Graduate Program Staff Assistant

About the Role

The Graduate Program and International Legal Studies division at Harvard Law School is responsible for the Master of Laws (LL.M.) and Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) degrees, as well as a Visitors Program for researchers and scholars. The Graduate Program Staff Assistant supports a team processing 1700+ admission and financial aid applications from a predominantly international applicant pool and assists with various departmental needs.

Responsibilities

• Process admissions and financial aid applications, including analyzing transcripts, calculating GPAs, and following up with applicants for missing documents.
• Respond to telephone, email, and walk-in inquiries; serve as the first reviewer for general inboxes.
• Assist with audits, workflows, and process improvements in the online admissions platform.
• Support the financial aid review process, including preparation and distribution of notifications.
• Assist with student visa processing and financial aid recordkeeping.
• Maintain confidential student files and records.
• Handle communications tasks, such as announcements and event publicity.
• Contribute to orientation planning and execution, including administrative tasks, event staffing, and website updates.
• Provide assistance to the Graduate Program Student Affairs and Administration and International Legal Studies teams, including event planning.
• Share office management and front desk responsibilities for the department.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Three or more years of related experience in office administration or a business environment. Education beyond high school may count toward experience.

Skills

• Proactive, organized, and detail-oriented.
• Strong customer service orientation, with sensitivity to the needs of an international and diverse student population.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to learn new things, handle multiple priorities, and work flexibly in both independent and team environments.
• Discretion in handling complex and confidential matters.

Schedule

Full-time, 35 hours per week (Monday–Friday). Substantial overtime required during peak application season, including evenings, weekends, and winter recess. Overtime also required for key events such as Orientation.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with university contributions.
• Wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks.

This position is based primarily on campus with the opportunity for remote work based on business needs and manager approval. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.