Applications for the 2023-2024 Peer Advisor position are now open!

Applications are due on May 24th at 11:59pm.

Application Process

Online Application Form

Applicants must submit an online Peer Advisor Application, including but not limited to:

• Law Center Involvement
• Statement of Interest
• Current Resume

Interview Process

After the application deadline, applicants may be asked to participate in a short interview with hypothetical question/scenarios. More information about interview dates will be updated soon.

Peer Advisor Position Description

The role of the PA would focus on helping incoming first-year students navigate the weeks leading up to Orientation, Orientation week, and the first few weeks of classes. As first-year students get student organizations mentor and writing fellows, advisees could still connect with their PA, if needed; however, the focus of the PA program would be to ease the transition to law school.

Each Peer Advisor is assigned a group of 18-23 first year advisees. Responsibilities of the Peer Advisors include:

Summer

• Contact incoming 1L advisees in the summer before they arrive to welcome them to the Law Center and answer questions (and allay concerns) they may have about law school, the Law Center, and Washington DC. PAs would be required (with assistance from OSL) to send frequent communications throughout the summer.
  • Email timing and themes will be suggested by the Office of Student Life. Peer Advisors will not be required to determine email themes on their own.
  • Help to implement the first year Orientation week program. PAs would support Orientation through the Information Table, Campus Tours and PA Meet-Ups. We may add small group gatherings with advisees or a few PA cohorts, both on and off campus through Orientation week similar to faculty tours (i.e. taking a group to the Botanical Gardens, activities on The Mall, lunch in Chinatown, etc.).

Fall

• PAs would also be required to host check in meetings with a small group of their advisees in the fall – checking on how things are progressing, answering questions, etc. PAs would continue to send communications to their advisees about important events for first-year students throughout the Fall.

Time Commitment

Training:  2-3-hour training session and occasional meetings with the Director of Student Life and the Dean of Students or other administrators throughout the program to discuss approaches to common issues first years may be experiencing.

Summer: Peer Advisors will be expected to spend 2-4 hours per week corresponding with their advisees. The demands may be heavier in the last few weeks leading up to Orientation as students begin to have more questions about their transition to law school.

Orientation Week: Approximately 15 total hours, divided between mandatory programming, Peer Advisor Meet-Ups, assigned shifts for information table staffing, campus tours, participation in section service projects, or informal social events and advice sessions.

Stipend

Peer Advisors will receive a personal stipend for their service at the end of the Peer Advisor Program. The stipend is to recognize the significant contributions Peer Advisors will make to the Law Center but is not intended to be hourly compensation. We are looking for candidates who are seeking this position because they have a commitment to mentoring students, fostering community, and giving back to the Law Center.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• Upperclass student entering the 2L, 3L, 2E, 3E or 4E year
• 3.0 GPA or higher
• Maturity, good judgment, creativity — and enthusiasm!
• Thoughtfulness about the challenges and opportunities 1L students face
• A commitment to building community at the Law Center
• General availability during the Fall Orientation week (Peer Advisors will be permitted to balance EIW, Law Fellow training, and Clinic Orientation commitments with Orientation commitments on a case-by-case basis.)
• Occasional evening availability during the academic year

PREFERRED

• Background in peer advising, residence or student life (in college or otherwise), and/or counseling
• High level of engagement in the life of the Law Center
• Commitment to building an inclusive community at the Law Center