The JD Career Advisors Section is for NALP members who have an interest in or responsibility for the career development of law students and alumni. The section will include work groups on developing resources and conference programming on career development. The section will also serve as the home for the CSO Employer Outreach Work Group, and for those interested in JD advantage careers and alumni career services.

Join Section Group on NALPconnect

2025-26 Section Co-Chairs: Kathy Greenier, University of Richmond School of Law and Erik Turkman, George Washington University Law School

July 2025 Board Report (PDF)

Work Groups:

Annual Education Conference / Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with section members to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2026 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin+ articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Brainstorm current topics and suggest at least 2 educational webinars to be produced in a timely manner throughout the year.

CSO Employer Outreach
The group examines the various duties of those engaged in employer outreach and seeks to increase awareness and understanding among legal employers as to the role of employer relations staff in law schools, and to encourage a dialogue that promotes a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship. This group will seek to increase awareness about employer relations staff by writing at least one Bulletin+ article and/or submitting a proposal for the 2026 AEC.

JD Counseling
The goal of this group is to bring together colleagues who regularly counsel law students and alumni. It will identify current counseling “hot topics,” key resources and develop articles and programs to address them. Charge: Develop specific guidance and/or best practices for counseling students through issues relating to early recruiting, for example, and without limitation, how to request additional time to respond to an early offer, considerations for responding to exploding offers, and when career services professionals should contact employers.

First Generation College Students
Collaborate with the VP of DEI and the DEI Steering Committee on additional ways to assist JD career advisors in supporting law students who are first generation college graduates. An extension of the general charge above, a reminder to consider RFPs for the 2026 Annual Education Conference, ideas for the Diversity Summit or other diversity programs and Bulletin+ articles and/or potential webinars.

JD Advantage Careers
Conceptualize a model for regional career fairs (virtual and/or in person) for law schools to implement on their own. Continue the collaboration with NALP and law school members to recreate an annual week focused on JD Advantage careers. Continue the creation and distribution of a podcast series showcasing lawyer interviews for the career paths outlined in the JD Advantage Career Guide.

Online JD Career Advising
Provide members with resources to be able to handle the complexities of advising a remote population given the influx in online JD programs appearing across the country. Create a best practices document to help advisors who have a new online program understand how this cohort differs from residential students and to help advisors consider how to recontextualize their work for this cohort of students.

AI Topics & Trends in Student Advising
NALP AI Guidance for CSOs Document (1) how to create an AI Use Policy for their office, (2) suggestions on AI programs for students related to Chat GPT and others in their job searches, application materials, and interview prep. Consider RFPs for the Annual Education Conference and/or additional programming (e.g., Bulletin articles, webinars, panel discussions, etc.). Collaborate with AI in the Workplace Work Group (Lawyer Professional Development Section).

DEI Liaison
The DEI Liaison will identify and address issues related to DEI that are specific to the section and work with the VP of DEI and the DEI Steering Committee to address these issues.

Well-Being Champion
Identify specific well-being issues faced by the section and propose and institute well-being initiatives to address these issues. Participate as a member of the Well-Being Section.

2024-25 Section Chair: Kathy Greenier, University of Richmond School of Law and Elizabeth Bernstein, Southwestern Law School

June 2024 Board Report (PDF)
November 2024 Board Report (PDF)
February 2025 Board Report (PDF)
March 2025 Board Report (PDF)

Work Groups:

Annual Education Conference / Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with section members to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2025 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin+ articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Brainstorm current topics and suggest at least 2 educational webinars to be produced in a timely manner throughout the year.

CSO Employer Outreach
The group examines the various duties of those engaged in employer outreach and seeks to increase awareness and understanding among legal employers as to the role of employer relations staff in law schools, and to encourage a dialogue that promotes a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship. This group will seek to increase awareness about employer relations staff by writing at least one Bulletin+ article and/or submitting a proposal for the 2025 AEC.

