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CAREER SERVICES PROFILE
Charles B. deWitt III: Assistant Dean for Career and Alumni Services, University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law [By Charisse Dengler] Charles B. deWitt III has been working at the University of Memphis since 1993 in a variety of positions, including Assistant Dean of Paralegal Studies. He has worked as Assistant Dean for Career and Alumni Services for the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law since 1996. In addition, he also teaches a course in legal history. “I deal with all aspects of career services for
When it comes to advising students on finding
However, the most important aspect of a
our law students, as well as coordinating CLE
a job after graduation, deWitt urges students to
career services department is simply being
[continuing legal education] for the law school,
be flexible.
there for its students while they adjust to law school and helping them with anything they
assisting with alumni matters, and publishing the law school’s quarterly e-newsletter,” he
“We are in a tight market right now,” he said.
said.
“Grads may need to start working with a firm
may need in the job-search process.
they would not have initially considered at a
“For all law students, it’s just having an open
“I really enjoy working with the students and
level of pay that that they feel is less than what
door so they can feel free to come in and
helping them find their place in a law career.”
they should get or in an area of law that wasn’t
talk and try to make sense out of this new
necessarily what they thought they would be
career—and, believe me, there are times when
The goal of the University of Memphis Cecil C.
doing. However, it takes much less effort to
they will wish they had gone into medicine like
Humphreys School of Law’s career services
control the direction of the career rocket once
their mother said they should,” he said.
department is to “provide information and
it is in space than it does to launch it initially.” When he’s not working, deWitt enjoys spending
support to law students in their search for deWitt, who says there isn’t really anything
time with his wife and daughter. He also
he dislikes about his job, feels that career
collects autographed photographs, which he
“We aim to help develop skills that will
services departments help different people in
uses to decorate the walls of his office.
build self-confidence and insight into the
different ways.
legal employment.”
“There’s always one that a student will single
expectations of legal employers as we bring
out as special,” he said. “For a few years, it was
students and employers together,” the
“The offices assist students in all levels of
university stated on its website.
class rank and increasingly numerous areas of
Gil Gerard [Buck Rogers], since the students a
law,” he said. “For some, it means helping with
few years ago grew up with that TV show as a
deWitt, who worked as an attorney in the real
cover letters, resumes, and other documents
favorite. Lately, it seems to be Mini Me [Verne
estate and title insurance fields before coming
they need to send out to prospective
Troyer of Austin Powers fame].”
to the university, thinks the career services
employers. For some, it means helping locate
department is achieving its goal by being
employers for part-time employment during
focused on its students.
the school year, for summer clerkships, judicial clerkships, or for full-time employment
“There are many, many fine career services
after they graduate. For some, who need help
departments in law schools across the nation.
deciding what areas of law might be right for
Our strength, like theirs, is being student-
them in practice, it means holding seminars
centered and having a staff that is genuinely
throughout the school year to introduce them
committed to their career needs,” deWitt
to attorneys from different areas of practice
said. “I think this is the core requirement for
to help them decide which might be the best.
a good career services counselor, as well. I
For some, it means providing opportunities
don’t know of any law career services office
for on-campus interviews and job fairs that
that isn’t staffed with people who want to help
can potentially match them up with interested
their students and who have an open door for
employers.”
assistance.”
PAGE
ON THE NET University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law www.law.memphis.edu Buck Rogers www.buck-rogers.com Austin Powers www.austinpowers.com