Employment Opportunities at Washburn Law
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Washburn University invites applications for the following position:
Director of Marketing Communications
Washburn University seeks applications from dynamic professionals who demonstrate initiative and ability as team players for its Director of Marketing Communications position in the nationally acclaimed and internationally respected Washburn University School of Law. This position reports to the Dean of the School of Law.
Responsibilities
Develop goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards to market and promote Washburn University School of Law and its activities. Plan, direct and implement marketing communications activities to ensure key, strategic messages are effectively communicated via print and electronic media to target audiences. Identify and develop strategies to enhance the public image of the School of Law.
Establish relationships with members of the media to achieve successful distribution of School of Law communications. Identify key messages and target audiences; pitch stories to publications; plan, coordinate and facilitate press conferences; and monitor media coverage to ensure full distribution of School of Law information. Write and distribute news releases to the media to ensure publication of School of Law announcements and information as appropriate and in support of goals and plans. Work with the School of Law website manager and other stakeholders to design, develop and post content for the School of Law website.
Assist School of Law staff in the development, design, scheduling and distribution of pamphlets, brochures, invitations, newsletters, magazines, videos, etc. to ensure all publications maintain a consistent tone, voice, visual identity and display of the School of Law logo reflective of School of Law branding efforts. Edit, proofread and fact-check communications materials, ensuring that communications are accurate, clear and complete and consistent in tone and voice with all School of Law publications. As School of Law representative and/or liaison, work with publishing firms to ensure timely completion of print/production orders and that all materials meet quality standards consistent with School of Law requirements.
Provide writing, speech drafting, marketing and media relations assistance to the Dean, Associate Deans, faculty, center directors, staff, students and student organizations as requested and consistent with the Dean's priorities. Prepare and manage the Marketing/Communications budget. Work with other staff to develop, update and maintain internal databases, eliminating duplication and assisting in producing mailing lists to maximize targeted distribution of School of Law mailings.
Other duties as assigned to support the School of Law's mission and goals.
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Mass Media or related field; 5 years of experience in public relations, publication design, writing and editing; proven skill using Microsoft Office, database management, desktop publishing systems and web maintenance. Ability to learn new technologies and maintain confidentiality.
Application Procedures
Salary is low to mid $50K commensurate with experience. Excellent fringe benefits package. To apply, submit a letter of application, resume, transcript(s), application supplement, names and phone numbers of 3 professional references and a sample of publication material(s) you have designed to:
Human Resources
Morgan Hall 135
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
Resume review will begin January 28, 2008, and continue until a suitably qualified candidate has been selected. For more information about Washburn University and the Washburn University School of Law, visit our websites at http://www.washburn.edu and http://www.washburnlaw.edu.
TO ENRICH EDUCATION THROUGH DIVERSITY, WASHBURN UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. CANDIDATES FROM UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUPS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
About Washburn
Washburn University School of Law was founded in 1903. It became a member of AALS in 1905 and was on the initial list of ABA-approved schools in 1923. The School of Law is part of 145-year-old Washburn University, which is publicly funded, receiving not only state aid but also revenue from local taxes. The university is governed by its own board of regents and enjoys unique financial flexibility. Under the dynamic leadership of the current administration, it has become a vibrant 7,500-student master's-level university located on a scenic 160-acre campus in Topeka, Kansas.
The essence of Washburn University School of Law is the commitment of the law school community at every level - from the dean's office to facilities staff - to the success of our students. In addition, the law school endeavors to impart to its students the values of treating others with respect, dignity, and a sense of caring. For more than a century, the school's student-centered approach to teaching has produced well-prepared law professionals ready to engage in successful careers. Our worldwide network of more than 6,300 alumni located in all 50 states and many foreign countries includes nationally recognized lawyers, state and federal judges and justices, politicians, journalists, and senior executives of Fortune 500 companies.
In the fall of 2004, Washburn unveiled its $1.2 million classroom renovation (773 KB PDF), enhancing academic excellence with the addition of new teaching and classroom technologies. This project was completed on the heels of the Robinson Courtroom and Bianchino Technology Center renovation, which created one of the finest training courtrooms in legal education.
The high regard that Washburn alumni have for the quality of their education and law school experience is demonstrated by their eagerness to contribute to their alma mater annually. December 2006 marked the close of our three-year Centennial Celebration, a successful fundraising campaign that prompted many alumni to make major gifts.
Our Faculty
The diverse educational and professional backgrounds of our faculty members produce rich intellectual experiences for students. Our 31 full-time professors are graduates of 21 law schools. Fourteen hold advanced degrees, eleven are women, and seven are members of racial or ethnic minority groups.
Washburn has an established program for faculty professional development exemplified by a commitment to mentoring new faculty, collaborative teaching, and scholarship roundtable sessions held on a regular basis. During the past three years, faculty members have published numerous articles, books, book chapters, and supplements. Faculty members pride themselves on being approachable and innovative, as well as open to new initiatives such as the joint degree program with the Department of Social Work.
Our Students
Approximately 450 students are enrolled at Washburn, and each year student credentials become more competitive. Applicants vie to be part of an entering class of 160 full-time students. Consistently, 40 to 50 percent of our incoming students are non-residents. The diverse student body includes students from more than 40 states and six foreign countries, and 15 percent are members of racial or ethnic minority groups. The entering class of fall 2007 was 42 percent female and the average age of students was 25. Nine months after graduation, less than 1 percent of our 2006 graduates were still seeking employment.
Washburn students recently earned national awards in a number of skills competitions. In three moot court competitions during spring 2006, students garnered first place, best respondent's brief, best oralist, and runner-up for best respondent's brief. Washburn's trial advocacy team finished first in the 2005 ATLA regional trial advocacy competition and reached the semi-final round of the national competition.
Academic Programs
With a 14.2-1 student/faculty ratio, Washburn exposes students to diverse perspectives of the law. In 1970, the Washburn Law Clinic was one of the nation's first in-house clinics. From its inception, faculty members teaching in the clinic have been on tenure track, placing our clinic on the cutting edge of legal education.
Washburn's writing program sets the national standard. According to the 2006 Association of Legal Writing Directors/Legal Writing Institute Survey Report, Washburn is one of only eight schools, among 184 respondents, that relies solely on tenure-track professors to teach legal writing. The Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing Program at Washburn Law has been recognized as a leading legal writing program, ranking in the top 25 out of a field of 184 accredited law schools.
Washburn's tradition of excellence in teaching is complemented by the Business and Transactional Law Center, the Center for Excellence in Advocacy, and the Children and Family Law Center. Students may add an element of concentration by participating in one of the school's seven certificate programs, a number of which are attached to the Centers.
Students participate in two journals. Each year one issue of the Washburn Law Journal publishes papers from a special symposium. The student editorial board of the ABA's peer-reviewed Family Law Quarterly has been located at Washburn since 1992, enhancing the Children and Family Law Center.
As early as 1968, Washburn recognized that the practice of law was becoming increasingly global and responded with a summer study abroad program. Currently, Washburn expands students' understanding of different legal systems through its summer program at Utrecht University and its semester-long program at Maastricht University, both in the Netherlands.
WashLaw and Washburn Law Library
WashLaw, the premier legal research portal created in the early 1990s, is nationally acclaimed as a comprehensive source for legal information on the Internet. For 20 years, the Law Library has ranked in the top quarter of all law school libraries for new titles added. The Law Library has been consistently ranked high among law school libraries because of its extensive collection and innovative use of technology. Half of the professional librarians have law degrees, and nearly 60 percent of law library staff members have advanced degrees.
