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With guidance from her career advisor, Audrey Van Gilder secured a prestigious post-graduate judicial clerkship.

CAREER SERVICES

Acing the job search

Students work with career advisors to develop winning strategies

When Audrey M. Van Gilder 3L graduates next may and begins a judicial clerkship at the Indiana Court of Appeals in Indianapolis, she’ll carry with her not only the law knowledge she acquired in class, but also the many experiences she gained through Loyola’s Office of Career Services.

“This clerkship is the beginning of what I hope will be a career in public service, working to benefit Hoosiers,” said Van Gilder, who has an undergraduate degree in international studies. She and her career advisor, Marianne Deagle, had many thoughtful discussions about her goals and interests beyond law school during her time at Loyola. “Marianne helped me think more deeply about the career choices I was making and encouraged me to take risks.”

One of those risks was staying in Rome after attending a summer session at the John Felice Rome Center during her 2L summer. With Deagle’s guidance and encouragement, Van Gilder landed a job at a law firm in Rome for the rest of the summer. Now she can add international legal experience in a world-class city to her resume.

Loyola's Office of Career Services offers:

  • Career Counseling
  • Interview Preparations
  • Resume and Cover Letter Review
  • Access to Job Fairs
  • Judicial Clerkship Information
  • On-line Job Postings and Career Resources
  • Speakers and Practice Area Panels
  • Career-Related Publications, Newspapers, and Websites
‘We help students find a career they’ll enjoy and be passionate about.
— Maureen Kieffer (JD ’02), assistant dean for career services

From helping students meet their personal and professional goals by selecting the area of practice that is right for them, to providing the resources and skills-training necessary to conduct a successful job search—the School of Law’s Office of Career Services plays a vital role in supporting students as they launch their legal careers.

“We help students find a career they’ll enjoy and be passionate about,” said Maureen Kieffer (JD ’02), assistant dean for career services. “Our alumni are also excellent resources because they remember being in their shoes and can offer students valuable guidance.”

During the first year of law school, students are required to meet at least once with their career advisor and attend a workshop to help them land that first job. By the time they are ready to graduate, students will have had opportunity to connect with alumni, create a resume and cover letter, conduct mock interviews, and identify target employers. Loyola students also gain significant work experience at various jobs, externships, and clinics throughout law school.

Adrian Chan will launch his legal career as an assistant state’s attorney in Washington after graduation.

Pointed in the right direction

When third-year student Adrian Chan receives his degree in May, he will become an assistant attorney general for the State of Washington. Chan credits his career advisor Hollis Hanover (JD ’99) for pointing him in the right direction and giving him good advice.

“This job will give me a lot of responsibility up front, and I’m excited because I’ll handle cases right away, giving my career a good foundation,” Chan said. “Hollis conducted a couple of mock interviews with me to prepare me for the interviewing process. She was always available to consult with me during the process.”

 

A job fair helped Emily Olivera land her dream job at Sidley Austin LLP.

For Emily Olivera, Loyola’s Office of Career Services was key in exposing her to possible careers in business law and introducing her to her future employer.

“I was fortunate that I knew my area of interest was business law,” said the third-year law student from Algonquin, Illinois. Loyola's career staff helped her identify the opportunities that would boost her career. “They had resume-writing workshops that showed me how to highlight my accomplishments, and my advisor, Sheila Simhan, made sure I was planning to attend an upcoming minority job fair in Chicago. That’s where I connected with Sidley Austin LLP. The fair ultimately got me to my dream job.”

Olivera is excited to work with big clients on big deals. She originally viewed the profession as being pretty cut and dried. “But once I got into law school, I realized there is so much gray area. It would be up to me to find creative and analytical ways to find a solution that wasn’t initially on the table. I’ve learned there are many ways to find the perfect answers for your clients.”

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Loyola’s powerful learning environment does not end at the classroom door. From a dedicated career services team to bar preparation support, we provide our students with the support and experiences that prepare you for a legal career with impact.  It’s why employers seek out our graduates and why you’ll find our alumni at the highest levels of leadership in public service and private business.  Learn More