Law Student Profile
Shawn Lipton, Assistant Dean of the Center for Professional Development By Teresa Cajot As the Assistant Dean of the Center for Professional Development (CPD) at Seattle University School of Law, Shawn Lipton is well aware of the impact that harsh economic conditions are having on graduating students. In fact, since joining the CPD as an interim director, Lipton has been heavily involved in modifying career service offerings in an effort to meet the additional needs of today’s graduates. He has contributed to the expansion of resources, such as networking, coaching, workshop offerings, and increased internship opportunities to enable students to find success after graduation.
Lipton stresses the importance of a career development plan for students who are entering the professional world at a time when law firms are less likely to provide training to new associates. According to an August 26, 2011 article from the Puget Sound Business Journal, Lipton said that law firms are looking for graduates who can walk in the door and contribute from day one. Internships are crucial to students in need of real-world training and Lipton is dedicated to providing valuable internship opportunities to the students he serves, such as internships within the nations’ capital. Lipton further advises students to consider clerkships following graduation, as a means of establishing additional legal experience. Careers in non-traditional areas are also encouraged. For example, while a contract specialist may not be required to hold a JD, the degree would certainly prove to be beneficial.
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Aside from his experience in the legal field, Lipton can also provide the students he serves with students with general life advice, based on his extensive studies and experiences. Before joining the CPD, Lipton served as the Director of Continuing Legal Education for the law school. Prior to that, he was a business development manager in the dotcom world. He also holds the following certifications: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MTBI) Certified Master Practitioner; Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) Certified; Strength Deployment Inventory (SDI) Certified; and Behavioral Coaching Institute Master Coach. Prior to earning his JD at the University of Connecticut School of Law, he worked and studied in Taiwan and traveled throughout North and South East Asia. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and competent in Spanish.
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