Assistant Dean for Admissions, Law School

Vanderbilt is a community of talented and diverse staff & faculty!

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice through:

• Working and growing together as a community of communities... we are One Vanderbilt.
• Providing a work environment where every staff and faculty member can be their authentic and best self, while providing the resources and opportunities to learn and grow.
• Encouraging development, collaboration, and partnership both internally and externally while fostering the value that every member of the Vanderbilt community can lead and grow regardless of title or position.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

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Vanderbilt University has made the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff and our surrounding communities a top priority. As part of that commitment, the University may require employees to comply with any testing or health and safety measures which the University may require.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are.  We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.

This Assistant Dean of Admissions leads the Admissions team in the Law School at Vanderbilt University and is the senior administrator responsible for overseeing the entire law school admissions process, including recruitment, application review, selection of students, and managing the admissions team, with a primary focus on ensuring the incoming class aligns with the school's academic standards and strategic goals. This position reports directly to the Dean of the Law School.

Among the nation’s leading law schools, Vanderbilt stands out for its distinguished faculty; highly talented students; collegial and collaborative school culture; graduates’ top-tier employment outcomes; and global alumni network. The Admissions Office team of six professionals and three support staff is responsible for student recruitment, admissions, and scholarships for Vanderbilt’s highly ranked J.D. program; its LL.M. program for foreign-trained attorneys; and J.D. transfers, and also responsible for admissions to the online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program. As part of the J.D. application process, our unique Admission Interview Program includes more than 800 VLS alumni conducting in-person interviews across the nation and around the world, and through the generosity of VLS alumni, our pathbreaking Access2VLS grants help to pay tuition costs not covered by a student’s combined Law School scholarship, external scholarships or tuition benefits, and family contribution. The Admissions Office serves prospective students, the Law School, and the legal profession through its commitment to high standards of professional conduct and ethical behavior; accuracy and candor in providing information to prospective students; adherence to principles of equity and inclusion; respect for confidentiality; and excellent customer service.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Lead the admissions team, including admissions officers and staff, delegating tasks and ensuring efficient operations.
• Oversee admissions and financial aid budgets.
• Partner with University central offices on admissions and financial aid to review and award scholarships to admitted students based on merit and need.
• Develop and implement comprehensive admissions strategies to attract high-quality applicants, considering factors like market trends, diversity goals, and program needs. 
• Oversee admissions marketing and communications in collaboration with the law communications & marketing department. 
• Analyze admissions data to identify trends, assess recruitment effectiveness, and make informed decisions about admissions strategies.
• Represent the law school at admissions events, conferences, and professional organizations, promoting the institution's reputation and attracting qualified applicants.
• Oversee the application review process, including assigning reviewers, setting evaluation criteria, and making final admission decisions based on a holistic review of academic records, LSAT scores, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and all other materials contained in each application.
• Oversee special event programming for applicants and prospective students which will include virtual events in addition to the traditional in-person events.
• Oversee admissions applicant pool building and lead recruitment efforts and management of outreach initiatives to prospective students. 
• Ensure adherence to all relevant American Bar Association (ABA) and other accreditation standards related to admissions practices
• Collaborate with other law school departments, including faculty, legal studies, career services, and student life, to support student recruitment and transition to law school in particular for the LL.M. program and Master of Legal Studies (MLS) Program. 
• Review and act on requests from applicants, students, and alumni to amend their answers to the Character & Fitness questions in their applications for admission.

Supervisory Relationships:
This position has supervisory responsibility for the admissions officers and staff; and reports administratively and functionally to the Dean.

Qualifications:

• A graduate or professional degree is required. A J.D. is preferred.
• Law school admissions experience is required. 
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive and successful experience in admissions, the legal field or relevant industry is required. 
• Experience at a top 20 law school and experience with data collection and analysis is preferred.
• Significant experience in law school admissions, ideally including roles like Admissions Director is preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills are necessary.
• Strong understanding of legal education trends and the admissions landscape are necessary.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with prospective students, families, faculty and stakeholders are essential.
• Data analysis and reporting capabilities to evaluate admissions strategies are necessary.
• Experience or familiarity with the Slate admissions CRM is a plus.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are.  We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.