Position Description
Position Description, Associate Dean, Admissions, William & Mary Law School
William & Mary Law School solicits applications for the Associate Dean of Admissions. This administrator plays an integral role in the Law School’s operations and reports directly to the Dean.
We encourage interested candidates to email a resumé, a cover letter briefly describing your interest in the position, and any other relevant materials to [[w|mwlawhr]].
Overview
The prime responsibility of the Associate Dean for Admissions (“ADA”) is to formulate and execute a comprehensive plan to attract high-caliber J.D. students to the Law School. The position also encompasses the administration of an extensive financial aid program awarding over $10 million a year. The ideal candidate is an energetic professional enthusiastic about overseeing a critical part of the Law School’s operations. The ADA reports directly to the dean and serves as part of the dean’s leadership team. As an important member of the Law School administration, the dean expects the ADA to provide input on matters falling formally outside of the admissions process.
Primary Responsibilities
The incoming ADA will need to quickly become familiar with the institutional details of W&M Law School and its student body. In addition the ADA will need to learn and remain current on industry best practices, standards, and trends in law school admissions and financial aid.
The ADA manages a staff of four. They assist the ADA with the many tasks that the admissions office must perform, including:
• counseling prospective applicants, applicants, and admittees on the opportunities available at the Law School;
• organizing and attending recruiting events at the Law School, locally, regionally, and around the nation — the job entails significant time traveling;
• forging and maintaining relationships with pre-law advisors and other undergraduate professionals to keep them apprised of the Law School’s strengths and the applicant profiles that the Law School is targeting;
• speaking in front of small and large audiences at receptions and similar events;
• reviewing application files and screening applicants for admission;
• making financial aid awards and overseeing the financial aid budget;
• working with the Law School’s communications department on marketing
materials, both print and on-line, and more generally working to raise the Law
School’s profile among the population of potential applicants;
• integrating current students and alumni into the process of generating applications
and encouraging admittees to enroll at the Law School; and
• overseeing the maintenance of databases and the preparation of reports for
internal and external audiences
The Law School’s admissions office has a long tradition of injecting a personal touch into the sometimes impersonal admissions process, and the dean places a premium on continuing this practice. This includes individualized letters, emails, and phone calls to applicants and admittees.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree along with at least 5 years of experience working in higher education; J.D. strongly preferred, if no J.D. other higher degrees desirable
• Ability to manage a staff independently and effectively
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral
• Ability to work largely autonomously, without close oversight
• Facility with standard software such as MS Word and Excel
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working with both domestic and international students in higher education
• Familiarity with current social media tools used to communicate with prospective
students
• Experience with higher education financial aid programs
• Knowledge of ACES2 and Banner software
• Comfort and facility working with quantitative data
The College of William & Mary and the Law School
William & Mary, a public university in Williamsburg, Virginia, is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Now, in its fourth century, it continues the tradition of excellence as a modern research university. The Law School celebrated its 240th birthday in December 2019. The College and Law School are proud of their role as the alma mater of generations of U.S. patriots, leaders, public servants and citizen lawyers. Their moderate size, dedicated faculty and staff, and distinctive history give William & Mary a unique character among public institutions, and create a learning environment that fosters close interaction and success. Williamsburg offers high quality life and an ideal setting for a modern, collegiate atmosphere with a variety of local and nearby attractions approximately 150 miles south of Washington, D.C.
EEO Statement
The College of William & Mary values diversity and invites applications from underrepresented groups who will enrich the research, teaching and service missions of the university. The College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.