Financial Aid Counselor, School of Law

University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA

Full-time - Entry Level

Hybrid - Charlottesville, VA

Educational Services

About the position

The University of Virginia School of Law is seeking a dedicated Financial Aid Counselor to join its Office of Financial Aid, Education, and Planning. This position is integral to the Law School's commitment to providing exceptional service and support to its students. The Financial Aid Counselor will work closely with a small team of three professionals, fostering a collaborative and collegial environment that emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and informed decision-making for law students. The role is primarily in-person, reflecting the Law School's dedication to maintaining a supportive and engaging educational atmosphere, while also allowing for limited remote work in accordance with institutional policies. In this non-supervisory role, the Financial Aid Counselor will be responsible for counseling both existing and prospective law students regarding various financial aid programs, eligibility criteria, application procedures, and deadlines. The counselor will assist in the awarding of federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid, ensuring compliance with relevant guidelines and regulations. This position also involves responding to inquiries via phone, email, and in-person, reviewing financial aid forms for accuracy, and conducting educational sessions on financial literacy topics such as debt management and loan repayment. The Financial Aid Counselor will maintain the department's external scholarship database, assist in the administration of the Virginia Loan Forgiveness Program, and generate necessary reports for student verification processes. This role is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to enhance their expertise in financial aid within a supportive and growth-oriented environment, contributing to the overall success of law students at the University of Virginia.

Responsibilities

• Counsel existing and prospective law students on financial aid programs, eligibility criteria, deadlines, and application procedures.
• Assist in awarding federal, state, institutional, and private sources of financial aid to students within appropriate guidelines and regulations.
• Respond to incoming financial aid calls, emails, and walk-in requests.
• Review financial aid forms and supporting documents to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Scan and index a variety of documents and communications into imaging software.
• Conduct student loan entrance and exit counseling sessions and assist with group presentations and webinars.
• Educate students on financial issues such as debt management, loan repayment, and overall financial literacy.
• Maintain the department's external scholarship database.
• Assist the Director in running UVA's Virginia Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Generate reports and complete Verification and C Code reviews for students as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or relevant experience.
• At least two years of professional work experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Two years of experience working in financial aid, student services, or student affairs.
• Knowledge of PeopleSoft, ImageNow, and Department of Education web applications.
• Experience working directly with graduate or professional degree students.

Benefits

• Full-time University Managerial and Professional staff position with benefits.