JD Counseling
The goal of this group is to bring together colleagues who regularly counsel law students and alumni. It will identify current counseling “hot topics,” key resources and develop articles and programs to address them. Charge: Develop specific guidance and/or best practices for counseling students through issues relating to early recruiting, for example, and without limitation, how to request additional time to respond to an early offer, considerations for responding to exploding offers, and when career services professionals should contact employers.

First Generation College Students
Collaborate with the VP of DEI and the DEI Steering Committee on additional ways to assist JD career advisors in supporting law students who are first generation college graduates. An extension of the general charge above, a reminder to consider RFPs for the 2025 Annual Education Conference, ideas for the Diversity Summit or other diversity programs and Bulletin+ articles and/or potential webinars.

JD Advantage Careers
Conceptualize a model for regional career fairs (virtual and/or in person) for law schools to implement on their own. Continue the collaboration with NALP and law school members to recreate an annual week focused on JD Advantage careers. Continue the creation and distribution of a podcast series showcasing lawyer interviews for the career paths outlined in the JD Advantage Career Guide.

Online JD Career Advising
Provide members with resources to be able to handle the complexities of advising a remote population - given the influx in on-line JD programs appearing across the country.  The group will create a best practices document to help advisors who have a new online program understand how this cohort differs from residential students and to help advisors consider how to recontextualize their work for this cohort of students.

AI Topics & Trends in Student Advising
AI is becoming an increasingly popular tool for students in job searches and application materials.  This work group will offer guidance to CSOs as they determine how to implement AI polices and training.  Prepare a NALP AI Guidance for CSO document  on: 1) how to create an AI use policy, 2) suggestions on AI programs for students related to ChatGPT and otehrs in their job searches, application materials, and interview prep.

DEI Liaison
The DEI Liaison will identify and address issues related to DEI that are specific to the section and work with the VP of DEI and the DEI Steering Committee to address these issues.

Well-Being Champion
Identify specific well-being issues faced by the section and propose and institute well-being initiatives to address these issues. Participate as a member of the Well-Being Steering Committee.

2023-24 Section Chair: Tom Lee, Pennsylvania State University Dickinson Law and Elizabeth Bernstein, Southwestern Law School

February 2024 Board Report (PDF)
November 2023 Board Report (PDF)
July 2023 Board Report (PDF)

2022-23 Section Co-Chairs: Beth Maoui, UC Irvine School of Law 

April 2023 Board Report (PDF)
February 2023 Board Report (PDF)
November 2022 Board Report (PDF)
July 2022 Board Report (PDF)

2021-22 Section Co-Chairs: Valerie Castelo, University of California, Berkeley School of Law and George Podolin, William & Mary Law School

April 2022 Board Report (PDF)
February 2021 Board Report (PDF)
November 2021 Board Report (PDF)
July 2021 Board Report (PDF)

2020-21 Section Chair: Mary Beth Nielsen, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law

April 2021 Board Report (PDF)
February 2021 Board Report (PDF)
November 2020 Board Report (PDF)
July 2020 Board Report (PDF)

2019-20 Section Chair: Tammy King, Washburn University School of Law

April 2020 Board Report (PDF)
February 2020 Board Report (PDF)
November 2019 Board Report (PDF)
July 2019 Board Report (PDF)

2018-19 Section Chair: Leslie Becker Wilson, University of Massachusetts School of Law

April 2019 Board Report (PDF)
February 2019 Board Report (PDF)
July 2018 Board Report (PDF)
November 2018 Board Report (PDF)

2017-18 Section Chair: Tony Waller, University of Georgia School of Law

April 2018 Board Report (PDF)
February 2018 Board Report (PDF)
November 2017 Board Report (PDF)
July 2017 Board Report (PDF)

2016-17 Section Chair: Tony Waller, University of Georgia School of Law

April 2017 Board Report (PDF)
February 2017 Board Report (PDF)
November 2016 Board Report (PDF)
July 2016 Board Report (PDF)