Associate Director of Judicial Clerkships

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Job Profile Title

Job Description Summary

Job Description

Lead the strategic vision for judicial clerkship programming and services for Penn Carey Law students and alumni. Develop and implement programs and services and provide career counseling on judicial clerkship career strategy.

• Build and maintain a deep and evolving expertise in judicial clerkship opportunities across judicial forums, including hiring trends and timelines, selection practices, the nature of the work and how it relates to other career goals, and alumni networks.
• Develop and oversee the vision for judicial clerkship and internship career strategy for Penn Carey Law students and alumni, including strategies for identifying and reaching a broad population with potential interest in a judicial clerkship and ensuring Penn Carey Law candidates have access to the resources and support they need to be as competitive as possible for the judicial clerkship opportunities they pursue.
• In collaboration with the faculty committee, lead the design and implementation of judicial clerkship and internship programs, services, and resources to support Penn Carey Law students and alumni in learning about and pursuing careers that include judicial clerkships and/or internships.
• Provide career counseling and job search support to students and alumni pursuing judicial clerkships. Coach and advise students in the development of an application strategy and application materials, networking, and interview preparation, including as may be required for specialized and elite opportunities. Review and provide feedback on application materials, including cover letters and resumes.
• Educate OCS colleagues on clerkship trends to ensure integrated and up to date career advising services.

Manage the administrative processing of recommendation letters and paper clerkship applications for Penn Carey Law students and alumni. Manage technology resources related to judicial clerkship careers.

• Direct, administer, and organize clerkship application processes and compilation and delivery of application materials, including recommendation letters. Collaborate with law school colleagues (e.g., fellow OCS colleagues, faculty support, and facilities) to ensure effective and efficient processes.
• Format recommendation letters utilizing mail merge and the Microsoft Office suite of programs.   
• Manage technology resources relating to judicial clerkship applications, career information, and events, including Canvas courses, LiveWhale, Symplicity, 12Twenty, OSCAR, and Mailchimp.

Lead the strategic vision for academic careers programming and services for Penn Carey Law students, alumni, and academic fellows. Develop and implement programs and services and provide career counseling on pursuing a career in academia.

• Develop and oversee the vision for academic career strategy. In collaboration with faculty committee, design and implement programs, services, and resources to support students and alumni with interest in learning about or pursuing a career in legal academia.
• Provide career counseling and job search support to students, alumni, and academic fellows exploring careers in academia. In collaboration with faculty partners, create career-related programming for academic fellows as appropriate. Compile application packet for candidates for faculty positions and disseminate to law schools for consideration.
• Educate OCS colleagues on academic careers trends to ensure integrated and up to date career advising services.
• Coordinate with faculty to connect students to faculty research assistantships.

Reporting and Representation

• Prepare and present reports as requested, including semiannual faculty committee reports to the faculty committees and the Dean.
• Build and maintain relationships with judges by attending events, inviting judges to participate in clerkship and judicial career programs, and interacting with chambers staff.  Participate in the Penn Carey Law Inn of Court.
• Develop relationships and presence with industry colleagues by attending conferences, programs, and meetings, including NALP and law school peer groups.
• Facilitate activities of faculty judicial clerkship and academic committees, including tracking student interest, guidance and mentorship, and application support. Keep faculty committee apprised of clerkship-related programs and services, as well as employment outcomes. Incorporate input from these stakeholders into strategic planning.
• Track clerkship outcomes using Microsoft Excel.

Provide career counseling and support the development and delivery of career education programs across legal sectors

• Provide career counseling and job search support to students and alumni pursuing a variety of career paths, including public interest, government, and private sector careers.
• Collaborate with the Directors of Private Sector Recruiting and Public Sector Career Strategy to develop and lead programming that educates students about career development and career options, with this work concentrated during periods of the clerkship cycle when clerkship advising and related responsibilities are less time-intensive.
• Review and provide feedback on application materials, including resumes, cover letters, and personal statements. Conduct mock interviews.

Other duties as assigned

Candidate Qualifications:

• The successful candidate will hold an advanced degree, J.D. strongly preferred and have a minimum of three to five years of legal work experience with increasing responsibility in a legal organization, government agency, law firm, academic institution, business environment or other relevant professional setting. Experience, either as a judicial clerk, or working as a judicial clerkship or academic careers counselor, is preferred. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to apply innovative and strategic thinking to design, plan and implement educational programming in career planning. We seek candidates who have established track records as collaborators in the workplace. 
• A cover letter is required with the application.

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law. For clarity, this includes not discriminating on the basis of ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, and military status as required by the American Bar Association Standard 205.

Job Location - City, State

Department / School

Pay Range

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

​

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay