1. 800. 973.1177
CAREER COUNSELOR’S CORNER
Matt DeGrushe, Director of Career Development, Pepperdine University School of Law [7-26-04 by John J. Barnes] Many law students see their career services office as only available to the top students. Matt DeGrushe has worked hard to change that perception at Pepperdine through innovative programs that connect students with all types of employers.
Those of you reading these interviews on a
To that end, our counseling staff consists of
tential ideas for a small firm event to be held
weekly basis probably assume that whoever
two former attorneys and two professionals
in the spring. Our goal was to design an event
is profiled will have followed a certain ste-
with extensive experience in student services
that would be appealing to both attorneys
reotypical career path that will likely include
and counseling. In addition, my experience
and students.”
earning a J.D. degree, then working for a
with MBA students has come in handy here
big law firm before finally having a personal
at Pepperdine because we have a great many
The fruits of their labor were realized last
epiphany and returning to university life, this
students who are getting combined business
spring when the Career Development Office
time as a Career Services Director.
and law degrees and I’m able to effectively
and the Student Bar Association hosted the
advise them with some degree of foreknowl-
first-ever Small Firm Networking Event.
edge on their career options.”
This free event consisted of MCLE sessions,
Matt DeGrushe, who runs the Career De-
specially designed to appeal to attorneys at
velopment Office at Pepperdine University’s School of Law, located just off the Pacific
Matt goes on to explain how he was brought
smaller firms, a mid-morning reception and
Coast Highway in Malibu, CA, does not fit any
in to overhaul the Career Development
a networking brunch. At the brunch, event
of these stereotypes. First of all, he does not
operation. “One of the challenges we face is
participants were assigned to tables based
have a J.D. degree, but instead received a
the common misperception that the Career
on the practice area experience (for at-
Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana
Development Office is only interested in
torneys) and interest (for students). Over 60
University in Bloomington, IN, as well as a
serving the students ranked in the Top 10%
attorneys attended the event, as well as 90
Masters in Education from the University of
of the class. A myth fueled by the emphasis
students in what proved to be a tremendous
Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles.
students place on opportunities at large law
learning and valuable networking experience
Prior to joining Pepperdine, Matt was an As-
firms and on-campus interviews. The focus
for all participants. Attorneys attending the
sociate Director at the MBA Career Resource
of the office needed to shift towards present-
event received 2 MCLE credits under the Law
Center at the University of Southern Califor-
ing programs, services and resources that
Practice Management requirement.
nia’s Marshall School of Business where he
would serve the career development needs
worked for 4 years assisting in the career
of every student, regardless of academic
“Networking is something that most law
development of MBA students. Matt also
standing.”
students fear, so we needed to come up with a way to help our students make the most of
spent several years working as a Recruiter for McKinsey & Company, an international
“My first and seemingly only job was to fix
the opportunity. Prior to the event, students
management consulting firm, helping the
this perception with the new entering class,
were required to attend a brief information
firm hire undergraduate, MBA, law and Ph.D.
as well as our returning second and third
session where we presented the format for
students. It was his exposure to working with
years, and do it fast.” Each year, over 50%
the event and provided suggestions and tips
students and career services offices as a
of Pepperdine graduates start their legal
to get them comfortable with the networking
recruiter that sparked his interest in working
careers at small to mid-sized law firms
component of the event.” Participating stu-
in higher education.
with less than 50 attorneys. However, the
dents also received information in advance
Career Development Office did not have any
on each of the attorneys attending the event.
“My background might seem non-traditional
programming designed to help students con-
Attorneys attending the event received infor-
when compared to the typical Law School
nect with these employers. Matt adds, “There
mation on services the Career Development
Career Services Director,” Matt says, “but
was a lot of discussion, before my arrival,
Office provides to small firms, as well as a
the bottom line is that one of the important
about hosting an event to help facilitate this
resume book of students attending the event.
roles of our office is to effectively coach
interaction. We quickly joined forces with the
We asked if this kind of low-key affair works.
students through the job search process.
Student Bar Association to collaborate on po-
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1.800. 973. 1177
CAREER COUNSELOR’S CORNER
“Sure does,” Matt replied. “Shortly after the
pus,” he said, “you should. It’s positioned
event, we received several job postings from
high on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
attorneys who attended the event. Also, I
While the view and location are unmatched, I
know of several students who were hired for
feel the same can be said for the faculty and
both summer and full-time employment as a
staff who are incredibly student-focused and
result of this program.”
professional. It’s heaven.”
“Another segment of the student body that seems to be growing is the segment of students who don’t want to practice law upon graduation. These students are looking for information on alternative career options. Last fall, we hosted a panel featuring the President of Pepperdine University, Andrew Benton, who is a J.D. and several alumni currently working in alternative careers. We had a standing-room-only crowd. I was surprised but gratified by the turn-out. The goal of Pepperdine’s law school is to turn out graduates well-trained in how to think like an attorney, but there is certainly no rule that all of our graduates have to join a law firm and work there for the rest of their lives. Our university president serves as a good example.” Out of curiosity, we asked Matt if he noted any differences between MBA and law students and he laughed. “Huge differences,” he said. “Many of our law students come here right out of college and do not have significant work experience. Most of the MBA students I worked with at USC had at least three or four years of work experience before starting graduate school. They’d already been through a job-search experience and many were seriously committed to their post-MBA job search. In terms of environment, law school is definitely a more competitive environment compared to the teamwork-friendly MBA culture. However, the career development issues around resumes, cover letters, interviews and networking are strikingly similar.” As a final question, we asked how he liked his new job. “If you’ve never seen the Pepperdine cam-
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