· Familiarity with adult learning styles and pedagogy
· Experience with or knowledge of post graduate legal fellowships
· Evidence of leadership in forging strategic partnerships with organizations and programs
· Knowledge of responsible fiscal management
· Knowledge of leadership development methodologies
· Experience with or knowledge of supervising, mentoring, advising or coaching law students
· Self-awareness and growth-oriented mindset
· Experience with or knowledge of supervision best practices
· A good sense of humor and spirit of adventure
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