Online J.D. Program Student Success Advisor

Southwestern Law School seeks a collaborative, student-centered, and data-informed professional to serve as Online J.D. Program Student Success Advisor. Reporting to the Vice Dean for Online Education, the Student Success Advisor provides proactive, individualized advising and support to students enrolled in Southwestern’s Online J.D. Program. This role is based in Los Angeles and follows a hybrid schedule with one day a month in the office and in-office work as needed. This is a full-time and non-exempt position.

The Online J.D. Program Student Success Advisor supports student engagement, persistence, and belonging in the Online J.D. Program. The successful candidate will serve as a consistent point of contact for online students, helping them navigate academic requirements, institutional resources, and the demands of completing a J.D. program in an online learning environment. The Student Success Advisor will meet individually with each Online J.D. Program student at least once per academic year and will meet with all first-year Online J.D. Program students during the fall semester. 

Primary Responsibilities

Student Success & Advising

  • Serve as a primary student success resource for students enrolled in the Online J.D. Program.
  • Meet individually with each Online J.D. Program student at least once per academic year and with all first-year Online J.D. Program students during the fall semester.
  • Provide proactive guidance on academic expectations, course sequencing, registration timelines, graduation requirements, and available institutional resources.
  • Maintain accurate records of student meetings, outreach, referrals, and follow-up.
  • Support students in navigating academic, personal, and logistical challenges that may affect engagement and academic progress.
  • Coordinate referrals to Academic Success, Accessibility, Wellness, Financial Aid, Career Services, Bar Preparation, the Registrar’s Office, and other institutional resources as appropriate; the Advisor does not provide specialized academic success instruction, bar advising, mental health counseling, career counseling, or registrar-level degree audits.

Student Engagement, Monitoring & Outreach

  • Monitor student engagement, academic progress, course participation, and other student success indicators using Canvas, IntelliBoard, Yuja, and other available systems.
  • Conduct proactive outreach to students who may be at risk based on engagement data, academic performance, faculty or staff concerns, missed assignments, attendance issues, or repeated nonresponse.
  • Collaborate with faculty and staff to support timely interventions for students who may need additional academic or institutional support.
  • Prepare reports for the Vice Dean for Online Education regarding student engagement trends, advising activity, and student success concerns.

Communication & Engagement

  • Help ensure that Online J.D. Program students receive timely, clear, and accurate information about academic requirements, deadlines, registration, exams, institutional resources, and program expectations.
  • Assist with student communications, including newsletters, announcements, Canvas “Hub” updates, and other online student-facing materials.
  • Support online student orientation, onboarding, and other engagement initiatives to foster connection, belonging, and community.

Continuous Improvement

  • Track advising activity, student concerns, engagement trends, and recurring issues to support continuous improvement of the Online J.D. Program student experience.
  • Document workflows and recommend process enhancements to improve advising, communication, student support, and early intervention practices.
  • Assist with compiling data and information related to student success, engagement, retention, and program assessment.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Job Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree.
  • Experience advising, coaching, supporting, or counseling students or adult learners.
  • Highest ethical and professional standards and proven ability to exercise exemplary judgment when dealing with sensitive information and difficult situations.
  • Ability to use Word, Excel, and other programs in the Microsoft 360 suite with proficiency, and to learn student information systems, learning management systems, advising tools, and data dashboards.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Counseling, Student Affairs, Education, Leadership, or related field.
  • Experience working in an ABA-accredited law school, graduate program, professional school, or online degree program.
  • Experience advising or supporting online students, adult learners, working professionals, or first-generation students.
  • Experience with student success interventions, Canvas, IntelliBoard, Yuja, educational technology tools, and data-informed outreach.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

  • Ability to provide excellent customer service.
  • High level of judgment, discretion, integrity, and confidentiality.
  • Ability to build trust and rapport with students in an online learning environment.
  • Ability to manage a substantial student caseload while maintaining accurate documentation and timely follow-up.
  • Ability to manage tight timelines and rank the importance of multiple tasks appropriately.
  • Ability to apply creative problem-solving skills to develop solutions within established policies and guidelines.
  • Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal, and writing skills.
  • Ability to work effectively and diplomatically with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community 

Salary: $34.62/hour

To apply: Send a cover letter and resume to jobs19@swlaw.edu.