Position Overview
The Faculty of Law is currently seeking a Full-time Limited Term Career Advisor for approximately 13 months.
The Career Advisor will report to the Operations Manager and work under the general direction of the Director of the Law Career and Professional Development Office (CPDO) to provide career advising to law students, with a particular focus on access to justice, small, rural and regional firms career advising. The Career Advisor will organize and develop career programming and events for over 300 law students, and assist in the development of materials/resources for the CPDO, particularly in their area of responsibility. The incumbent will also be in contact with the legal profession including law firms and public interest organizations in Calgary, regionally, nationally and internationally. The Career Advisor will engage professionals, including lawyers at the Partner and Associate level, the judiciary, as well as administrators, and ensure that both the law community and students receive information in an efficient and courteous manner.
There is a great deal of pressure when placing students in articling placements and timelines are often extremely tight and happening continuously through all three years of the Faculty of Law program. Standard working hours are the norm, however availability to attend early morning and evening networking, professional association, and other industry events is critical, as well as travel to events across Canada and to the USA.
Position Description
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
- Develops, implements and delivers Faculty of Law CPDO programming to assist law students, focusing on public interest, access to justice, clerkships, and small, rural, and regional firms.
- Provides career-related advising for students including: resume reviewing, interview skills evaluation, coaching, assisting students with job search career exploration, professionalism in the industry, applications, recruitment timing, networking, and offer/salary negotiation issues.
- Assists students with evaluating if further counseling services are necessary. These activities are accomplished through personal appointments, email and telephone contact.
- Provides career advising to law students, with a particular focus on career planning and job search strategies.
- Participates in the development and updating of career resources/materials, developing internship opportunities for law students.
- Identifies and researches trends, initiatives and opportunities in areas including but not limited to: resume/cover letters, interview formats, questions and styles, creative job search. networking, workplace trends, hiring practices and career areas
- Manages the international studentship/internship program with the United Nations
- Keeps accurate student advising records, recording feedback from students for the purpose of continuous improvement.
- Liases with the law profession to maximuze employment opportunities for law students.
- Prepares contract reports after employer outreach and communicates with appropriate team members.
- Markets and promotes University of Calgary Faculty of Law students to the legal industry and to secure employment opportunities with an emphasis on supporting of law students securing articling placements in public interest, small, rural and regional areas in particular.
- Develops relationships with student clubs, appropriate faculty members, and professional associations in order to facilitate the design and implementation of appropriate career solutions for students.
- Meets with recruitment contacts in the legal community on interviewing styles used, skills needed, and geographic recruiting differences.
- Develops and maintains a network of contacts with legal firms, legal industries, and career professionals, and leverages this network to facilitate the success of the CPDO to meet the needs of students, employers, and the law school.
- Surveys student stakeholders to keep apprised of clients’ needs and works within the CPDO team to adapt priorities accordingly.
Qualifications / Requirements:
- Post-secondary education is required, preferably in Human Resources, Business Administration, Law or a related field. Preference will be given to applicants with a law degree, and work experience in the legal community.
- A career designation, or work towards a career designation, such as with the Career Development Association of Alberta (CDAA) is preferred.
- Previous experience working in a recruitment or career development position is considered a strong asset, particularly in the legal field.
- Knowledge of the law profession is an asset.
- Excellent computer skills with particular experience using all MS Office applications.
- Proven organizational skills with an ability to set priorities and complete multiple tasks within specified timelines in order to meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work both independently and as part of a team within a large, complex, dynamic and sophisticated organization.
- Demonstrated ability to creatively resolve problems or act on developed opportunities is required.
- Demonstrated professionalism, tact and maturity in handling highly sensitive and confidential information ethically and with discretion.
- Proven customer service skills to provide timely information to a diverse clientele respectfully and effectively.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills to draft clear, concise correspondence, as well as to respond to enquiries with tact, confidentiality and discretion.
- Demonstrated attention to detail and accuracy is essential.
Application Deadline: July 21, 2022
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
Additional Information
This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase III.
To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website. For more information visit Careers in the Faculty of Law.
The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
About the University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.