[Law School]

The Director of Admissions manages the admissions process for the Alexander Blewett III Law School. This is a professional, administrative position which requires independent decision-making, strategic planning, policy change proposals, and measurable goals. It is a full-time position which often requires evening and/or weekend hours. The primary components of the position include:

Policy-making

General admissions policy is determined by the faculty Admissions Committee, with recommendations made by the Director of Admissions. Policy recommendations are based on the ABA, AALS and LSAC standards, regulations and policies and any changes therein, as well as observations and data reported from previous admissions cycles and ideas obtained by attending national conferences and networking with law school professionals.

Recruiting

The Director of Admissions is the law school’s primary recruiting ambassador and is responsible for enhancing the quantity and quality of the applicant pool. This requires ongoing research and the development of new recruitment strategies based on objective, historical data and the most recent industry innovations. The Director of Admissions is ultimately responsible for:

• Creating, reviewing, updating, and disseminating admissions publications and marketing pieces, including website material, to prospective students, undergraduate programs, and prelaw advisors
• Planning, creating and sustaining pipeline programs, particularly for minority student recruitment
• Travelling extensively during the week, weekends, and evenings in order to represent the law school at conferences, recruiting events, fairs and campus visits nationwide
• Planning and executing on/off campus recruiting events such as Open Houses, Admitted Students’ Day, and individual campus visits
• Collaborating and coordinating directly with faculty, students and Student Ambassadors on recruiting activities

Advising Prospective Students

Advises and counsels prospective Law School applicants regarding the application requirements and procedure, the programs and advantages the Alexander Blewett III School of Law has to offer, and general career path choices. Advising prospective students requires the exercise of independent judgment and professionalism.  Advising includes:

• Managing incoming and outgoing communications with prospective students via email, telephone and in person
• Speaking to large populations of students to effectively communicate the opportunities available at the Law School
• Responding to prospective student requests for information and investigating solutions to recurring student issues and concerns with the admissions process
• Providing a buffer to the anonymous members of the Admissions Committee and the Dean(s) from applicants seeking to influence the admissions process

Applicant File Review and Decision-making

Makes decisions related to Law School applicants as delegated by the faculty admissions committee, including:

• Determination of the residency status of each applicant based upon guidelines established by the Montana Board of Regents
• Review of applications with index numbers above or below values established by the Admissions Committee and make decisions to admit, deny, or refer to the committee, with committee approval
• Determination of potential scholarship recipients and award of scholarships to worthy applicants to encourage matriculation

Administrative Support

Provides administrative support for the faculty Admissions Committee to assist in the admissions decision process. This support includes:

• Establishing the admissions cycle schedule to ensure the timely review of applications, offers of admission, and follow-up communication
• Establishing admission offer goals by analyzing historical data and predicting future yield rates
• Assigning applications to committee members in an equal and random process
• Organizing committee recommendations and assisting the chairperson with committee meetings
• Promptly informing applicants of committee decisions

Data and File Management

Manages applicant files through LSAC’s web-based electronic file system, ACES2, and manages admitted student files through UM’s Banner system. The Director of Admissions:

• Reports applicant data as requested by the Admissions Committee, Dean(s), administrators or _ad hoc _committees
• Compiles demographic attributes of each matriculated class
• Compiles and reports data for the Board of Visitors, ABA and U.S. News and World Report, as well as in response to other public requests

New Enrollment Activities.

Provides guidance to newly admitted students to help them prepare for Law School matriculation. The Director of Admissions also plays an important role in organizing and executing the Introductory Program and any orientation necessary for visiting and transfer students. These activities include continued contact with applicants following admission and commitment, posting/ordering summer reading materials, assisting with course registration, providing support for the Introductory Program, and publishing the entering class picture look-book.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND SKILLS

• Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited Law School, OR Bachelor’s degree in addition to three (3) years of closely related experience in Law School admissions; or any combination of experience and education that provides the competencies necessary to successfully discharge the duties and responsibilities assigned to the position
• Proficient with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook
• Strong leadership and professional skills
• Creative ability to develop programs to increase applicants and yield rates
• Ability to travel extensively, including some evening and work some weekends as needed
• Ability to work well with a diverse population of prospective students
• Strong oral and written communication and presentation skills
• General knowledge of legal education

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of ACES2 law school admissions software
• Administrative experience in graduate professional or legal education
• Understanding of higher education recruitment and enrollment trends and best practices at the graduate professional school level
• Experience working with the legal community in Montana
• Experience in marketing higher education

POSITION DETAILS

• Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, Montana University System (MUS) Contract and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.
• Salary for this position is $50,000 - $65,000 per year commensurate with qualifications

About the Alexander Blewett III School of Law, UM, and Missoula

The Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana prepares students for the people-oriented practice of law by integrating theory and practice in a competency-based curriculum; serves as the academic legal center in Montana; and contributes to the development of national, state, and tribal law and legal institutions through teaching, scholarship, and service.

The University of Montana is a unit of the Montana University System with over 10,000 students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 72,000, surrounded by mountain grandeur which was recently ranked in the “top 20 best college towns with a population of less than 250,000” by the American Institute for Economic Research and ranked 9th in Outside Magazine’s “The 16 Greatest Places to Live in America” in 2014. Many national publications recognize Missoula for its high quality of life. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere.  The University of Montana offers eligible employees a generous benefits package that positively separates UM from other local employers and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five PRIORITIES FOR ACTION: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MISSOULA, AND THE STATE OF MONTANA, PLEASE VISIT THE LINKS BELOW.

University of Montana

• Video: UM Lifestyles
• University Highlights

City of Missoula

• Video: There's This Place
• Destination Missoula
• Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce

The State of Montana

• Visit Montana

Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/VETERAN'S PREFERENCE Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. REFERENCES: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. TESTING: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How to Apply

PRIORITY APPLICATION DATE: FEBRUARY 3, 2020 by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)

APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY THIS DATE WILL BE GUARANTEED CONSIDERATION.  APPLICATION REVIEW WILL BEGIN AFTER DATE ABOVE AND CONTINUE UNTIL THE POSITION IS FILLED. 

Please submit the following application materials via "New Resume/CV" button below. 

 *Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.

• COVER LETTER – DESCRIBING RESEARCH INTERESTS, EXPERIENCE, CAREER GOALS, AND YOUR FIT FOR THE POSITION
• DETAILED CV - listing education, publications, skills, etc
• Names and contact information for THREE (3) PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES

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Required Skills Required Experience

• Demonstrated ability to work successfully at coordinating care across a continuum of care required
• Must demonstrate the following characteristics: Flexibility with schedule, ability to function as a team member in assessing the needs of individuals, the ability to contribute in the development of policies and procedures, creativity and resourcefulness in seeking pathways that will provide support to the program
• Bilingual skills and/or experience with multicultural populations preferred