Government and Public Interest Career Counselor

Georgetown University Law Center Office of Public Interest and Community Service
Washington, DC
Posted 

Job Description

Georgetown Law’s Office of Public Interest and Community Service (OPICS) is seeking a full-time career counselor to join our staff.

About OPICS:

OPICS is Georgetown’s primary career office for students interested in exploring public service legal opportunities. OPICS is a team-oriented, student-centered office with an exceptionally collegial staff.

OPICS Mission:

OPICS cultivates an ethic of service among the Georgetown Law community by promoting pro bono opportunities, administering the pro bono pledge, supporting student groups, raising awareness about the access to justice gap, and fostering connections among students and the greater legal community.

OPICS empowers students to achieve their professional goals through individualized counseling and through providing resources, recruitment and networking opportunities, and other programming designed to support the needs of all students, including those traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession.

OPICS acknowledges and removes barriers to public service career, internship, and volunteer opportunities by:

  • breaking down and bridging the dichotomy between the public and private sectors;
  • demystifying and promoting summer funding, public service loan forgiveness, and loan repayment programs; and
  • advocating and collaborating for systemic change to make the legal field more equitable.

OPICS fosters a community that prioritizes equity, nurtures belonging, and is dedicated to advancing justice.

About the Position:

The OPICS Counselor will help law students seeking summer, academic term, and postgraduate opportunities in the public sector explore their interests and strategize about career options. Additionally, the incumbent will:

  • Counsel individual students, including those from groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession;
  • Provide feedback on resumes and cover letters, and guidance on networking and interview strategies;
  • Design and implement programs and communications (e.g., emails, listservs) to educate students and graduates on professional skills and public interest career options;
  • Participate in recruitment programs, employer outreach, and alumni networking events;
  • Collaborate closely with Georgetown offices, student groups, and outside organizations; and
  • Cultivate relationships with employers and alumni.

About the Candidate:

The ideal candidate will have:

  • Demonstrated commitment to equity and cultural sensitivity as well as experience using an equity lens in their professional work and/or personal lives;
  • Experience and/or training in counseling, coaching, or advising individuals (including peers or mentees) in navigating career decisions;
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate with, listen to, and hold space for people from a wide variety of backgrounds, including those different from their own;
  • Experience with collaboration, teamwork, and relationship building;
  • A J.D. and at least 5 years of experience in a law school career advising office, a government or public interest organization, or a similar setting, before or after law school.

Georgetown University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer fully dedicated to achieving a diverse faculty and staff. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation), disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.