Career Services Profile
Karen Sargent, SMU Dedman School of Law By Teresa Cajot As the Assistant Dean and Executive Director of the Office of Career Services at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas, Karen Sargent is responsible for ensuring that all students and graduates have access to quality professional development resources. Not only does she oversee the Office of Career Services, but she is also heavily involved in the establishment of policies, procedures, educational resources, and programs. She also provides student counseling and heads all employer outreach services.
Sargent has succeeded in this demanding role by bringing years of teaching, coaching, and lawyering skills to the table, thus enabling students and alumni to benefit from her personal experience.
Sargent earned her JD from SMU Dedman School of Law, where she was a member of the Southwestern Law Journal. She holds an undergraduate degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University.
She joined the Office of Career Services after functioning as the Acting Assistant Director of Admissions for a year. Prior to that, she spent eight years as part time faculty member at the law school, during which time she taught lawyering skills courses, addressing a range of topics including the interpersonal and writing skills that are so important in the practice of law. From 1985 to 1996 Sargent served as an Adjunct Lecturer at SMU Dedman School of Law, teaching legal research and writing as well as advocacy. She spent five years as an associate attorney at Andrews Kurth LLP, where she concentrated on the areas of tax, estate planning and probate general corporate/ securities.
She is a member of the Texas Bar Association, the Dallas Bar Association, Dallas Women Lawyers Association, and the National Association of Law Placement. She is involved with the J.L. Turner Legal Association, the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, and Dallas Asian American Bar Association. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Finance Committee with the Highland Park United Methodist Church and is a Camp John Marc Board Member.
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