CAREER COUNSELOR'S CORNER
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Patricia White, Assistant Dean of Career Services, Emory University School of Law [8-02-04 John J. Barnes] Working for a top school is never easy since the expectations of the students are always very high. Patricia White expects a lot out of herself, too, though, as she seeks to spread Emory’s excellent reputation further.
Career counselors have varied backgrounds,
“I eventually got my present job through an
a lot of students ask for it and, to properly
but Patricia White is the first career services
acquaintance who was an actor in a play we
answer questions, we on staff need to know
professional in our experience who has
were both doing for amateur theatre here
what money is available to offset the low
been an Army officer. Immediately after law
in the Atlanta area. I had been telling my
salaries typical of such work, to include
school, she did three years in JAG and raves
friends of my intentions for a long while, so it
grants, forgiving of law school debt and other
about the experience.
was just a matter of time before I connected
intangibles. We’d like to see Emory make a
somewhere. This actor friend gave me the
significant contribution in this area.
“It is absolutely true that you get court
name of a contact in Emory’s administra-
experience almost immediately in JAG,” Pa-
tion. This person told me there were no jobs
“As for alternative careers, that’s sort of a
tricia told us. “I had just graduated from the
for someone of my background, but that she
sleeper. Students don’t typically ask for a
Georgetown Law Center and before I knew it
would keep my file and let me know if some-
lot of information about this, but when we do
I was preparing criminal appeals and appear-
thing turned up. Eventually, the job I’m in
anything in this area, there seems to be a lot
ing in court. What I did not expect was the
now opened up and here I am. I’m so happy
of interest. And as for the clerkships, we’ve
collegial and nurturing environment which
the connection was with Emory and that the
noticed that, at all of the top-tier schools,
JAG traditionally offers. Later, I worked for
work allowed me to use both my recruiting
upwards of 20% and more of third-years end
a litigation boutique in Washington D.C. and
and law experience in the same job. That I
up doing clerkships and this naturally has
the environment was collegial, but not nearly
did not plan on.”
its corollary with law-school quality and is perceived that way. To beef up this area, we
as supportive.” We asked how the job at Emory was going.
have a faculty committee specifically as-
the law and back into an academic environ-
“Great,” she said. “We’ve been one of the
ing 2nd year student every year to work with
signed to this initiative, plus we tap a promis-
We asked how she transitioned out of JAG, ment. She told us she worked for awhile with
highest ranked southern law schools for
the Committee getting the grunt work done.
a recruiter in Atlanta, Georgia, eventually
a long time, and we have an excellent na-
Obviously, we are poised for a big jump in an
going out on her own. She liked the work a
tional reputation, as well; but we’d like to
already-excellent reputation.
lot, she said. She especially enjoyed working
be included in a handful of the very best law
with candidates, but after ten years of this,
schools in the country, and to get there, we
“Like everybody else doing my job, I could
she felt a strong desire to return to academic
must focus not just on placing our 2nd years
always use a bigger staff. I haven’t even
life.
in summer internships at wonderful firms
mentioned the job fair, putting on clinics
in Atlanta, where we have traditionally been
regarding networking, resumes, cover letters
“I think the tug I felt was hereditary,” she
strong, but also in New York City, Washing-
and other aspects of the job search. We do
said. “My father and grandfather were both
ton D.C., Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and
all of that as well. So, you see, we’ve got a
academics at Emory. It can be a wonder-
other major law centers.
full plate here at Emory. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
ful and unhurried type of life, reflective and filled with bright people, good conversation
“To this end, what we’ve done is take the
and interesting ideas. I did miss it. So I guess
career counseling function and focus it on
this makes me not only a third-generation
areas designed to achieve our objective.
academic, but a third-generation academic at
These functions include public interest law,
Emory. My undergraduate degree was from
alternative careers and judicial clerkships.
the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where
We only have about three students each
my dad was teaching at the time.
year who opt for public interest work, but
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