Academic Advisor, Pre-Law and Legal Studies

Working Title: Academic Advisor, Pre-Law and Legal Studies

State Role Title:N/A

Position Type:Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Arts and Letters

Department: 100139 - Dean - College of Arts and Letters

Pay Rate:Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position?No

Is this a grant-funded position?No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?N/A

Beginning Review Date:03/27/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The College of Arts and Letters (CAL) welcomes applicants for the position of Academic and Pre-Professional Advisor for the Pre-Law program and the Legal Studies minor. The Academic Advisor is tasked with providing quality advising designed to help 800+ undergraduate Pre-Law and/or Legal Studies students from all majors make informed decisions in pursuit of their academic and professional goals. The advisor offers pre-professional support to students considering whether to pursue law school/a legal career and navigating the application process. They also advise the 200+ Legal Studies minors about academic requirements and help administer the minor. In consultation with the program coordinator, the advisor participates in recruitment, orientation, and programming efforts and manages outreach and engagement with alumni and external partners. The position is a 12-month Administrative and Professional Faculty appointment beginning July 1, 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Assist students and alumni with law school exploration, decision making, self-assessment, and application process and management.

Provide individual guidance to students, including advising on resumes, personal statements, and other professional materials.

Administer the Legal Studies minor and help students identify academic goals and navigate academic policies, degree requirements, and course selection.

Manage advising-specific administrative tasks and monitor progress of student caseload through accurate, confidential records using advising software [CRM].

Support Pre-Law and Legal Studies coordinator with orientation, recruitment, and student success initiatives (such as programming, alumni networking, and preparation for law school).

Help develop and maintain communication strategies, written materials, and digital resources, including a pre-law resource site on Canvas.

Develop strong relationships with faculty, staff, and potential employers; build and maintain relationships with alumni.

Refer students to specialized resources as needed.

Qualifications:

Required:

Bachelor's degree

Comfort with technology and learning multiple information systems.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (writing, oral, listening), and ability to relate meaningfully with undergraduates.

Strong public-speaking skills and demonstrated competence delivering presentations.

Strong attention to detail combined with appreciation for the big picture.

Ability to work independently, collaboratively, and under supervision.

Excellent skills in time management and organization.

Strong work ethic and critical-thinking, problem-solving, and judgement skills.

Ability to meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Demonstrated commitment to contributing to a supportive, welcoming environment.

Ability to process and maintain confidential information with professionalism.

Preferred:

Master's degree

Academic advising experience working in higher education and/or legal field.

Experience with learning, interpreting, and articulating complex academic requirements, procedures, and policies, including FERPA.

Familiarity with national trends and best practices in academic - especially pre-professional - advising and professional-school application processes.

Additional Posting Information:

JMU's Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.